Music

AC/DC's Brian Johnson forced to stop touring due to hearing loss

by Jeremy Mersereau

Rock out for long enough, and you risk damaging your hearing, no matter how carefully you guard your ears. And not many bands (or their fans, come to think of it) have rocked out for longer than the legendary AC/DC.

As per a statement on the band’s website, AC/DC singer Brian Johnson has been advised by his doctors to immediately stop touring or risk total hearing loss. AC/DC are being forced to reschedule the 10 remaining U.S. dates on their current ‘Rock or Bust’ tour, but the statement notes that they’ll make the dates up later this year, “likely with a guest vocalist”.

Brian Johnson, formerly of the band Geordie, joined the iconic Australian rockers in 1980 after the death of Bon Scott. His first album with the group, Back in Black, has since become the second-biggest selling album of all time, after Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Not bad for a new guy.

Johnson’s hearing loss is only the latest in a series of bad news stories AC/DC fans have endured over the past few years: in 2014, rhythm guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young was forced to leave the band due to the onset of dementia, and later that same year, longtime drummer Phil Rudd was arrested for methamphetamine possession, threatening to kill, and “attempting to procure the murder” of two unnamed individuals (that charge was dropped the next day, but Rudd pled guilty to meth possession and threatening to kill, and was sentenced to eight months house arrest).

At what point Angus Young and his seminal band were cursed by a witch for rocking too hard, we can’t confirm, but hopefully Brian Johnson’s hearing makes a full recovery. For those who have rocked, we salute you.