AC/DC Singer Shakes Off Retirement Rumors: We're Making Music

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Brian Johnson of Australian rock band AC/DC and guitarist Angus Young perform during a concert in the Hallestadion in Zurich, Switzerland in 2009.

Image: Ennio Leanza/Associated Press

By Brian Anthony Hernandez2014-04-16 16:36:49 UTC

AC/DC retirement rumors ran rampant online this week amid one band member's health scare, but front man Brian Johnson has put the speculation to rest.

Johnson assured fans, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph , the band will make music next month. He also confirmed that Malcolm Young, who formed AC/DC in 1973, is dealing with an illness.

"We're going to pick up some guitars, have a plonk, and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens, we'll record it," Johnson said Wednesday. "I wouldn't like to say anything either way about the future. I'm not ruling anything out. One of the boys has a debilitating illness, but I don't want to say too much about it. He is very proud and private, a wonderful chap. We've been pals for 35 years and I look up to him very much."

The rumors surfaced Monday after radio station 6PR claimed Young was ill. AC/DC, however, didn't publicly address the issue until Wednesday, when its Facebook page provided a health update explaining Young will take a break.

Though AC/DC plans to write new music, potentially for a new album, there's no word on whether the band will embark on a tour to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

"That would be a wonderful way to say bye bye," Johnson told the Telegraph. "We would love to do it. But it's all up in the air at the moment."

Besides Young, the band's lineup includes his brother and fellow guitarist Angus Young, Johnson, drummer Phil Rudd and bassist Cliff Williams. AC/DC's last studio album, Black Ice, came out in 2008.

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