Duff McKagan: Axl Rose was really nervous about fronting AC/DC
Duff McKagan says his Guns N' Roses band mate Axl Rose was “really nervous” about fronting his favourite band AC/DC.
Axl, of course, personally offered his singing services to AC/DC for the final two legs of their Rock or Bust Tour in 2016 after Brian Johnson was ordered by doctors to quit touring or risk going deaf.
Speaking to Joey Diaz to promote his solo album ‘Tenderness’, Duff McKagan said that despite being consumed by nerves about fulfilling his boyhood dream, Axl stepped up to the plate and did a great job.
“The way (Axl) did that was amazing. He was, like, 'If you guys don't mind, I'm gonna go try out. They need a hand here.' Bon Scott's his all-time (hero),” Duff said.
“(We told Axl), 'Dude, you know you don't really have to try out for AC/DC.' But he was really nervous. 'I'm gonna go try out. It fits in with our touring perfect.' And Slash and I were, like, 'You've got the gig.' But he went to Atlanta and tried out, quote-unquote, and got the gig. I saw him twice on that tour. I flew to London to see him, and I flew to Cleveland to see that. It was great."
Duff added: "I think what it did for (Axl)… We got to know Angus (Young, AC/DC guitarist) through that. Angus has now come out and played with us a bunch of times. That was that thing when he was 14 or 15, 'Man, one day, if I ever got to be in AC/DC…' He was singing with a broom, and he finally got to do it. Amazing."
It's rumoured that AC/DC have been working on a new album in tribute to their late guitarist Malcolm Young with Brian Johnson back on vocal duties.
Last month, US radio DJ Eddie Trunk claimed on his show that AC/DC are “absolutely” going to tour again with Brian Johnson.
“I have sources that have told me that they are absolutely going to tour with Brian back again,” Trunk said. "That’s all unconfirmed from their camp, but I had it from some reliable sources.”
Featuring the singles ‘Tenderness’ and ‘Chip Away’, Duff McKagan’s new solo album ‘Tenderness’ is released next Friday (31st May).
Duff began work on the album in March 2018 at Station House Studios in Echo Park, California with producer Shooter Jennings while on a break during Guns N’ Roses’ record-breaking Not In This Lifetime… Tour.