AC/DC Singer Told To Stop Touring Or Face 'Total Hearing Loss'

[mtv]

Is This The End Of Aussie Rock Band AC/DC?

Maybe just turn down the volume?


AC/DC has postponed the rest of its U.S. tour because doctors advised singer Brian Johnson "to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss."


The band said in a statement that the 10 postponed dates, which run from March 8 in Atlanta to April 4 in New York, would be made up later in the year, "likely with a guest vocalist."


Fans can either save their tickets for one of the future shows or turn them in for a refund.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band also had tour dates scheduled in Europe starting on May 7, but those concerts have not yet been postponed.

The news is the latest of many setbacks for the band.

In 2014, founding member and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young retired after being diagnosed with dementia. He is reportedly living in a care facility in Australia.

That same year, longtime drummer Phil Rudd was arrested and accused in a murder plot. He later pleaded guilty to making threats and drug charges, and is no longer part of the band.

AC/DC was formed in Australia in 1973 by Scotland-born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Vocalist Bon Scott joined the following year along with drummer Rudd and bass player Mark Evans, forming the lineup that would record many of the group's earliest hits.

Evans was replaced by bassist Cliff Williams in 1977, and Johnson joined in 1980 after the death of Scott. Johnson's first album with the band, "Back in Black," remains the group's best-selling record and one of the top-selling albums of all time.

The band also has a reputation as one of the loudest in the world. Guitar company Gibson said AC/DC's "Back in Black" tour reached 130 decibels, leading to complaints from promoters. According to Purdue, that's the volume of a military jet with an afterburner taking off of an aircraft carrier from just 50 feet away, and beyond the 120-decibel pain threshold.

While the band's concerts are no longer quite that loud, they remain known for volume, even using cannons on stage for the song "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)."

If Johnson doesn't perform again, his final show with the band will have been on Feb. 28 in Kansas City

[ol' boy]

Is This The End Of Aussie Rock Band AC/DC?

I thought it already ended when Bon Scott died

[enf]

I thought it already ended when Bon Scott died

So did I until Back in Black came out. They were a little different, that's all. Still the same hard hitting Vanda and Young derivative.

Brian Johnson was the perfect choice in my view. They were now an international act, and the Australian connection was thinner.

[bob_m_54]

It's the nature of bands to change their line up and evolve, as they have done through the ages. Whether it will work for them is the big question that only time will tell. It didn't for INXS,

[gordon_s1942]

Jimmy Barnes 'fronted for AC/DC and then was replaced by Brian Johnson which didnt seem to cause much of a hiccup but what will be a loss is one of the Bands founder Brothers reportedly suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.

[exited]

would be an ideal replacement imo...

[lsemmens]

All he need do is wear specially designed hearing protection..........

[JasonC]

apparently the hearing damage came from................race cars, ie. driving race cars without ear plugs not music
no joke

[Uncle Fester]

Noise cancelling hearing aids that filter only what he needs to hear would be perhaps a solution in both cases.
They have to be moulded to cover most of the ear but long hair could cover the embarrassment.

[admin]

So did I until Back in Black came out. They were a little different, that's all. Still the same hard hitting Vanda and Young derivative.

Brian Johnson was the perfect choice in my view. They were now an international act, and the Australian connection was thinner.

I hate ACDC in general. And I love rock music.

While Back In Black was a great album, everything since has been a gradual slide downhill. I can remember buying Flick of the switch and thinking it was shit, and can remember the same with Fly on the wall.

ACDC died with Bon Scott. Its interesting to see on Back in Blacks songwriting credits include Brian Johnstone. Many people claim Scott had a big hand in them.

They have been nothing but a corporate brand producing garbage for a very long time. Now all I need is for Jimmy Barnes to suffer the same and I will be happy. He and Johnstone should have given up long long ago.

[enf]

Honestly, I never really listened after Back In Black. It was more curiosity to see what Johnson was like and I liked it. Having seen AC/DC a few times in the 70s, especially as support for Black Sabbath, I had moved on.

I'd also seen Johnson before as front man for Geordie...they toured Australia with Deep Purple and Manfred Mann.....

[Schermann]

Lets hope they get someone who actually sings like Bon Scott...