Former AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson has made his live return when he joined erstwhile Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant at one-time Free singer Paul Rodgers’ gig at Oxford last night (May 15) for a cover of Barrett Strong’s classic, ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’.
The performance at the New Theatre saw all three superstars sharing vocal duties with Plant blowing a mean harmonica. You can see the performance below.
The performance is a significant event for Brian Johnson. As previously reported on Gigwise, Johnson was forced out of AC/DC after doctors warned him of total deafness if he continued touring with the hard rock legends. He was replaced by Guns N’Roses singer Axl Rose for the remainder of AC/DC’s Rock Or Bust world tour.
Johnsonn had been AC/DC’s vocalist for 36 years and had replaced Bon Scott after he was found dead in a car following a drinking session.
Speaking of his hearing, Johnson said in a statement last year: “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 concert performances. While the outcome is uncertain, my attitude is optimistic."
Elsewhere, rumours of a Led Zeppelin reunion have proved to be exactly that: rumours. Feverish word of mouth spread after a cryptic message on Robert Plant’s website, leading many people to speculate that the singer was to reform Led Zeppelin with guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones and play at this year’s Desert Trip festival in California.
However, organiser Paul Tollett confirmed that the festival - which last year featured The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, The Who and Roger Waters - would not return in 2017. Presumably because many of the stars of yesteryear shuffled off this mortal coil a long time ago.
