An Australian broadcaster named Eddie McGuire said on Monday (January 20th) during his Triple M Melbourne morning program that AC/DC will release a new album in either February or March of this year, with a tour of Australia to follow in October or November.
McGuire hinted that co-founding guitarist Angus Young, longtime vocalist Brian Johnson and drummer Phil Rudd are all likely to participate in both the album and tour. Regarding the hearing issues that forced Johnson out of the group in 2016, McGuire explained, “After a lot of work and a lot of technical research, they have been able to get a hearing aid for Brian Johnson, who will be out front.”
McGuire added, “Even Phil Rudd might be back in the group . . . so that they've got three of — well, not the originals, but three of the old-timers, if you like, back there.” The report did not address the status of 40-year bassist Cliff Williams, who retired in late 2016 at the end of AC/DC's Rock Or Bust tour cycle.
Rumors have been circulating for nearly two years that AC/DC was reportedly recording an album based around music that late co-founder Malcolm Young had left behind, as a tribute to the band's fallen leader. Malcolm exited the band in 2014 due to the onset of dementia and passed away in 2017.