In a new interview with Yahoo Music, AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson discussed being forced to walk away from the Rock Or Bust world tour in 2016 due to hearing issues - he was temporarily replaced by Guns N' Roses vocalist Axl Rose - and how he was able to come back and continue with the band with his hearing intact.

Johnson: "The very fact that I had to stop was a terrible thing. I can’t tell you how bad it felt not to do what you love to do, but I just thought I was a very lucky man, because I'd had such a good time, and it wasn't anything terminal. There was a lot of people in the world who are having a much harder time than me. I couldn't feel sorry for myself for long."

It turned out that Johnson didn’t have to feel sorry for himself for long, nor did he need to permanently retire. Young stresses that the stint with Rose was always supposed to be temporary (“It was not a case of looking for something else”), and that he had always hoped that Johnson would eventually return to the lineup. And thanks for some cutting-edge, experimental new hearing technology, by 2018, that reunion became a reality, with the reinstated band beginning to work on Power Up in secret. Next, it was time to find out if playing live again with Johnson was a realistic possibility. And shooting AC/DC’s music video for lead Power Up single “Shot in the Dark” while in Holland provided the perfect testing opportunity.

"Technology comes along. It's a wonderful world. Now technology moves faster and faster. And this fabulous man had an idea he wanted to share with me. And we got together, worked for about two and a half years on this thing," Johnson says of his new top-secret hearing device. "The band got together in Holland, and Angus very kindly said, ‘Let’s rehearse while were shooting the video.’ And we got together and Angus said, 'Let's go!' And I said, 'Right, do full-field conditions, full lineup, and whack it out. ‘Cause if it doesn't work, I'm don’t want to waste anyone’s time.' Well, it did work, and it was smashing; what had such a wonderful time doing it, what a crack. And I said, 'OK, this is good!'"

"It was a case of Brian working (with the hearing technology) even before we got together for the album; he'd been working it out with these people and he was getting a lot of great results, and kept us updated," explains Young. "Brian was really happy with the technology, and he'd tested it in different environments. … So, when we said we were going to get together in the new studio, I knew straight away that if he was saying that, he was ready."

Read the complete story here.

AC/DC will release their new album, Power Up, this Friday (November 13) via Columbia Records. Listen to the album track, "Realize", below:

Post a picture/video of you powering up for the new AC/DC album with the hashtag #PWRUPCONTEST and #ACDC for an opportunity to win a Gibson guitar signed by Angus Young! Further details here.

The limited edition, one-of-a-kind deluxe Power Up box is the ultimate fan package. Hit the button on the side of the box and watch the flashing neon AC/DC logo light up while the opening bars of “Shot In The Dark” blast out of the built-in speaker. Inside the box is the full CD package in a soft-pack with a 20-page booklet that features exclusive photos and USB charging cable allowing the box to remain powered up and on display.

Watch an unboxing video:

The Limited Edition Deluxe Lightbox, CD, Vinyl and Digital Download editions of Power Up are available for pre-order here. The official AC/DC store also has an array of pre-order options, which can be viewed at this location.

Power Up is AC/DC’s 17th studio album. For Power Up, the band reunited with producer Brendan O’Brien who helmed the double-platinum Black Ice in 2008 and the gold Rock Or Bust in 2014. Charged up for the next decade, AC/DC cut twelve new tracks for the album, proudly maintaining their signature sound and all of its powerful hallmarks.

The AC/DC lineup of Angus Young (lead guitar), Brian Johnson (lead vocals), Cliff Williams (bass guitar), Phil Rudd (drums), and Stevie Young (rhythm guitar) is firing on all cylinders once again.

Tracklisting:

"Realize"
"Rejection"
"Shot in the Dark"
"Through the Mists of Time"
"Kick You When You're Down"
"Witch's Spell"
"Demon Fire"
"Wild Reputation"
"No Man's Land"
"Systems Down"
"Money Shot"
"Code Red"

"Shot In The Dark" video:

"Shot In The Dark" behind the scenes:

"Demon Fire" teaser:

Trailers: