Metal guru and That Metal Show co-host Eddie Trunk has weighed in on the news that AC/DC have replaced singer Brian Johnson with Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose for their upcoming tour dates. Originally published here, Trunk's complete article is available below:

"Well, now the news is official about Axl’s involvement in AC/DC, at least to fill in for these remaining shows. If you heard my podcast this is what Axl and I discussed at the Vegas show last weekend and he asked me not to speak about until it was officially out. Needless to say for Axl this is a moment for him to play with his heroes. He told me how excited he was to have the chance to do this and said he would do an interview with me about it if I didn’t say anything until official word comes out. So hopefully that is coming! You also no doubt know Angus jammed with GnR last night at Coachella to make it official. The clips on YouTube sounded cool and clearly vocally Axl can handle the gig. But there are way more questions than that. The release from AC/DC made it pretty clear they are done with Brian Johnson. 

What really happened with Brian is anyone’s guess. But nobody is buying the hearing thing that I know. My sources tell me Brian was slowing down and didn’t want to work as hard as Angus (who is younger) did. I also know that on the latest tour Brian only wanted to do 2-3 shows max a week. Something that is expensive for a band when off that much on the road (Aerosmith has to do this with Tyler). It comes with age and guys slowing. I suspect it reached a breaking point and that was that. I cannot believe it was a sudden hearing issue. Maybe it played a small role, but no way is it the real story in full. I can’t believe after 36 years AC/DC would say goodbye to their singer and not find a work around. MANY have hearing issues and find a way to make it work in rock. And until Brian speaks, we will never know. Brian is a total class act. So very possible he takes the high road here. But it still blows me away how so many fans are not demanding a real answer on Brian and are so quick to move on.

But none of this has anything to do with Axl. who will be a kid in a candy store! What a story for him. He has Guns back to mega stadium level, and is joining a band of heroes about to do stadiums in Europe! Hopefully his leg is mended so he can move some. Also note the remaining AC/DC dates all already fall in a window GnR was off. So this doesn’t impact them at all. AC/DC needed a massive name to keep people from returning these already sold tickets for the remaining dates. They certainly got that with Axl. But that doesn’t answer their long term issue of a singer IF they want to go on beyond this. I doubt Axl can do both gigs full time? If this is a victory lap for AC/DC then cool. Finish up and say goodbye. If they want to go for another 10 years, and that may have been they very issue with Brian, then they need a new younger singer they can build with. I also wouldn’t be shocked if Axl/DC leans a bit more on Bon era material since that really fits him slightly more. Will this work? Will they mesh personality wise? Axl will have to go on at a normal time. Does that work? I think Axl will do everything to kick ass in this gig. It is a major dream for him. He knows he’s having a fun fling here and that while Guns is very much his band, AC/DC is just filling in and doing something he never believed as a kid he would do. It will be another very interesting chapter to watch for sure!"

On Saturday, April 16th Guns N' Roses took the stage at the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival. During their set the band was joined by AC/DC guitarist Angus Young and performed the AC/DC classics "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Riff Raff". Fan-filmed video is available below.

AC/DC will resume their Rock Or Bust World Tour with Axl Rose joining on vocals. The European stadium tour dates begin on May 7th in Lisbon, Portugal and run through June 12th in Aarhus, Denmark as previously announced (see below for full itinerary).  Following this European run of dates with AC/DC, Axl Rose will head out on his Guns N' Roses, 'Not In This Lifetime' Summer Stadium Tour.

"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."

The 10 postponed US shows will be rescheduled and announced imminently, also with Axl Rose.

AC/DC European Tour Dates:

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

Complete Tour Schedule for Axl Rose

Guns N’ Roses Not In This Lifetime:

April
19 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol                               
20 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol                             
23 - Indio, CA - Coachella

AC/DC Rock or Bust:

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

Guns N’ Roses Not In This Lifetime:

June
23 - Ford Field - Detroit, MI
26 - FedEx Field - Washington, DC
29 - Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City, MO

July
1 - Soldier Field - Chicago, IL
6 - Paul Brown Stadium - Cincinnati, OH
9 - Nissan Stadium - Nashville, TN
12 - Heinz Field - Pittsburgh, PA
14 - Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia, PA
16 - Rogers Centre - Toronto, ON
19 - Gillette Stadium - Foxboro, MA
23 - Metlife Stadium - East Rutherford, NJ
27 - Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA
29 - Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium - Orlando, FL
31 - Mercedes-Benz Superdome - New Orleans, LA

August
3 - AT&T Stadium - Arlington, TX
5 - NRG Stadium - Houston, TX
9 - AT&T Park - San Francisco, CA
12 - CenturyLink Field - Seattle, WA
15 - University of Phoenix Stadium - Glendale, AZ
22 - Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, CA