Brian Johnson at Coachella 2015 / Photo by Frank Thomas
I still remember hearing “Rock ‘N’ Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” for the first time. It was just after my 11th birthday. My aunt says she stood in the record store for half an hour with a copy of Back in Black in one hand and The Queen Is Dead in the other, trying to decide what I’d need more as an adolescent. Fourteen years later, I still hate Morrissey.
Back in Black was the first record I heard that didn’t give a shit. It was heavy and obnoxious and it beat itself up for fun. And then, right at the end, after all the fucking and fighting and snorting, there was “Rock ‘N’ Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.” A few seconds in, above the wavering, suspended guitar, there’s the flicker of a cigarette lighter before Brian Johnson inhales, exhales and gets to talking. It’s like he’s blowing smoke right in your face. “Alright… HEY THERE ALL YOU MIDDLEMEN…” Could’ve been the intro. Maybe it was.
AC/DC were immortal to me. They were immortal the same way that every rock band from that era was immortal, made out of stone and spit, unable to age because they were halfway gone already. There’s something particularly disruptive psychologically to realizing that anyone from that generation has any sort of impermanence.
Brian Johnson sent out a letter today to AC/DC fans, in the wake of postponed tour dates and an announcement that Axl Rose would be filling in for him live, explaining that he can’t in all good conscience keep touring because it’ll risk him losing his hearing forever. He pushed through while he could, but he wasn’t at his peak. “I was having difficulty hearing the guitars on stage,” he writes, “and because I was not able to hear the other musicians clearly, I feared the quality of my performance could be compromised.”
In the letter, Johnson talks says how much he wanted to keep playing, how serious the fallout could have been, and that he has no intention of standing down just yet. His doctors said he can still record in the studio, and he says he will. But for the next little while, fans will have to deal with Axl fucking Rose on lead vocals at AC/DC shows.
“Rock ‘N’ Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” was about playing loud and not caring about the consequences. Most grownass adults realize that there are consequences to everything that AC/DC talked about, but that’s not supposed to be part of the narrative.
Read the letter in full right here:
As many AC/DC fans know, the remaining shows for the 2016 AC/DC Rock or Bust World Tour, including 10 postponed U.S. shows, are being rescheduled with a guest singer. I want personally to explain the reason because I don’t believe the earlier press releases sufficiently set out what I wanted to say to our fans or the way in which I thought it should be presented.
On March 7th, after a series of examinations by leading physicians in the field of hearing loss, I was advised that if I continue to perform at large venues, I risked total deafness. While I was horrified at the reality of the news that day, I had for a time become aware that my partial hearing loss was beginning to interfere with my performance on stage.
I was having difficulty hearing the guitars on stage and because I was not able to hear the other musicians clearly, I feared the quality of my performance could be compromised. In all honesty this was something I could not in good conscience allow. Our fans deserve my performance to be at the highest level, and if for any reason I can’t deliver that level of performance I will not disappoint our fans or embarrass the other members of AC/DC. I am not a quitter and I like to finish what I start, nevertheless, the doctors made it clear to me and my bandmates that I had no choice but to stop performing on stage for the remaining shows and possibly beyond. That was the darkest day of my professional life.
Since that day, I have had several consultations with my doctors and it appears that, for the near future, I will be unable to perform on stage at arena and stadium size venues where the sound levels are beyond my current tolerance, without the risk of substantial hearing loss and possibly total deafness. Until that time, I tried as best as I could to continue despite the pain and hearing loss but it all became too much to bear and too much to risk.
I am personally crushed by this development more than anyone could ever imagine. The emotional experience I feel now is worse than anything I have ever in my life felt before. Being part of AC/DC, making records and performing for the millions of devoted fans this past 36 years has been my life’s work. I cannot imagine going forward without being part of that, but for now I have no choice. The one thing for certain is that I will always be with AC/DC at every show in spirit, if not in person.
Most importantly, I feel terrible having to disappoint the fans who bought tickets for the canceled shows and who have steadfastly supported me and AC/DC these many years. Words cannot express my deep gratitude and heartfelt thanks not just for the recent outpouring to me personally of kind words and good wishes, but also for the years of loyal support of AC/DC. My thanks also go to Angus and Cliff for their support.
Finally, I wish to assure our fans that I am not retiring. My doctors have told me that I can continue to record in studios and I intend to do that. For the moment, my entire focus is to continue medical treatment to improve my hearing. I am hoping that in time my hearing will improve and allow me to return to live concert performances. While the outcome is uncertain, my attitude is optimistic. Only time will tell.
Once again, my sincere best wishes and thanks to everyone for their support and understanding.
Love,
Brian
from Noisey http://ift.tt/1StXUDi
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire