Brian Johnson's statue has been unveiled in Namur, Belgium, despite the singer not being part of AC/DC anymore.
Nearly 43 years ago, AC/DC held its first live performance at Namur's Palais Des Expositions. The June 1980 concert was recently commemorated by erecting a statue of Johnson at the venue.
Brian Johnson Honored Through a Statue in Belgium
Local radio station RTBF organized the unveiling of Johnson's statue, which welcomed fans who wanted to witness the presentation of the monument.
In response to it, Johnson sent a recorded video message to the RTBF's official Instagram page. He thanked everyone for their support and expressed his desire to see the "special place" in person soon.
"It was the first night I sang with AC/DC, and I was a very nervous boy. So that memory will stay with me forever, and now that you've built this statue - honestly, I'm not worthy of it - I thank you, and I'll take it in good grace," he went on.
RTBF's website also shared photos taken from the unveiling event.
It took years before Johnson was scheduled to perform with AC/DC again. In 2016, Axl Rose filled in for him; the band also dealt with heartbreak following the co-founder Malcolm Young's death in 2017.
The upcoming Power Trip Festival will see AC/DC first performance with Johnson. The event will also feature Tool, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, and Guns N' Roses.
Why Brian Johnson Exited AC/DC
In the past years, Johnson expressed his desire to perform with the band again years after he was "forced" to leave the band.
In his memoir "The Lives of Brian," the musician opened up about the despair he felt after being forced to leave AC/DC in 2016 due to his hearing issues. Rose filled in for the rest or the "Rock or Bust" tour, but Johnson reportedly could not watch him lead the band especially since he was doing it for 35 years when someone immediately took over the stage.
Johnson described Rose with AC/DC as something like "finding a stranger in your house, sitting in your favorite chair."
Despite that, he clarified that he had no grudges as his bandmates only did what they thought they had to do.
However, it reportedly shocked him when AC/DC released a statement saying he was leaving the tour when he was only there all along.
Years after his "exit," Johnson also reunited with AC/DC to record its album, "Power Up."
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