AC/DC singer Brian Johnson was “kicked to the curb” according to Johnson’s friend and comedian Jim Breuer, after the 67-year-old frontman informed band co-founder Angus Young of his hearing condition, reports CantonRep.com.
Breuer informed listeners of AC/DC’s situation via his podcast, The Metal In Me, after recently spending time with Johnson following his March 11th show at Sarasota Florida’s McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre.
“(Brian) said that he called and let (AC/DC and Young) know, ‘Hey this is what the doctor said, but let’s try to figure this out. I don’t think it’s as bad as he said it is.’ Literally the next day in the press, it was ‘Brian Johnson, tour canceled, he’s losing his hearing.’ ”
According to Breuer, Johnson was optimistic about making up the dates on the band’s current U.S. tour and finishing as many remaining dates on the AC/DC itinerary as possible. Then his tour luggage showed up on his driveway.
“(Brian said) ‘I would really like to finish and do some shows. I think we can knock this out.’ ” Breuer continued. “Then all his luggage that he toured with showed up at his driveway. There’s been no calls. No, ‘How’s your hearing? How’s your health?’ Boom. Here’s your (stuff), nice to know you.”
According to the band’s website, Johnson was “advised by doctors to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss.” The press release went on to state the remaining 10 U.S. dates of the band’s current Rock or Bust tour would be rescheduled later in the year and “likely with a guest vocalist.”
Breuer explained that Johnson’s doctor informed the singer that he had lost a percentage of his hearing during the first run of the Rock or Bust tour during “open air” stadium shows, and it raised a “red flag” for the band’s eldest statesman.
“(The doctor said) ’Now you’re gonna go out and do indoor (shows)? I do not put my name on this. You’re a grown man. You make a decision, but I would not mess around with this at all,’ ” Breuer explained of the doctor’s diagnosis.
Johnson, who recently flew to London to attend the funeral of a close friend while on the road with the band, called AC/DC management and later spoke to Young to explain the situation.
“He said he just called and gave that information,” Breuer said. “He didn’t say he wanted to quit. He didn’t say he was done. He called with that information, and two days later, he read in the papers and heard on Twitter and everywhere else, ‘Brian Johnson going deaf canceling tour.’ A day later, and it was ‘Oh we’re gonna have guest singers.’ ”
Breuer said Johnson wasn’t upset about his hearing condition. He was heartbroken by the way he had been treated by the band he has fronted for 36 years.
…“I went over the house,” Breuer said. “He was depressed. I’ve never seen him down before. He was upset that he feels like he kind of got kicked to the curb.”
“I said, ‘Don’t you talk to the band?’ ” Breuer continued. “He goes, ‘It’s not what you think, man.’ ”
“I can’t wrap my head around that,” Breuer said.
Johnson had a conversation with Young, albeit mostly one-sided, the day Breuer visited his home.
“(Brian) said, ‘I had a conversation with Angus,’ and he was just like, ‘He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t speak,’ “ Breuer explained.
As Johnson relayed his situation to Young and hoped to plan a future course of action, the guitarist merely replied, “Aye,” a number of times with no tangible response to what the singer was saying.
“(Brian said) ‘It sounds like you’re preoccupied. I just want to let you know, I’m here. I don’t know if I can do every show, but I’d really like to do whatever shows I can.’ ”
Breuer said Johnson senses he’s already been replaced.
“There’s been no answer (from the band),” Breuer said. “He feels like he heard from someone that they already hired somebody, it just hasn’t been announced yet.”
“I was like, ‘Brian, Angus is a monstrosity, but guess what? I’m watching you half the time as well. You are the face of the band with the hat and the way you sing. I think of AC/DC, and I think of you and Angus,’ ” Breuer told his friend.
“No offense to anyone else in the band, but I just think of Brian Johnson and Angus. I don’t think he believes that to a degree. It was a little weird hearing him talk like that.”
He always says, ‘I’m blessed, I’m blessed. Don’t get me wrong. I’m blessed. This is the greatest thing ever.’ But I don’t think (he feels like he’s part of the band). His wife talks with such pride. I don’t think he feels that he’s that important. Does that make sense? It’s really weird.”
…“I’d hate to see (AC/DC) end like that,” he said. “Nobody wants to see them continue with a new guy. Why would you want to see them continue? Go out on top. Just take a break and go, ‘How do we want to do this?’ ”
…(Brian) explained how Angus is the youngest guy in the band,” Breuer said. “He’s convinced Angus wants to continue the next 10 years whether it’s him or not. (Angus) wants to write another album and do one more tour. Who’s filling those shoes? How do you do that after 40 years? It’s just really weird.”
Read more at the CantonRep.com.
[Dana’s note: Thank you to Harold Taint for passing this along.]
source: cantonrep.com
37 Responses
I would take ALL of Jim Breuer’s account with a HUGE grain of salt. After this excruciatingly detailed podcast account of his supposed conversation with Brian Johnson and what Angus allegedly said and didn’t say, Breuer has since issued a retraction on his Facebook profile claiming that he’s a “storyteller and a comedian” and that he may have exaggerated everything….In other words, Breuer’s story is about as accurate as the drunk guy at the bar who claims to know Brian Johnson.
which means he may have been laid into by Brian too.. I hear the podcast was taken down
Interesting! I Like Brian and they had good Records with him over the years; but when I think of AC/DC I think of Angus, Mal and Bon Scott.
Sorry, but I think after 36 years Brian is just as much identifiable with AC/DC and their sound, music and image as Angus is. Bon has passed into legend, Brian helped to shape very much of what the band is today . Taking him down and installing someone new will not make sense to me, and a whole lot of others.
There has got to be more to the story. Angus and Brian both are smart enough to know they need each other.
I think Angus is smart enough too. I think Angus know’s he would lose the fan base in the long run because it’s more than just finishing a tour but also the future sales of their records. He know’s what he’d be losing. Maybe the guest appearance was something posted on their website because of the record companies contract with them. As much as I want Brian back to continue with AC/DC to the last of their day’s, I do want to add that if given the blessing by Brian himself to have a guest singer until he could return I think Jesse James Dupree would be more than suitable to do the 10 remaining shows without as much backlash.
I don’t think this story is accurate. I mean, didn’t Brian say he was thinking about retiring like 10 years ago? If Angus didn’t think Brian was that valuable to the band he would have replaced him then. A couple of years into a bands career and a singer change may work. But this far along it’s very unlikely.
Also, I spent A LOT of money on stub-hub for front row tickets for the Philly show which I was refunded in full. No way I will spent that if the singer is not Johnson.
I got floor seats to the same show, but Jim Breuer said himself in a later statement he exaggerates and is a storyteller, so the statement wasn’t completely true. I know he is close with Brian, so I imagine maybe the statement of “guest singer” did make him feel “kicked to the curb”, as I think to any band in that situation would feel.
I think that Angus is just tired of all the stuff happening as the band ages. It’s tough enough to deal with his brother’s health and having to leave the band. But, then Phil’s bullshite and now Brian’s inability to perform currently probably has him thinking it’s time look to the future. I also put stock in what Breuer said and can’t ignore that Brian might be gone from AC/DC. Unimaginable, if you ask me. Aren’t they ALL deaf from those bloody cannons going off a few feet away? Bad enough they get sparks burning their backs and such. For those about to rock!