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Music Is Not To Blame For AC/DC Frontman Brian Johnson’s Hearing Loss

Acca Dacca fans were sent into a tail spin yesterday (quite understandably) when the future of the band was put into doubt by news that frontman Brian Johnson could suffer “total hearing loss” if they continue playing together.

The band was forced to postpone the remaining 10 shows of their current US tour with a possibility of the tour being rescheduled “with a guest vocalist” next year.

It turns out that music is not the cause of Johnson’s hearing loss and actually the vocalist was aware of his condition much earlier than fans may think.

In a 2014 interview with American TV show host Howard Stern, Johnson revealed he has hearing loss in his left ear and that he “didn’t get it from music.”

“I got it from sitting in a race car too long without ear plugs,” the British singer tells Stern. “I heard my eardrum burst, because I forgot to put my plugs in under my helmet. That’s how it happened. Music had nothing to do with it.”

He describes in slightly gory detail how he fell out of the car dizzy, took his helmet off and felt blood flowing out of his ear. He describes the loss as “tinnitus”, saying he “can’t hear much” out of it at all.

Johnson’s membership of the band has been thrown into question by this development, which comes after Malcolm Young’s departure last year (the founding rhythm guitarist was diagnosed with dementia) and drummer Phil Rudd’s exit amidst legal issues.

More information regarding AC/DC’s rescheduled tour dates will follow.

Gallery: AC/DC, Brisbane 2015 / Photos by Rebecca Reid

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