After hearing loss issues sidelined AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson and caused the band to postpone its remaining U.S. tour dates, it’s being reported that Johnson feels like he has been “kicked to the curb” by AC/DC.

Johnson was recently advised by doctors to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss. AC/DC subsequently postponed 10 gigs. No dates have been rescheduled, but the band plans to make up the shows with a replacement vocalist. According to comedian Jim Breuer, a good friend of Brian Johnson’s, the singer is upset over the situation.

On a new episode of Jim Breuer’s The Metal in Me podcast, the comic detailed a visit he had with Johnson. “From what I gather, and I don’t have all the information, I only hear certain sides here. He said that he called and let them know, ‘Hey this is what the doctor said, but let’s try to figure this out. Let’s see what’s going on here, I don’t think it’s as bad as he said it is.’ Literally the next day in the press, it was ‘Brian Johnson, tour canceled, he’s losing his hearing.’”

Breuer continued, “Then he’s like, ‘You know what? I would really like to finish and do some shows. I think we can knock this out.’ Then all his luggage that he toured with showed up at his driveway. There’s been no calls. No, ‘How’s your hearing? How’s your health? What’s going on?’ Boom. Here’s your s—t, nice to know you.”

“There’s been no answer (from the band),” Breuer said. “He feels like he heard from someone that they already hired somebody, it just hasn’t been announced yet. (Brian) said it went from ’It’s canceled to ‘Now we’re gonna do it, but it’s gonna be like karaoke with guest stars.’” According to Breuer, Johnson added, “I feel like I’ve been kicked to the curb.”

Breuer also added that despite Johnson being in the band for 36 years, he still felt like a hired gun. He also says that Johnson feels like guitarist Angus Young may want to keep AC/DC going with another singer for several more years.

Update: After this report was spread across the internet, Jim Breuer commented via his personal Facebook profile, confirming that Brian Johnson seemed withdrawn and "hurt by the situation," but the comedian also admitted that he may have exaggerated and gotten a little carried away with his story about the AC/DC singer:

Update 2: Breuer later posted that he was not directly quoting Brian Johnson and that some of his commentary was him venting to a friend. See his post below:

Breuer hasn't yet elaborated on which details he may have exaggerated. Stay tuned for more information as this story develops. Hear Jim Breuer's podcast below.

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