Brian Johnson Returning to AC/DC: What We Know
Nothing has been officially confirmed, but reports are circulating again that Brian Johnson is back in AC/DC and a new album is in the works. As of now, here’s what…
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 03: Brian Johnson of AC/DC performs on stage during a media call ahead of their ‘Rock or Bust’ world tour at ANZ Stadium on November 3, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Brendon Thorne/Getty ImagesNothing has been officially confirmed, but reports are circulating again that Brian Johnson is back in AC/DC and a new album is in the works.
As of now, here’s what we know:
-The latest reports of Johnson being back come from a Facebook post from grindcore band Terrorizer. Their post reads, “We ran into Brian Johnson from AC/DC at the airport today after the flight home and we asked him about the rumors of him being on the new AC/DC album and he said, ‘Yes’ and that he is ‘Sick of denying it.’”
-Journalist Katherine Turman posted this follow-up to the original report from Terrorizer. It reads, “I put on my journalist hat re: AC/DC and reached out to Terrorizer about the story that Brian Johnson told them he was back in AC/DC. Guitarist (and back up drummer for Obituary) Lee Harrison (who is also the drummer and founder of Monstrosity) confirmed that Brian Johnson was returning from LA to his home in Florida and the band asked him ‘if the rumors were true about him being on the new album,’ and Brian said YES. Brian also said he was ‘sick of denying it.’ This took place in the long-term parking garage, ha!! There you go, metal press…”
-Much of this new buzz stems from photos that surfaced in August 2018 of Johnson, Phil Rudd, Angus Young and Stevie Young outside on the patio area of Warehouse Studio in Vancouver. This is the studio where AC/DC has recorded their past three studio albums.
If Johnson (and Rudd) are back with the band, this provides a far more pleasant outlook on the future of AC/DC compared to the past couple of years, which have been extraordinarily rough.
Rudd’s numerous legal issues, including being charged with attempting to procure a murder in 2014, led being replaced by Chris Slade on the Rock or Bust world tour.
Johnson was forced to exit the band due to hearing issues back in April 2016. Bassist Cliff Williams retired from the band in September 2016.
Malcolm Young died in November 2017 from complications from dementia.
Erica Banas is rock/classic rock news blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.
