Brian Johnson At Risk For Total Hearing Loss, Forces AC/DC To Postpone U.S. Tour

AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson could face total hearing loss if he continues to tour, which means that the AC/DC tour has to be postponed indefinitely.

AC/DC Tour Postponed

Johnson has been “advised by doctors to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss,” according to a statement released by the band Monday. As a result, the band has to reschedule the 10 upcoming dates on the U.S. leg of their Rock or Bust world tour.

“Tomorrow’s show in Atlanta through Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., in early April will be made up later in the year, likely with a guest vocalist,” the band’s statement continued. “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 U.S. leg of AC/DC’s Rock or Bust tour had commenced Feb. 2 in Tacoma, Wash.

Johnson has long experienced trouble with his hearing, which he has explained was damaged by an auto racing incident – not by playing music.

“I’ve obviously had some hearing loss. I’ve got hearing loss in me left ear. I didn’t get it from music,” Johnson told Howard Stern in 2014. “I got it from sitting in a race car too long without ear plugs. I heard my ear drum burst, because I forgot to put me plugs in under my helmet. That’s how it happened. Music had nothing to do with it.”

With Johnson unable to perform, he’s now the third member of AC/DC who can’t to participate in the current tour. Founding guitarist Malcolm Young was diagnosed with dementia in October 2014, and has been replaced by his nephew Steve Young. Drummer Phil Rudd had been embroiled in a criminal case since November 2014 that involved murder-for-hire and drug charges, and has been replaced by fellow former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade.