AC / DC star Brian Johnson recalls Malcolm Young's death three years ago in a new interview. "It was a terrible shock."
Brian Johnson (73), singer of the Australian hard rock band AC / DC (since 1973), remembers the death of his band colleague and band founder Malcolm Young (1953-2017) in a new interview with the "Bild" newspaper three years. "It was tough for all of us. Somehow we knew it was going to happen. Malcolm was seriously ill. But it was a terrible shock for me when he died," says the British musician. The band's new album, "Power Up", due out November 13th, is a tribute to Malcolm Young. "I'm so glad we picked it up," said Johnson.
No goodbye
The two musicians couldn't say goodbye to each other. "There was no communication towards the end," says Johnson. It was a particularly sad time for him. On the one hand because of Young, on the other hand because of their own hearing problems. In 2015 he had to have an operation in Australia because of this. After that he was apparently wall to wall with Malcolm Young in the clinic. "When I woke up from general anesthesia, the nurse came in and said, 'Isn't it funny that you're here and Malcolm is in his room just over that wall.'"
He was not allowed to visit him. "Any form of shock could have been bad for him (Malcolm Young). It was horrible to be in bed, to see that wall, and to know that Malcolm was right behind it – not even 20 meters from me. That was pretty shocked me, "says Johnson.
Water in the ear
Brian Johnson's own health problem emerged after a concert in 2015. "At a concert on the 'Rock Or Bust' tour in 2015 it rained heavily, I got water in my ears and we immediately got on the plane to the next concert. My ears were no longer free." His doctor advised an immediate operation. Said and done. After that, the musician learned the bitter truth: "You have lost all of your hearing in one ear. The other is still a little bit better." In 2016 Johnson left the band.
Thanks to a new type of hearing aid that was worked on for three years, he was at least able to be in the studio again for the new record.