Update (6/4): Not long ago, AC/DC singer Brian Johnson was facing the prospect of total deafness if he continued to sing onstage. It led to him bowing out of the band and the postponement of many of the U.S. shows on their Rock Or Bust tour, and his replacement by Axl Rose so AC/DC could fulfill their European and American concert commitments.
Now Johnson has issued a statement after his visit with Stephen Ambrose, inventor of the wireless in-ear monitor (more details below). His report on Ambrose’s ADEL technology, which is designed as both a monitor and to protect the inner ear from damaging loud sounds, is encouraging. “It works,” he says “It just totally works and you can’t argue with that. I was really moved and amazed to be able to hear music again like I haven’t heard for several years now. I can’t wait for it to be miniaturized so I can use it in every situation from normal communication, going out to noisy restaurants, [and] performing live music onstage.”
Whether this might lead to Johnson rejoining AC/DC is unclear. The band will return to the U.S. to fulfill its remaining postponed tour dates on August 27th, when they play Greensboro, NC.
Related: AC/DC reschedule U.S. tour dates
Don’t count out the sidelined AC/DC lead singer of 36 years quite yet. Though Axl Rose has stepped in to his role to help the classic hard rock band fulfill its remaining “Rock or Bust” tour commitments, Johnson is doing his best to find a way to still sing loud rock ‘n’ roll onstage without the risk of full hearing loss – which a doctor warned him earlier this year might happen if he continued to perform with the band.
One person who believes that Johnson could possibly sing again is Stephen Ambrose, inventor of the wireless in-ear monitor. Last week (5/4) he reached out to Johnson in a video posted on the Facebook page for his company, Asius Technologies, and headlined: “Help Bring Back Brian Johnson on Stage with AC/DC using ADEL Technology!”
Johnson responded to Ambose’s overture. The two have no spoken and plan to meet next week.
Ambrose’s ADEL Technology uses a “second eardrum” in its devices to absorb the damaging sound waves and protect the listener’s own biological eardrum. He was inspired to develop the innovation by the rise in hearing damage as a result of widespread use of in-ear headphones with digital listening and communications devices.
Johnson is determined to find a way, if at all possible, to keep singing rock’n’roll in concert, “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 performances. While the outcome is uncertain, my attitude is optimistic.”
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Ironically, the damage that his hearing suffered isn’t due to his profession as a hard rock singer. Instead it happened while pursuing his off-time interest of auto racing. Though Johnson can’t pinpoint exactly when it happened, he says he suffered a ruptured eardrum from the loud and ceaseless roar of a car engine while driving in a race.
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