AC/DC or Axl/DC or a close proximity to either version of the band might be recording in Vancouver right now. No facts are involved in that statement, only rumors, so take it all with heavy grains of salt… but it does look like something is happening.
About a week ago the rumors began to fly with the sighting of AC/DC’s current rhythm guitarist Stevie Young with none other than on/off/on/off and no now maybe on again AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd in Vancouver, the city in which the band recorded their last three albums.
Interesting indeed, but a guy telling another guy that he spoke with two band members is hardly solid reporting. But now… we have a blurry photo of Phil Rudd in Vancouver to go along with it.
The photo is taken by someone who lives by the studio AC/DC is known to record in, waiting to snap a photo of a band member hanging outside for a break. Yeah, it’s creepy… but without this creep we would not know who is hanging with Phil right now. None other than AC/DC’s on/off and now maybe on again lead singer Brian Johnson!
Whoa! Wasn’t expecting that one! I mean, I hoped for it. But after Brian’s relationship with lead guitarist/founding member Angus Young, hit a wall in March of 2016 I was certain he would not be coming back. Brian seemed to have a hearing problem that would not allow him to perform live… but then he didn’t… but Angus abruptly showed him the door to an early retirement anyway.
Having just come off the departure AC/DC’s co-founder and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young due to illness, then the bizarre case of Phil Rudd’s “procuring a murder” scandal of 2015 (The charges of which were quickly dropped, but at the time the accusations were still in the air), you then had to deal with Axl Rose of all people filling in for Brian.
To the casual fan, Axl Rose, the long time temperamental lead singer of Guns ‘n Roses would seem like a natural fit. Both G ‘N R and Acca Dacca have similarities in the style of music that they play… but to a “hard-core” fan like myself, the two bands are worlds apart.
To me, AC/DC is a hard-working band. Sure, with their 40 plus years in the biz they have had their ups and downs, but they were usually due to circumstances beyond their control. At the end of the day, they showed up on time, did the gig, and were always professional about it. Gunners, especially Axl, came of as a bunch of self-destructive prima donnas.
Now it was possible for this attitude to be injected into AC/DC. It was a weird time to be a fan, for sure.
So, I’m truly excited to see the strong possibility of Brian coming back, especially after several circumstances leading up to now pointed to him being finished as a member of AC/DC.
First, Brian Johnson did have something going on with his hearing. How he would walk his voice up to get the right pitch when he performed live during the Rock or Bust tour was the most telling sign. Here is an example from their live show in Sydney, Australia from 2015. Cue to 1:09 to the a little build up to the example at 1:12:
Is it enough that Angus should fire Brian over it? I’d say no, but Angus is a perfectionist, and that part of his attitude a reason why AC/DC has become so successful.
Second, Brian had already signaled his departure from the band in May of 2016 to Rolling Stone.
He claims to have had a “good run” and he is “happy to have made it out alive.” Comments that you can chalk up to his sense of humor, but he is speaking about his time with AC/DC in the past tense. Not a good sign.
Third, Axl was a total pro about the gig and did a bang up job.
Axl made his AC/DC debut with a broken foot while on tour with Guns ‘N Roses at the same time. He never missed a show and didn’t make any waves with some off stage antics. He showed that he was wanting, willing, and able. He pulled tunes from the catalog like ‘Riff Raff’ and ‘Rock ‘n Roll Damnation’ which we haven’t heard live in 40 years. Respect, as my good friend Joe would say. So, as the tour began to wrap up it was natural for more rumors to start flying about how Angus wish to record a new AC/DC album with Axl.
I had held out hope that this wasn’t true and if Angus did decide to carry on with another album, Brian would be involved. And now I am getting psyched as it appears my hopes are coming true! Here is why:
Brian still rocks. This is all the proof I need:
This is from this past November. Brian’s distracting beer gut aside, what ever hearing problem he has/had, he is dealing/dealt with it.
To be clear, I was and always have been OK with Angus filling the remainder of the Rock or Bust tour with another singer. The band has always been a working machine with a hard conviction in the belief that “the show must go on” . Now, the choice of Axl was concerning for the before mentioned reasons, but they all turned out to be moot ones. I am happier for it.
But now after Brian has shown he has still got it, and since his departure from the band was… awkward… recording another AC/DC album without his presence while he is still able to contribute would not sit well with me.
Regardless if you do or do not enjoy Brian as a singer, you cannot deny how his contribution to AC/DC’s biggest album, Back In Black, was a huge stepping stone for them in terms of sales and popularity. You could argue that they were on their way there anyway with former lead singer Bon Scott, but how often have you seen band roster changes get completely cocked up? If Angus does have AC/DC recording in Vancouver right now, Brain is the singer who deserves to be their more than anyone else.
This will be 99.9% certainly a Rudd/Johnson collaboration on a non AC/DC album. Maybe a solo album of theirs. Maybe a new group. You read it here first.
Angus will continue Acca Dacca without them.
I would rather these lads than Axl and whatever other fill in, but I will not hold my breath.
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I thought of that too, but then Stevie Young wouldn’t be there, would he? If he is actually there, of course…
I hope that isn’t the case. I can’t take this drama, lol
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Enquiring minds want to know.
Stevie Young is family. He can never be fired from AC/DC.
