AC/DC's Lead Singer Brian Johnson Getting Ready to Call it Quits

It appears that the end of the line will soon be at hand for the band's lead vocalist Brian Johnson. 2010 will make it 30 years since Johnson replaced the late Bon Scott as the hard rockin' Auzzie band's lead vocalist after Scott's premature death due to acute alcohol poisoning in February 1980.

Though many were skeptical that anyone could replace Bon Scott, Johnson's first album with AC/DC, Back in Black turned out to be the band's all time best selling album and is rated 2nd only to Michael Jackson's Thriller as best selling album of all time.

But time catches up to everyone.

The 61-year Johnson tells Classic Rock magazine that he wanted to retire next May, but his band mates refused to let him. He blames rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young who added more dates in the UK next summer. Johnson explains, "It's a tough one. It's not me - it's just my age. I try to keep myself fit, and I love it being in this band... The other lads are in their early 50s. I'm the old dog in the regiment. It's a purely selfish thing. I don't want to look like a prat if I try to push it too far. I don't want for people to see me on stage and say, 'Oh, poor old *****, the band's carrying him!'"

AC/DC are currently touring in support of their massively successful CD Black Ice. It 's the bands first tour since 2000's Stiff Upper Lip Tour. Supposedly boasting the most expensive stage setup in history, the tour was announced back in September 2008 and began with a short run of shows in North America. Due to overwhelming demand by the fans, AC/DC added more U.S. shows in January 2009 and then headed for Europe.

The band recently confirmed hometown dates in Australian and New Zealand to run through 2010. Following this, the band have confirmed an indoor arena tour of Europe which will occur in April, a Japanese leg in May and then finally a last-minute extension of the tour into summer with further European dates.

This week (7/28), the band continues their tour with a series of dates in U.S. and Canadian dates which are scheduled to run through early November. They will then head home to for a number of dates in Australia and New Zealand through early March.

Look for Johnson's new book, Rockers and Rollers to be released sometime in October.

Rob Rheubottom