Alice Cooper Says Axl Rose’s Voice Is ‘Absolutely Perfect’ for AC/DC
The announcement that Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose would be stepping in for AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson on upcoming tour dates due to Johnson's hearing condition has drawn mixed reviews. Alice Cooper is among those that thinks the pairing is a good one.
Cooper tells Rolling Stone, "I just think that's such a unique combination. Whoever has tickets to that show has got the golden ticket, because who doesn't want to see that?"
When Cooper first heard the rumblings that Rose would step in for Johnson, he wasn't sure about it. "At first I thought it was an April Fool's thing," Cooper says. "I went, 'Oh, come on.' Then I started thinking about it and said, 'You know, his voice is absolutely perfect for that band. That might just work.'"
Cooper and Rose share a bandmate. Bassist Duff McKagan is in both Hollywood Vampires and Guns N' Roses. With GN'R's upcoming reunion tour, Hollywood Vampires needed to find a fill-in for their upcoming tour that launches May 24 in Verona, N.Y.. They tapped Robert DeLeo from Stone Temple Pilots for the slot.
In addition to dates with Hollywood Vampires, Cooper also has solo shows coming up. The first leg of the "Spend the Night With Alice Cooper" tour starts April 29 in Biloxi, Miss., and wraps up May 21 in Rama, Ontario. The second leg kicks off Aug. 6 in Kalamazoo, Mich.
As to Johnson's future in AC/DC, in a new statement he says though he is not currently able to tour with the band due to hearing issues, he is not done with music. Johnson says, "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."
Johnson continues, "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."
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