By Steve Newton
By now the rock world is fully abuzz with the official announcement from AC/DC that Axl Rose from Guns N’ Roses will be the new singer for the rest of its Rock or Bust World Tour.
They could’ve done better, if you ask me.
I don’t think Axl Rose’s voice is close enough to Brian Johnson’s. It’s way too screechy. It’s great for Guns N’ Roses’ songs, but I don’t want to hear his high-pitched caterwauling on AC/DC gems like “Shoot to Thrill”. I want to hear someone with gritty, rough-hewn, masculine pipes.
I want to hear Jimmy freakin’ Barnes, who used to be in Cold Chisel!
He’s still got it!
To hear the full audio of my 1986 interview with Jimmy Barnes–and my 1983 interview with AC/DC as well–subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 400 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
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Joe Jackson, 2003
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David Lee Roth, 2003
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Ellen McIlwaine, 2001
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David “Honeyboy” Edwards, 2003
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Dave Martone, 2020
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Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
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Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
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Terry Bozzio, 2003
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Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
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Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
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John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, 1998
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
Jeff Healey, 1988
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Roy Buchanan, 1988
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
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Jason Isbell, 2007
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Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
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Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
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Joe Bonamassa, 2011
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
Jeff Healey, 1988
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Roy Buchanan, 1988
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
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Jason Isbell, 2007
Joe Satriani, 1990
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 1998
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
J.J. Cale, 2009
Joe Bonamassa, 2011
John Petrucci of Dream Theater, 2010
Alex Van Halen, 1995
Eric Johnson, 2001
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Gene Simmons of Kiss, 1992
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David Lee Roth, 1994
Allan Holdsworth, 1983
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James Hetfield of Metallica, 1986
Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1990
Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites, 1988
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Steve Morse, 1991
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Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1991
Jake E. Lee of Badlands, 1992
Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1997
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Joe Perry of Aerosmith, 1987
Rick Derringer, 1999
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Michael Schenker, 1992
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Lindsay Mitchell of Prism, 1988
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Dave Murray of Iron Maiden, 1984
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Jimmy Who?
That’s what Americans would say
Sounds like Angus wants to keep going so it may be a new singer for the next album.
Disagree! Its a little disconcerting how people make their own expectations so important for somebody else’s business. I do get how people can feel a little or a lot of proprietary connection to a band like ACDC. and I do understand how people can hold negative feelings towards Axel. I am not a huge fan of either group but I respect both. What I heard so far from Axel iN ACDC was good and doesn’t call for criticism.
Totally agree. He hasn’t done badly at all. And i’m sure Angus isn’t losing sleep over the fact that Steve Newton thinks otherwise. After all, who’s the professional musician here.
Jimmy Barnes can’t sing a note to save his life , he is an appalling singer !!!
I always thought i was the only one who thought that.
Agreed! Haha! Cold Chisel….plus Jimmy’s an Aussie…good call.
I’ve seen a guy in a local band from Marietta ga out sing Brian while doing a sound check in a club in NYC Brian sat in without the big equipment and effects he sucked yeah I said it
I would LOVE to see AC/DC go full circle! Get Dave Evans to lead them on the rest of the tour and then finish with dignity. The final concert, you could get every member ever to play with the band, to each make at least one appearance. I have nothing against Axl Rose. I love the Gunners music but I don’t see him as the answer. But who am I to second guess Angus? Let There be Rock!
Lead singer from Nazareth hands down
Time to give Angus a shake. It’s not ACDC anymore. Stop bamboozling your fans. Just close the book and start the Angus chapter. But his handlers would never dare say that to him.
Cold Chisel is still active. Jimmy would have been my choice, too.
Look, Angus was in desperate mode and Axl was the only guy who volunteered. Not sure if Jimmy even applied. Then thank God even — nightmare first singer — Dave Evans didn’t approach them, knowing the joke that he’s been throughout the Years relating to them, bragging he was the first singer after he told them off, calling Angus’s outfit ridiculous. As for Axl’s performance, it’s a bit like a banshee sort of like this guy up there ^^^ in the video, and to be quite frank, neither Ol’ Jonno nor Bon would do that, that’s not a soul / blues singer, and what the band could use is another one, not Axl or Jimmy, and there are many to chose from (call it crazy but) Rod Stewart for instance, picture his voice (as he was during the early seventies) singing Shook me All Night Long, or even something like If You Want Blood even. His likewise genuine blues/soul ability is his accreditation but he would not be one to step up to the plate, he is too mature for that, but there is one example. Bands do not approach, that is not proper etiquette in the business, they discretely put out the request through the proper channels in the community and whomever responds doesn’t even know who they are auditioning for until face to face in the audition facility. Ac/DC’s ad was for a well seasoned professional able to stand the rigours of touring as they always have in the past, and Angus waited but nobody else answered the call. So as much as it would have been nice to find a real soul/blues artist (can’t think of any off the top of my head) that just hasn’t been the case. Contracts happen, there are legalities, severance pay once You’ve taken somebody on-board and well, putting out the call again would involve ignoring Axl, and it’s not proper conduct in the industry, You burn Your bridges that way and it’s considered rude. So we’re stuck with Axl unfortunately, fellow fans. 🙁