Axl Rose Confirmed As AC/DC’s Replacement Singer
Axl Rose will fill in for Brian Johnson as AC/DC resumes their Rock or Bust tour, a representative for the group confirms.
AC/DC's European stadium stops begin on May 7 in Lisbon, Portugal and run through June 12 in Aarhus, Denmark. Those cities and dates are included below. Following that, Axl Rose will head out on his previously announced summer reunion tour with Guns N' Roses, dubbed "Not In This Lifetime ..." AC/DC's 10 earlier postponed U.S. summer dates will also be rescheduled with Rose as frontman.
Johnson dropped out after news broke on March 7 that he was dealing with a serious hearing problem. Rose almost immediately became the focus of replacement rumors. He was then reportedly photographed leaving a rehearsal studio with AC/DC in late March – though nothing was confirmed by either camp. By then, Guns N' Roses had already announced a string of stops for a long-awaited tour featuring Rose and fellow co-founders Slash and Duff McKagan.
"AC/DC band members would like to thank Brian Johnson for his contributions and dedication to the band throughout the years," the group said in a statement. "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."
Speculation about Rose was sparked at first by an unsourced report from an Atlanta DJ. Johnson was reportedly stung by AC/DC's quick announcement that postponed dates would possibly be rescheduled with another singer.
Later, two members of the bands' extended family – Ross Young, son of retired AC/DC co-founder Malcolm Young; and Tommy Stinson, a late-era bassist with Guns N' Roses – apparently confirmed Rose's plans to work with AC/DC.
AC/DC's European Tour Dates with Axl Rose
5/7 – Lisbon, Portugal
5/10 – Seville, Spain
5/13 – Marseille, France
5/16 – Werchter, Belgium
5/19 – Vienna, Austria
5/22 – Prague, Czech Republic
5/26 – Hamburg, Germany
5/29 – Berne, Switzerland
6/1 – Leipzig, Germany
6/4 – London, England
6/9 – Manchester, England
6/12 – Aarhus, Denmark
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