In the light of ACDC’s announcement last week, that Brian Johnson had been forced to leave the band at the risk of permanently losing his hearing, one of the biggest positions in rock and roll history is now in need of filling.
With the band’s loss of founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young to dementia last year, drummer Phil Rudd’s departure amidst legal issues, and now Johnson to add to the list- it appears that the iconic band members are dropping like flies. Perhaps the pressures of delivering face-melting rock in the face of such a loss is too much to bear? On the other hand, does this create an opportunity for a new voice to carry ACDC to its face-melting heavenly realm once again? You can’t deny the situation bears some serious deja vu to when Johnson stepped in as front man after the tragic death of original singer Bon Scott.
It didn’t go unnoticed when Pelle Almqvist- lead signer of the Swedish garage-rock band The Hives, volunteered for the job, and it’s no coincidence that the performer had just finished supporting ACDC on the Australian leg of their tour. Following the news that Johnson was to stop touring, Almqvist posted on The Hive’s Facebook page:
“Very sad to hear Brian Johnson can’t do a bunch of AC/DC shows due to health problems. That man is a legend. I would like offer my sincerest well wishes and get wells. And if any help is needed, I put my foot forward and say: HERE I AM!”
He continued:
“I have many many years of experience rocking the world’s biggest stages and, according to others, I am the greatest frontman in rock, plus judging from the reaction in Australia, your crowd already seems to really like me. Plus, I have already been singing those songs since I was six years old. So, AC/DC, please consider my application!”
The animated front man has a stage presence compared to the likes of Mick Jagger with an edge of cheek and vicarious energy that hasn’t gone unseen in the world of music. Arguably only a personality as cocky as Almqvist, with a bizarre resemblance to Iggy Pop is fit for the job, however the question remains can the Swedish rocker live up to the model of Brain Johnson for the remainder of the Acca Dacca world tour?
With their legacy and hardcore fan base, Johnson has left big shoes to fill for whoever gets the glorious yet terrifying task of leading one of the biggest rock bands of all time on the world stage. We like to remain hopeful that the days of Acca Dacca aren’t numbered, however it has to be acknowledged that the band will suffer a strong detachment in the absence of Johnson. We are biting our nails to see whether the likes of Almqvist is embraced as the new front man, or if he is forever summoned to lick the sweat of their post-stage shows in the circumstance of rejection.
Only time will tell. In rock we trust.
