Take us down to the supergroup city.
It’s been speculated and (air quotes) “confirmed” that Axl Rose, the lead singer of Guns ‘n Roses, will substitute as vocalist for AC/DC on a 10-show swing through the United States. The band announced in early March that front-man Brian Johnson was advised by doctors to “stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss”, forcing it to bump a slate of upcoming concerts to later this year. Those evenings would be made up “likely with a guest vocalist,” a press release said at the time.
According to a rapidly spinning rumor mill, that guest will be Rose, one of the few hard rock singers in history whose vocal range and versatility has possibly surpassed Johnson’s. One report involves the son of AC/DC founding member Malcom Young implying on Facebook that Rose would be joining his pop’s old outfit. Another, this one from an Atlanta DJ, cited “a very very good source” who said that Rose to AC/DC was “all but a done deal”.
Maybe so. But all the band has said is this, through a spokesperson to the music magazine NME: “Nothing official to announce. Will update you if that changes.”
If it does, it wouldn’t exactly be akin to Bryce Harper pinch-hitting for an injured Mike Trout, Jay Leno subbing for Conan O’Brien, or Trump Force One replacing the Boeing VC-25. Rose and Johnson are two of the greats, but unlike aging guitarists whose experience and ingenuity can preserve their sound, old singers can’t get the best use of their cords. These two men have been shouting at Pluto from an arena stage for most of their adult lives. The result is that Rose has lost his power, and Johnson sings as though he’s gurgling mouthwash.
But man. Brian Johnson has still got it. His performance at the 2015 Grammy Awards had everyone in the audience losing their minds but Tony Bennett, who must’ve left his joy in San Francisco. Check out this full concert in Berlin from August last year: Johnson is still a growling hummingbird, on pitch, alternatively sauntering across the stage and bending his knee to a thespian pose.
He’s the only man in rock music who can be a badass and still dress like he’s headed to a poetry reading.
That’s difficult to replace. Rose, 14 years Johnson’s junior, looks like a fine replacement on paper. Listen to the end of “Paradise City” and you can hear something resembling Brian Johnson’s raw power; listen to the end of “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and you can hear something that arguably exceeds it. And although Rose’s voice seems more suited to a track like “November Rain” nowadays, there’s something more than novel to the thought of him laying into a rendition of “Highway to Hell”. It could actually be pretty fun.
