AC/DC’s Brian Johnson ordered to stop touring or risk going deaf

AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson has been ordered by doctors to stop touring or ‘risk total hearing loss.’

A post on the legendary Australian/British rockers’ official website confirms they have been forced to rearrange 10 dates on the North American leg of their ‘Rock or Bust’ tour due to medical grounds.

All of these dates will take place “later in the year” and according to the band “likely with a guest vocalist” in place of 68-year-old Johnson.

It’s currently not clear whether AC/DC’s shows at London Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Manchester Etihad Stadium this June will be affected.

The full AC/DC statement reads:

“AC/DC are forced to reschedule the 10 upcoming dates on the U.S. leg of their “Rock or Bust” World Tour. AC/DC’s lead singer, Brian Johnson, has been advised by doctors to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss."  

“Tomorrow's show in Atlanta through Madison Square Garden in New York, NY in early April will be made up later in the year, likely with a guest vocalist. More information regarding these rescheduled shows to come. Current ticket holders can hold on to their tickets for the rescheduled dates or receive a refund at point of purchase.”

The band's Facebook post, announcing the news:
 

(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)0; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));

> AC/DC RESCHEDULING UPCOMING U.S. TOUR DATESAC/DC’s lead singer, Brian Johnson, has been advised by doctors to stop... > > Posted by AC/DC on Monday, 7 March 2016

Consisting of 87 epic shows across three continents, the colossal Rock or Bust Tour kicked off at Coachella Festival in April 2015 with the final date currently scheduled for Denmark’s Ceres Park in June.

The news caps a troubling couple of years for the band, with Malcolm Young retiring due to dementia, and drummer Phil Rudd being sentenced to eight months house arrest for pleading guilty to drug possession and threatening to kill.