Ultimate Classic Rock featured Jet frontman Nic Cester’s revelation about his unexpected AC/DC audition.
“I’d just arrived back in Australia after living overseas for a long time,” Cester said. “We came back for a holiday, and I was really jet-lagged. I was reading the newspaper that morning, and the front page [had an article that said] Brian Johnson had left AC/DC.”
“I remember that I said to my father-in-law, ‘Jesus, you do not want to be the guy stepping into those shoes,'” he continued. “Literally 30 minutes later, my phone rang, and I was being invited to audition in Atlanta, Georgia.”
“I just laughed and said, ‘Jesus,'” Cester recalled. “I didn’t honestly think I’d get the gig, so I thought, I’m just going to go along for the ride. What an experience it would be. I was right. I didn’t get the gig, obviously, but it was a hell of an experience. I got to spend two days singing in a tiny rehearsal studio with AC/DC.”
The audition occurred when AC/DC needed to replace Brian Johnson, who had temporarily left the band due to hearing issues. Axl Rose later became Johnson’s replacement for the remainder of the tour.
The Jet frontman’s audition revealed fascinating details about AC/DC’s selection process.
American Songwriter noted that the rehearsal space featured a massive backline. This setup created one of the loudest environments Cester had experienced in his career.
Angus Young designed a series of challenging tests for the audition. He asked Cester to learn unfamiliar songs immediately to evaluate his performance under pressure.
Consequence revealed that Cester’s musical journey continues with Jet. The band is now working on their first new album since 2009. The release is scheduled for 2025.
The upcoming album represents a significant milestone for Jet. This marks their first studio recording in over 15 years, showcasing the band’s lasting impact on rock music.
