The Hives Vocalist Howlin’ Pelle Offers To Front AC/DC After Lead Singer Ordered To Quit Band


The Hives frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist has taken to the band’s official Facebook page to make an offer to the AC/DC frontman, after the Australian rockers’ lead singer Brian Johnson was advised to quit by doctors, and retire due to the risk of losing his hearing completely, NME reports. Johnson has been AC/DC’s lead vocalist since 1980, joining the group following the death of previous singer Bon Scott. Original singer Dave Evans has also expressed interest in briefly fronting the band, saying ”It would be nice to do one guest performance [with AC/DC]. [Former members] were all part of the band no matters what era they were from.”

The Hives, who have released five, garage-rock studio albums, often speak about their love of AC/DC, and they served as main support during the group’s Australian tour last year.

“Yeah, we’re huge AC/DC fans, I mean who isn’t? Anyone with half a brain is,” Pelle told 100 Percent Rock Magazine. “AC/DC was the first band that I listened to, it’s the first band I remember, the first artist I remember liking when I was, maybe, 5 or 6 years old.

AC/DC have assured fans that they will fulfill the postponed American tour dates later this year, likely with a guest vocalist. The band released a statement about Johnson’s hearing-related issues.

“AC/DC are forced to reschedule the 10 upcoming dates on the US leg of their ‘Rock Or Bust’ World Tour. AC/DC’s lead singer, Brian Johnson, has been advised by doctors to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss.”

The statement continues: “[The] show in Atlanta through Madison Square Garden in New York, NY in early April will be made up later in the year, likely with a guest vocalist. More information regarding these rescheduled shows to come. Current ticket holders can hold on to their tickets for the rescheduled dates or receive a refund at point of purchase.”

“Here I am” and “please consider my application,” Almqvist wrote in the Facebook post, which you can view in full below.

“Very sad to hear Brian Johnson can’t do a bunch of AC/DC shows due to health problems. That man is a legend. I would like offer my sincerest well wishes and get wells. and if any help is needed i put my foot forward and say: HERE I AM! I have many many years of experience rocking the worlds biggest stages and according to others I am the greatest frontman in rock, plus judging from the reaction in Australia your crowd already seems to really like me. Plus, I have already been singing those songs since I was 6 years old. So #ACDC please consider my application! Feel free to spread the word fans! #HPAforACDC /Howlin Pelle.”

The Hives are known for performing in signature black and white suits, which are copied in great detail by their fans. Almqvist has been honored for his animated stage swagger, and he spoke about AC/DC’s influence over his band of 20+ years in a recent interview with Faster Louder.

“For all of us, I think that AC/DC was probably the first rock band that we liked. It was the first music that we decided to listen to ourselves, when we could pick our own music. We had the cassettes from a neighbor, the tape of ‘For Those About To Rock’ in, like, 1982 when we were, like, five or six years old. Since then, they’ve been one of our favorite bands. In THE HIVES, we keep referencing AC/DC a lot and stuff,” Pelle explained.

Pelle Almqvist was named Spin Magazine‘s “50 Greatest Frontmen of All Time,” which also listed The Hives as “The best live band in the world.” They dropped their most recent album Lex Hives in 2012, which the band self-produced along with Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme.

[Image courtesy Jonathan Short/AP Photo]

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