Muse ended Reading Festival 2017 in rocking style last night by bringing out one of their rock heroes, Brian Johnson to play the AC/DC classic Back in Black. The legendary AC/DC front man had not been seen on stage since March 2016 during their Rock or Bust world tour when he was advised by doctors to quit touring immediately or he would go completely deaf. AC/DC enlisted the services of Guns N' Roses front man Axl Rose to complete the tour. Talking to Rolling Stone Magazine, Johnson said of having to quit the band that he had fronted since the death of original lead singer Bon Scott in 1980, "That was the darkest day of my professional life."
Brian Johnson's return to live music
A few months after leaving the band, Brian Johnson was more optimistic about his future in music after consulting a hearing and in-ear technology specialist.
Of the help he received to regain his hearing, Johnson told Rolling Stone magazine, "I was really moved and amazed to hear music again like I haven't heard for several years now." Johnson's appearance with Muse at Reading Festival was the second time that he had appeared on stage in the last three months. In May, he guested with former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and Bad Company front man Paul Rodgers on stage in Oxford to perform a cover of the Tamla Motown classic Money (That's What I Want).
At this point in time, it is unclear what Johnson's recent stage appearances mean for the future of AC/DC. The band has also seen the retirement of rhythm guitarist and songwriter Malcolm Young due to dementia; drummer Phil Rudd not being able to perform due to being under house arrest in New Zealand for attempting to procure a minor and the possession of methamphetamine and cannabis and the retirement of bassist Cliff Williams due to his feelings that the band was not the same after other members had left.
Sources close to AC/DC are yet to comment on Johnson's appearance with Muse at Reading Festival.
Muse's rocking Reading Festival set
Starting with their most recent single, Dig Down and including many of the band's best-known singles, such as Plug In Baby; Supermassive Black Hole and Time is Running Out, Muse's rocking set marked the third time they had headlined Reading Festival.
They previously headlined in 2006 and 2011. As well as their cover of Back in Black with Brian Johnson, Muse's set also included short snippets of Led Zeppelin's Heartbreaker, Rage Against the Machine's Township Rebellion and Nirvana's Breed at the end of the songs Hysteria, Stockholm Syndrome and Showbiz, respectively.
At the end of their set, Muse front man Matt Bellamy said to the crowd, "Thank you Reading Festival!
Thanks to Brian Johnson! We love you England!" Bellamy then proceeded to take a selfie on his mobile phone with band mates, bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard, in front of the huge crowd. Meanwhile, after the performance of Back in Black, Johnson hugged Bellamy and said, "Thank you so much, thank you boys."
