AC/DC’s Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd pictured together in Vancouver

(Image credit: Getty)

Estranged AC/DC members Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd have been photographed together in Vancouver.

Johnson was forced to stop touring with the band back in 2016 under the threat of permanent deafness, with AC/DC bringing in Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose to complete their Rock Or Bust world tour.

Rudd, meanwhile, was kicked out of the Aussie band the same year after being found guilty of drugs possession and making death threats and subsequently served an eight-month home arrest sentence. Drummer Chris Slade was recruited for AC/DC’s live dates.

But now the pair have been photographed together, with the snap appearing on The Georgia Straight – the same website which recently claimed that Rudd and AC/DC guitarist Stevie Young were spotted in the city.

The picture of Johnson and Rudd has reportedly been snapped outside Vancouver’s Warehouse Studios where AC/DC have recorded their last three albums, and shows the pair laughing over a cuppa.

Is something else brewing in the AC/DC camp?

Johnson has been working with with audio experts Asius on a solution to his hearing problems, with Beano taking to the stage following his departure from AC/DC with Muse, Paul Rodgers and, most recently, with Mick Fleetwood at the Fleetwood Mac drummer’s restaurant in Lahaina, Maui.

Speaking in 2016, Rudd said he still believed he had a future in the band, adding: “I’d dearly love to play on anything that Angus does. Anything that might be – it’s never over.”

The rumors are no more: Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd are back in AC/DC (in some sort of capacity). What. A. World. #ACDC https://t.co/pyz0i4I02F pic.twitter.com/79pJcVJDChAugust 8, 2018

Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.