AC/DC are back on stage and, in a rare sit‑down, the band lifted the curtain on how frontman Brian Johnson overcame severe hearing loss to return to stadium shows. The explanation centres not on a lifetime beside towering amplifiers but on a health episode during the band’s 2016 tour and a tiny technological fix.
How it happened — and how it was fixed
At a soundcheck before the start of the U.S. leg of the Power Up Tour, Johnson described a spell of illness that left his ears damaged. He traced the onset to a time on the 2016 Rock or Bust Tour when the band were travelling in cold, wet conditions and he became unwell. According to the interview, that bout of flu led to the hearing problems that followed — not the prolonged exposure to stage volume that many had assumed.
“We were in Winnipeg or somewhere like that and it was cold and wet and you’re sweating. But it’s freezing and you have to quick, hurry up, get on the plane and we took off and my ears got so crystallized and the rest was just nasty,”
Johnson demonstrated the device that has helped him perform: a thumbnail‑sized piece of plastic attached to his in‑ear monitors, part of a system known as ADEL (Ambrose Diaphonic Ear Lens). By creating a seal within the ear canal, the device lets him hear the music and sing without further damaging his hearing.
Touring, routine and legacy
The band were pictured and heard running familiar sets in rehearsal, testing classics such as Back in Black, Let There Be Rock and Thunderstruck. Even in an empty stadium, the musicians treated the run‑through with the same intensity they bring to packed arenas, suggesting the tour remains a serious undertaking rather than a farewell spectacle.
- Cause of hearing loss: linked to a flu episode in 2016 during the Rock or Bust Tour.
- Solution: small ADEL devices integrated into in‑ear monitors to protect and restore usable hearing levels.
- Current status: band actively touring with stadium dates as part of the Power Up Tour.
The interview dispels a common assumption that decades beside stacks of Marshall amplifiers were solely to blame. Instead, it highlights how modern audio technology can extend performing careers even after serious health setbacks.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incident linked to loss | Flu during 2016 Rock or Bust Tour |
| Device | ADEL in‑ear system |
| Tour | Power Up Tour — active U.S. leg |
For local music fans and anyone concerned about hearing, the story is a reminder that hearing problems can have varied causes and that solutions are increasingly nuanced. While protective measures around loud sound remain important, the AC/DC account shows the role of timely medical attention and technological aids in enabling artists to continue performing.
The band’s approach — meticulous rehearsals, attention to monitoring and the adoption of specialist equipment — may offer a template for other touring musicians. It also helps explain why, decades into their career, they still approach a stadium soundcheck as seriously as a headline set.
