AC/DC singer Brian Johnson will return home to Tyneside to be awarded an honorary degree.

The singer, who was born and grew up in Gateshead, will be made an Honorary Doctor of Music at Northumbria University on Wednesday - graduating alongside students on the university’s engineering and environmental degree programmes.

The singer, who hinted this week that AC/DC could be set to tour again soon, will join figures such as iPhone designer Sir Jonathan Ive, Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall and cricketer Paul Collingwood in being honoured by Northumbria.

Read more at ChronicleLive.

Johnson recently posted the following update via his Brian Johnson Racing website:

"Hello everyone, I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind words about Cars That Rock. Your encouragement means a lot to me. This was my first ever go at presenting a TV series and even though it may not show, I was real nervous and so am very relieved that you all seem to be enjoying it.

We hope to bring you more shows in the near future but, of course, there is the slight distraction of my day job with AC/DC – and it looks very likely that we will be on the road again before the end of the year. So stand by for more music – and more Cars That Rock."

In late April, ACDCFans.net, reported that AC/DC's gear had arrived at the Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, BC where the band will be working from May through July with Black Ice producer Brendan O'Brien (AEROSMITH, PEARL JAM).

With rumors of AC/DC's imminent demise swirling through the media recently, the band broke their silence, posting the following statement: "After forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health. Malcolm would like to thank the group’s diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support.

In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music."

AC/DC's last album, 2008's Black Ice, topped sales charts in 29 countries, including the US, UK, Germany, Canada, France, Argentina, Japan, Australia, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and more. The band are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year!

Stay tuned for updates.