NME spoke with AC/DC guitarist Angus Young and bassist Cliff Williams, along with Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses) ahead of the band’s European tour dates, which launch tomorrow, May 7th in Lisbon, Portugal.

Axl Rose joined AC/DC after Brian Johnson was advised by doctors to stop performing live to avoid the risk of losing his hearing. Axl, Angus and Cliff spoke about the situation. An excerpt follows:  

NME: Did you ever consider getting a number of different guest vocalists?

Angus: “To be honest with you, it was a case of ‘what do we do?’”

Axl: “They were in the process of trying to decide what they were doing as a band in general, is my understanding, because it just went down.”

Angus: “It was a crisis that came then, and we had to act. We were in Miami at the time, when all of this came up, and unfortunately, when you’re in that situation you got to make decisions pretty quick, because there are a lot of people waiting. We were supposed to actually play in Atlanta, so you’re kind of going ‘what do we do now’. Because of the nature of Brian’s deafness, we knew that there was no easy fix. So you’ve got to then say, ‘what do we do here?’ The options were very limited and you think, if we just stop with all of this machinery it’s going to be a hell of a lot of legal entanglement…”

Axl: “That, and the fans, and not wanting the band to have to go through that, as I have gone through a little bit of that at times!”

Angus: “It was good that he offered, y’know. He said, if I can do it…”

Axl: “Which I had no idea, I mean, they play really loud, they have their way of working and you never know if you’re going to blend. But it started out pretty good and its gradually got better. I’m hoping to make it through the first show before I get fired!”

NME: Did you ever consider pulling the shows?

Cliff: “We wanted to finish what we’d started.”

Angus: “And that was our main goal, especially Cliff and myself, being there the longest. We wanted to complete what we had started. And I mean, you can’t call a tour ‘Rock Or Bust’ and then go bust!”

Axl: “Ha! That’s amazing.”

Read more at NME.

Axl Rose and AC/DC spoke to BBC 6 Music’s Matt Everitt about replacing Brian Johnson and their upcoming tour. The full audio interview can now be heard below.

In an interview posted on their official Facebook, Angus Young and Cliff Williams, along with Axl Rose, talk about continuing the upcoming tour without Brian Johnson.

Asius Technologies founder Stephen Ambrose has issued an open message to Brian Johnson of AC/DC, “Please don’t stop performing, help is on the way.” Doctors recently advised Johnson that he may lose his hearing entirely if he continues to perform live.

Ambrose is the inventor of the wireless in-ear monitors, a staple on concert stages around the world. He now has news for Brian Johnson about a new-and-improved version of the in-ear monitor, the Ambrose Diaphonic Ear Lens

Ambrose made improvements to the in-ear monitor in cooperation with the National Health Foundation and 64 Audio, who produced the video streaming below. He claims this could possibly help save Johnson’s career.

Brian Johnson issued this following statement recently:

"As many AC/DC fans know, the remaining shows for the 2016 AC/DC Rock or Bust World Tour, including 10 postponed U.S. shows, are being rescheduled with a guest singer.  I want personally to explain the reason because I don’t believe the earlier press releases sufficiently set out what I wanted to say to our fans or the way in which I thought it should be presented.

On March 7th, after a series of examinations by leading physicians in the field of hearing loss, I was advised that if I continue to perform at large venues, I risked total deafness.  While I was horrified at the reality of the news that day, I had for a time become aware that my partial hearing loss was beginning to interfere with my performance on stage.  I was having difficulty hearing the guitars on stage and because I was not able to hear the other musicians clearly, I feared the quality of my performance could be compromised.  In all honesty this was something I could not in good conscience allow.  Our fans deserve my performance to be at the highest level, and if for any reason I can’t deliver that level of performance I will not disappoint our fans or embarrass the other members of AC/DC.  I am not a quitter and I like to finish what I start, nevertheless, the doctors made it clear to me and my bandmates that I had no choice but to stop performing on stage for the remaining shows and possibly beyond.  That was the darkest day of my professional life.

Since that day, I have had several consultations with my doctors and it appears that, for the near future, I will be unable to perform on stage at arena and stadium size venues where the sound levels are beyond my current tolerance, without the risk of substantial hearing loss and possibly total deafness.  Until that time, I tried as best as I could to continue despite the pain and hearing loss but it all became too much to bear and too much to risk.

I am personally crushed by this development more than anyone could ever imagine.  The emotional experience I feel now is worse than anything I have ever in my life felt before.  Being part of AC/DC, making records and performing for the millions of devoted fans this past 36 years has been my life’s work.  I cannot imagine going forward without being part of that, but for now I have no choice.  The one thing for certain is that I will always be with AC/DC at every show in spirit, if not in person.

Most importantly, I feel terrible having to disappoint the fans who bought tickets for the canceled shows and who have steadfastly supported me and AC/DC these many years.  Words cannot express my deep gratitude and heartfelt thanks not just for the recent outpouring to me personally of kind words and good wishes, but also for the years of loyal support of AC/DC.  My thanks also go to Angus and Cliff for their support.

Finally, I wish to assure our fans that I am not retiring.  My doctors have told me that I can continue to record in studios and I intend to do that.  For the moment, my entire focus is to continue medical treatment to improve my hearing.  I am hoping that in time my hearing will improve and allow me to return to live concert performances.  While the outcome is uncertain, my attitude is optimistic.  Only time will tell.

Once again, my sincere best wishes and thanks to everyone for their support and understanding."

AC/DC issued the following statement: “AC/DC band members would like to thank Brian Johnson for his contributions and dedication to the band throughout the years. We wish him all the best with his hearing issues and future ventures.  As much as we want this tour to end as it started, we understand, respect and support Brian's decision to stop touring and save his hearing. We are dedicated to fulfilling the remainder of our touring commitments to everyone that has supported us over the years, and are fortunate that Axl Rose has kindly offered his support to help us fulfill this commitment."

AC/DC European Tour Dates (with Axl Rose):

May
7 - Lisbon, Portugal - Passeio Maritimo De Alges
10 - Seville, Spain - Estadio De La Cartuja
13 - Marseille, France - Stade Velodrome
16 - Werchter, Belgium - Werchter Site
19 - Vienna, Austria - Erns-Happel Stadium
22 - Prague, Czech Republic - Letnany Airport
26 - Hamburg, Germany - Volksparkstadion
29 - Berne, Switzerland - Stade De Suisse

June
1 - Leipzig, Germany - Red Bull Arena
4 - London, England - The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
9 - Manchester, England - Etihad Stadium
12 - Aarhus, Denmark - Ceres Park

Axl Rose has appeared on camera with his AC/DC bandmates Angus Young and Cliff Williams prior to their live debut with the Guns N’ Roses singer this Saturday (May 7th) in Lisbon, Portugal at Passeio Maritimo De Alges.

“We are really excited to be here in Portugal,” Angus Young says. “We are here to give you a great rock show.”

“We are very excited to be there,” adds Axl Rose.

More supposed audio clips of AC/DC rehearsing with Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose have surfaced. Check full audio of “Hells Bells,” “Back In Black,” and “Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be” from a Lisbon studio below: