Tommy Henriksen, best known for his work with Alice Cooper, has defended AC/DC’s straightforward approach to music in an interview with Loudwire. He addressed criticism that the band’s songs sound too similar and explained why he finds their sound so effective.
Henriksel was asked about the value of simplicity in rock music and why some people dismiss AC/DC’s style as basic.
“It’s the sound and it’s the chords,” Henriksel said. “Those guys and the rhythm, it’s just everything, dude. They are the masters. And rhythm guitar to me is so much more important than lead guitar.”
Henriksel then turned his attention to social media musicians who criticize bands from behind a screen. “I sit back, I get a kick out of these Instagram guitar players and stuff,” he continued. “You need to get onstage. I mean, I’m glad and happy you’ve got like 700 million followers in your bedroom, but put the guy on stage at 100 degrees, humidity, guitar out of tune, trying to perform and then talk to me about that stuff.”
The guitarist made these comments while discussing AC/DC’s influence on rock music and what sets the band apart from their peers.
Henriksel’s respect for AC/DC runs deep. He has said that many people think AC/DC’s style is simple, but that kind of music is actually very complex because it is so simple. He believes it takes a genius to simplify music and an idiot to make it complicated. Even famous producer Mutt Lange told him the same thing.
Henriksel launched his own AC/DC-inspired project called Crossbone Skully around 2023. The band released their album Evil World Machine on November 22, 2024, with guest appearances by Alice Cooper, Glen Sobel, Chris Wyse, Tommy Denander, Nikki Sixx, Johnny Depp and others. Henriksel is now working on a second Crossbone Skully record, Condemned to Rock n’ Roll, set to come out in January 2027.
For the new album, Henriksel partnered with Def Leppard’s Phil Collen on a track called “Thunder Love.” The collaboration shows how Henriksel continues to build on his vision of straightforward, powerful rock music in the AC/DC tradition.
