Watch Guns N’ Roses Bring Out AC/DC’s Angus Young at Coachella
Hours after Guns N’ Roses’ much anticipated Coachella reunion set was nearly overshadowed by the announcement that Axl Rose would be joining AC/DC as their replacement lead singer, guitarist Angus Young joined GN’R onstage Saturday at the fest to give a sampling of what AC/DC with Rose will sound like.
“Since I can’t run around for you, we’re gonna bring out a friend, put a little life into things for us,” Rose, who’s still confined to Dave Grohl’s throne due to a fractured foot, told the audience before welcoming Young to the stage. With the AC/DC legend alongside “classic”-era GNR members Slash and Duff McKagan, the group performed “Whole Lotta Rosie” and “Riff Raff,” a pair of early AC/DC cuts that were once live staples for GN’R.
Young and AC/DC previously headlined the 2015 Coachella festival before launching their Rock or Bust Tour, which was abruptly postponed in March after longtime singer Brian Johnson revealed that doctors recommended he quit touring or risk “total hearing loss.” With 20 dates – 10 in Europe, 10 in the U.S. – remaining on the band’s trek, the rest of the group pledged to fulfill their obligations with a replacement singer, fueling rumors of Rose’s participation.
“AC/DC band members would like to thank Brian Johnson for his contributions and dedication to the band throughout the years. We wish him all the best with his hearing issues and future ventures,” the band said in a statement just hours before Guns N’ Roses took the Coachella stage. “As much as we want this tour to end as it started, we understand, respect and support Brian’s decision to stop touring and save his hearing. We are dedicated to fulfilling the remainder of our touring commitments to everyone that has supported us over the years, and are fortunate that Axl Rose has kindly offered his support to help us fulfill this commitment.”
Under the current plan, after next week’s Coachella performance and a pair of GN’R gigs in Mexico City, Rose will then join AC/DC in Europe for 10 performances before reuniting with Guns N’ Roses to kick off the Not in This Lifetime tour. The 10 remaining postponed U.S. concerts on the AC/DC trek will be rescheduled after GN’R’s tour concludes.
Watch more fan-filmed footage of Guns N’ Roses’ Coachella headlining set below: