Adrian Vandenberg recently shared his thoughts on Axl Rose’s vocal performance, particularly comparing his current voice to the beloved children’s character Winnie the Pooh in an interview with Chaoszine.
The guitarist discussed Axl Rose’s stint with AC/DC and how it may have affected the Guns N’ Roses frontman’s vocal abilities. When asked about AC/DC’s current touring plans and Brian Johnson’s return to the band, Vandenberg offered his perspective on Rose’s time with the legendary rock group.
“Yeah, he’s back. It was a weird thing when Axl was with them. The vocals were great, of course, and Axl was actually in better vocal shape than he is now. Maybe he wrecked his voice on the AC/DC tour because that’s all high notes,” Vandenberg said.
The musician went on to explain how this experience may have impacted Rose’s subsequent performances with Guns N’ Roses.
“So, with Guns N’ Roses, there are more ups and downs, because after that, Axl’s voice was never the same again. He sounds like Winnie the Pooh now—’Welcome to the Jungle!’ It’s a bit of a pity. He’s still Axl ‘fucking’ Rose, but… yeah, he can do what he wants to,” he continued.
Vandenberg’s comments highlight the demanding nature of AC/DC’s high-register songs and their potential impact on vocalists who perform them extensively.
To understand the context of Vandenberg’s observations, it’s important to look back at the circumstances that led to Rose’s collaboration with AC/DC and the challenges he faced during that period.
Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Rose stepped in to replace Brian Johnson after doctors warned Johnson of “total hearing loss” if he continued touring with AC/DC’s 2016 Rock or Bust tour. This unexpected collaboration brought together two of rock’s most distinctive voices under challenging circumstances.
Rose’s debut with AC/DC took place on May 7, 2016, in Lisbon, Portugal, where he performed 22 songs despite recovering from a broken foot. YouTube footage from the performance showed that Rose used a modified throne on stage to accommodate his injury. This demonstrated his commitment to the tour despite physical limitations.
The demanding nature of AC/DC’s catalog became evident during the tour. Ultimate Classic Rock noted that the band celebrated their first United States concert with Rose by performing “Live Wire” for the first time in over 30 years. This 1975 TNT classic exemplifies the high-register vocal challenges that Vandenberg suggests may have impacted Rose’s voice.
The collaboration between Rose and AC/DC represented a unique moment in rock history. It brought together the Guns N’ Roses frontman with one of hard rock’s most vocally demanding catalogs. The tour’s success demonstrated Rose’s versatility as a performer. However, Vandenberg’s recent comments suggest the experience may have come at a cost to his long-term vocal abilities.
