Phil Collen urges Angus Young not to record ‘karaoke’ AC/DC album with Axl Rose
Def Leppard’s Phil Collen says that Angus Young shouldn’t record a new AC/DC album with Axl Rose on vocals.
Last month, Rose Tattoo singer Angry Anderson revealed to The Rockpit that AC/DC’s sole original member Angus Young told him he’s penning a new album with Axl Rose on vocals.
Angry’s bold claims have very much divided AC/DC fans with some welcoming Angus’s apparent decision to record with Axl and others urging him to lay the band to rest.
Reacting in a recent interview with Boise radio station 96.9 The Eagle, Phil Collen said he was very much in the latter camp and explained that AC/DC could lose their integrity if they carry on.
Phil said (via Blabbermouth): “I'm a huge AC/DC fan, and if the whole band's left or gone... Malcolm dead, obviously. Brian Johnson got kicked out. Cliff Williams retired and Phil Rudd got arrested. You've got one person left, so it's not really AC/DC. Maybe call it 'A, with Axl Rose.' It kind of loses its appeal. It becomes karaoke; it becomes something else, and it's lost its integrity, really."
He continued: "I wouldn't do that, personally, if I was Angus. I thought Axl Rose (did) a great job, by the way. I thought he (did) amazing when he stood in for Brian Johnson. I thought he was amazing, actually.
“Full power to him — he's done really, really good stuff. But I think as a band, if he was gonna do an album, it may sound good, but it's not really the band anymore."
Ever enigmatic, there has been no official comment on the future of AC/DC from Angus Young, Chris Slade, Stevie Young, or, indeed, Axl Rose.
In unsubstantiated claims, AC/DC author Murray Engleheart predicted in February that the band will continue releasing albums and touring with Axl on vocals.
He wrote on Facebook: “Speculate all you want but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: AC/DC will continue with Axl on vocals – new album, touring, the whole nine yards. What was a massive gamble by Angus turned out to be an equally enormous triumph that has set the scene for the future.”
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