He has nothing to do right now so if Rudd or Johnson asked he could fill in.
Maybe just a guest riff or two.
If he is there even. Where’s the photo. This creep in Vancouver should have one of him.
I personally lost some respect for Angus over the treatment of Johnson. He dropped from superhero down to hero. Brian Johnson was professional about it. Angus was stone cold. That strained the relationship and I bet Brian never forgives him.
As for Rudd, I get it with him. All that legal BS, the drugs, the hitman, threats, etc. I can not see Angus taking him back. Too much of a loose canon.
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The option could be this photo was taken in 2014, and some internet troll is playing an awful trick.
Hmmmmm
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We are on the same page, lol
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I know Steve Newton. He is 100% reliable.
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It is possible the Stevie report is inaccurate. I can’t 100% believe the photo as well. It could have been taken in 2014. I will lose some respect for Angus if it turns out he has cast Brian aside for good. Rudd, would be a shame too. The murder accusation turned out to be nothing and the drugs, well.. besides Angus they have all had to deal with some demons. I just hope for the best.
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I wonder if Angus got some advice from Eddie Van Halen.
More and more he seems to be headed in that direction.
At least Brian continues to be a pro about it all. The in-fighting and constant jabs from the VH camp have turned me off.
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Oh yeah. When it comes to VH all I can do is stick to the tunes. The removal of Mike Anthony from the website and album covers was priceless though.
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Was his photo substituted with that photo of EVH from a few years ago when he looked like a drunk hobo?
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I think that may be correct.
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I read it here second but you posted it first 🙂
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You know I’m working hard. I’m worth a deuce.
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UPDATE: ANGUS SPOTTED!!
https://www.loudersound.com/news/now-stevie-and-angus-young-are-spotted-in-vancouver
It’s on!
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Here is the latest conjecture from the biggest names in rock journalism:
Because Angus has not been spotted, it is possible that Brian is working on a solo album with his buddies. In fact I think that’s the likeliest.
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WOW!!! Thanks for the high praise Mike!!!
Wait..ohhh. You mean others. Ok. Never mind.
😉
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It is entirely possible. This will be a weird album for me if every member of AC/DC is featured except for Angus though. I’m hanging onto a full reunion.
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How about an AC/DC & Gunners co-headline tour.
Brian Johnson and Rudd come back.
Axl sings a few songs with Brian.
I am rocking out to this. Then I wake up and it was all a damn dream.
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Let’s make it truly retro and Axl just stays in his dressing room for 2 hours.
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ANGUS SPOTTED! https://www.loudersound.com/news/now-stevie-and-angus-young-are-spotted-in-vancouver
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Yes!
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I read that late last night/very early this am on Ear Of Newt.
It looks like the 0.01% is hopefully happening.
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Something big is happening. Maybe it’ll only be one new song for a greatest hits, but who cares? Something is happening with those 4 guys right now.
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Highway To Hell 40th Anniversary Deluxe with 2nd disc with Brian Johnson on vocals.
You heard it here first.
😉
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…. yeah, I`m gonna go with that being bad idea.
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I saw ACDC (with Brian) in Montreal on that Rock or Bust tour – he sounded just fine to me!
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The Montreal show was relatively early on in the tour. In the Rolling Stone article Brian says he didn’t start having problems until two weeks later at the Winnipeg show.
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Interesting – that’s encouraging to read that he may be able to keep performing
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I think he will be. I was just reading how he is now using a fitted ear piece now that is helping him greatly.
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I remember right after hearing about his hearing(?) that a company offered him a device for free.
Perfect advertising.
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Yes, this is true. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ac-dcs-brian-johnson-gives-positive-update-on-hearing-loss-165103/
But considering how neither you or I could rhyme off the name of the company I would say it is less than perfect advertising. 😛
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It took a while for him to get back in the spotlight, but once he is back on stage full time the name of the company should be back in the news.
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I saw them in Toronto on that tour and he was awesome.
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I probably screamed loud enough to hurt his hearing so sorry about that.
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It was you!
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i’m going to say words I have never heard at home.
Sorry Brian.
😉
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I’m saying that pic is from Rock the Bust recordings…
hahaha..conspiracy theory….
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No word from any band members though. If it was from back then, someone would quickly quash the rumours.
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Doubt it…everything with AC/DC is secret…they enjoy this kind of bullshit…even the laziest band in the world VH should post a picture of Hagar and EVH on a balcony somewhere..
good way to drum up business and conversation
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I kind of thought of that too. Any press is good press.
I would have thought Angus would squash it like a bug though.
The fuel that maybe Johnson and Rudd coming back will just piss off more AC/DC fans when it does not happen in my opinion.
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Nah, I don’t believe it is something generated by the band. If it was, and they are not back recording why would the ousted Brian and Phil be in on it? Surely they would say something.
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I do believe the reports. The author is apparently a stand up guy and peddling false rumors would only hurt his website’s reputation. But I can’t deny how the people who saw band members and took photos were not the author himself. So shenanigans could be afoot.
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I think they should make an instrumental blues rock record. Just those huge riffs and that huge sound… what a soundtrack!
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I’d give it a listen, for sure! For me, I enjoy a vocal melody laying over top. There are exceptions but I get bored with instrumentals for the most part.
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