Unconfirmed Rumor: Axl Rose and Angus Young Prepping New AC/DC Album
Angus Young is reportedly working on a new AC/DC studio album with Axl Rose, according to two stories from the Australia-based Noise11. Both items arrived in the wake of Young's guest appearances during Guns N' Roses concerts at Melbourne and Sydney.
"The chemistry between Axl Rose and Angus Young has inspired Angus to start planning another AC/DC record," Noise11's Paul Cashmere reports, "but Guns N’ Roses' touring commitments throughout 2017 will make it difficult to finalize the project." The story, which is dated today, is headlined "New AC/DC Album Not Expected Until 2018."
It should be noted that there has been no previous mention of any sessions from either camp, and no confirmation of these reports.
Rose took over after longtime AC/DC singer Brian Johnson was suddenly sidelined by a hearing issue in 2016, ultimately playing 23 concerts on the troubled Rock or Bust tour. He previously hinted that this surprise collaboration with Young quickly produced new musical ideas.
"I feel protective; I feel I do not want to let this guy down – more than almost anybody I’ve ever known – and I don’t know why," Rose said last June. "And he’s very responsive to me. And they said they hadn’t seen him this happy, they hadn’t seen him moving around [this much]. In between songs, he’s playing other stuff [that has inspired potential new song ideas]. So that’s kind of a neat thing between musicians.”
Cashmere's son Tim, also writing for Noise11, mentioned a proposed recording project as well. "Axl Rose fronting AC/DC was controversial," the younger Cashmere said on Feb. 15, "and if you didn’t like that combination, you will be horrified to learn there is an album on the way.”
Rose was frank about those expectations when he joined AC/DC. “I know how hard it is," Rose said. "Lots of bands do not want to open for [Guns N’ Roses]; they just don’t want to. They don’t want to deal with our fans. It’s kind of the same with AC/DC fans. They’re very serious about their band.”
Paul Cashmere also notes that all of the AC/DC shows with Rose were recorded for possible future use. "It is possible fans may be treated to a live album with Rose from the Rock Or Bust tour prior to the new studio album," he added.
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