Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan opened up about Axl Rose’s nervous approach to auditioning for AC/DC in 2016. He shared the behind-the-scenes story in an interview on Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM.
McKagan recalled how Axl temporarily stepped in to replace Brian Johnson on AC/DC’s 2016 tour dates. He treated the opportunity with genuine humility, approaching it as a formal tryout rather than assuming the role was already his.
“Axl’s like, ‘Man, I’ve got this opportunity… a dream come true to go and sing with my favorite band,'” McKagan said. “We’re like, ‘Go do it, man.’ Me and Slash jam with all kinds of people, you know?”
McKagan went on to describe how the band was surprised that Axl felt he needed to audition at all. They were fully confident he would land the spot.
“He went… ‘I’m gonna go try out,'” McKagan continued. “[We said,] ‘You think you’re gonna have to try out?’ I’m like, ‘Dude, you got the gig!’ So he flew to Atlanta and he tried out. It was really kinda cute, you know? We knew he was gonna get the gig, of course.”
Axl Rose ultimately joined AC/DC for a series of shows in 2016. He filled in for Brian Johnson, who had been advised to stop touring to prevent further hearing loss.
The circumstances that led to Rose stepping in were serious. Johnson’s doctors warned him that continuing to perform in large venues risked total deafness. AC/DC still had a significant portion of their Rock or Bust World Tour left to complete.
Johnson released a statement making clear he was not retiring from the band entirely. He was stepping away from live performances only to protect what remained of his hearing. He described the day of his diagnosis as one of the darkest of his career.
Rose’s run with AC/DC covered 12 shows across Europe and North America, completing the remainder of the Rock or Bust tour. The performances were widely regarded as a success. Rose delivered the band’s catalog to packed arenas night after night.
Johnson later admitted he could not bring himself to watch Rose fill in for him during that period. He described the experience as deeply painful, even as he acknowledged the necessity of the arrangement.
Johnson eventually returned to AC/DC after undergoing experimental hearing treatment from a specialist over a three-year period. His recovery allowed him to rejoin the band for subsequent touring. This closed the chapter that Rose had helped bridge at one of the most uncertain moments in AC/DC’s history.
