AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson and guitarist Angus Young recently opened up about the younger fans attending their shows. Johnson voiced concern over the lack of new guitar heroes among today’s rock musicians, in a clip shared by Nightline.
Angus Young spoke about the impression he hopes to leave on younger audience members who see him perform live. Johnson reflected on what he sees as a gap in the current generation of rock musicians.
“I might be grey haired and old but I want that younger people seeing me going (running on stage and think) ‘Oh, this guy’s got a lot of energy and surprised me,'” Angus Young said. “But I hope it inspires them to play guitar and the instruments.”
Johnson then addressed the broader state of rock music, pointing to a shortage of standout guitarists among newer artists.
“You know, one of the things is there’s not enough guitar heroes anymore,” Brian Johnson said.
These remarks fit squarely into a broader conversation both men have been having about AC/DC’s legacy, their current tour, and what keeps drawing fans of all ages to their shows.
Johnson and Young sat down for an in-person interview in a Charlotte stadium greenroom this past July. It was their first joint sit-down since before the 2020 pandemic, and the only interview they planned for the current run of dates. The conversation centered on AC/DC’s enduring identity as a band, with both men emphasizing legacy and chemistry over individual flash.
A September segment following the band on its stadium tour captured Johnson and Young, now in their 70s, still rocking out for crowds spanning multiple generations. This dynamic echoes exactly the kind of cross-generational connection Young described wanting to build through his stage presence.
Young has long resisted the “guitar hero” label for himself. He insists rock and roll is meant to carry feel, energy and attitude, delivered by a band that sounds like a unit rather than a showcase for individual virtuosity. His own influences trace back to Chuck Berry, Little Richard and other early rock and roll performers who valued instinct and swagger over technical showmanship.
That philosophy helps explain why Johnson’s comment carries extra weight. For Young, the point was never to be the flashiest player on stage. His goal instead was to inspire the next generation to pick up an instrument, something that becomes harder to achieve if fewer young guitarists step into the spotlight.
