Axl Rose Makes Long-Awaited Debut As AC/DC Lead Singer

When Axl Rose agreed to sing lead for AC/DC, it ended a period of questions surrounding the legendary hard rock band. AC/DC had to cancel a number of shows when lead singer Brian Johnson started to suffer from hearing loss. They cancelled their U.S. dates but still had their European leg of the tour to play. That was when guitarist and AC/DC founder Angus Young called on Guns N’ Roses lead singer Axl Rose for help.

Rolling Stone reported on Saturday that Axl Rose took the stage for the very first time with AC/DC in Lisbon, and the site reported that Rose “triumphs” when it comes to his first show with the legendary rock band. Axl will continue touring with AC/DC through the next month before he sets out with Guns N’ Roses on the band’s “Not in This Lifetime” tour. After that, Rose will rejoin AC/DC later this year to play the shows that AC/DC cancelled in the U.S.

Rolling Stone reported that Axl Rose was a “great fit” for AC/DC and that his voice “remained in great shape.” The band went through some of their greatest hits, including “Hells Bells,” “Shoot to Thrill,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.” The site also reported that Axl looked to “enjoy himself” even as he was forced to remain seated through the concert, thanks to a fractured foot.

Axl Rose broke his foot in the very first reunion concert with original Guns N’ Roses members Slash and Duff McKagan at The Troubadour in Los Angeles. Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters lent him the use of a throne he had made after he broke his foot to continue touring. Rose has used the throne in the Guns N’ Roses concerts in Las Vegas and at Coachella, and he continues to use it with AC/DC.

It seems like Rose is rescuing AC/DC from a very rough end to a period of tragedy. ABC reported that Angus Young’s brother Malcolm had to retire prior to this tour after suffering with dementia. That was a huge loss, as Malcolm was not only a founding member but was also one of the key businessmen and songwriters for AC/DC.

Then, earlier this year, AC/DC announced that Brian Johnson was stepping away due to hearing loss. According to Loudwire, the hearing loss was caused by racing cars and not by touring with AC/DC. Regardless of the reasons, Johnson couldn’t continue to tour with the band, and they chose to replace him.

Axl Rose stepped in as the temporary replacement even as Johnson said that he is not finished making music. Johnson has been with AC/DC since 1980, replacing Bon Scott after the singer’s death. The first album with Johnson was Back in Black, which remains the band’s most successful album, certified two-times diamond in the United States.

While Axl Rose was already at the center of the spotlight when he reunited with Slash and Duff McKagan as Guns N’ Roses for the first time in 20 years, his joining AC/DC cast him in another bright spotlight. While some fans were disappointed in the band moving on from Brian Johnson, other legends such as Alice Cooper told Rolling Stone that he thinks fans getting to see Axl with AC/DC has a “golden ticket.”

The first fans who got to see Axl Rose as the lead singer of AC/DC were in Lisbon on Saturday night, and word coming from the show is that it was a great concert. There will be more shows coming in Europe, with Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, the U.K., and Denmark still to go. Then, the cancelled U.S. shows will get their dates back after the Guns N’ Roses tour. For now, Axl Rose seems comfortable with AC/DC as the two rock icons continue to rock on.

[Photo by Armando Franca/AP Images]