New Zealand’s #1 Direct to Consumer Hearing Aids
600+ Five Star Reviews
New Zealand’s #1 Direct to Consumer Hearing Aids
600+ Five Star Reviews
By Don Hudson, CEO of PocketAid
AC/DC electrified fans across the country recently with the news that they’ll be touring Australia at the end of 2025, their first homecoming in nearly a decade.
But behind the high-voltage announcement lies a quieter, more personal story – the battle frontman Brian Johnson fought to hear the music again.
When Brian lost his hearing, he thought he’d lost everything.
Forced to step down on doctor’s orders mid-tour in 2016, the famously raspy-voiced frontman of AC/DC found himself suddenly silenced. It wasn’t just about losing music; it was about losing identity and confidence.
In a 2024 interview with Dan Rather, Johnson opened up about those first few crushing days after his diagnosis: “I went out to the car, and I looked down and I went: ‘Right, it’s not cancer,’ which is a stupid and morose thing to say… but it was the only thing I could think of to make myself feel better.
“You feel alone the first two or three months, when I suddenly realised: I’ll have to get hearing aids – that’s what old men have. Then you suddenly realise, ‘I am an old man’… It just happens. Bits start falling off you when you get past 70.”
That moment of loss – and humour – says so much about the experience of hearing loss, about the physical deterioration and the stigma.
In our society, needing glasses is almost a fashion statement. But needing hearing aids? That still makes people hesitate.
That’s why Johnson’s return to the mic, and to the thunderous stage of AC/DC’s Power Up world tour, is not only a comeback, it’s a revelation. It shows what can happen when stigma is pushed aside, and when the right hearing technology brings back the sound, and the life.
And it’s fair to say, Johnson isn’t alone. Not even close.
Many of the die-hard fans preparing to fill Australian stadiums this November have been living with hearing loss for years, quite possibly, decades. It’s not hard to imagine why. From blasting Back in Black in their cars to screaming through decades of concerts, the beloved “Acca Dacca” sound has always been high-octane.
But it may have come at a price for some.
A 2022 study published in the Medical Journal of Australia estimated that between 17% and 20% of adults experience tinnitus, described as a persistent ringing in the ears often caused by exposure to loud noise. That’s millions of Australians affected.
Musicians are especially vulnerable. Research shows that they’re up to four times more likely to experience hearing loss compared to the general population. And yet, the use of hearing protection, even among professionals, remains remarkably low.
In short, the risk is real and widespread. But the awareness is still catching up.
Johnson’s story reminds us of what’s possible when hearing loss is confronted, not avoided. His honesty in talking about those early, dark months helps break down the walls for so many others still hiding in silence. And his decision to get support instead of stepping aside is something we can all learn from.
If a 77-year-old rocker with a wall of amplifiers behind him can take control of his hearing health, then so can his fans, many of whom will be facing the same battles.
Come November, AC/DC will ignite stadiums across Australia once more, reminding us why their music became the soundtrack to generations.
But this time, when Brian Johnson steps out under the lights, we’ll hear something even louder than the guitar riffs: a message of resilience, of breaking stigma and of saying ‘yes’ to help even when it’s hard.
At PocketAid, we are inspired by stories like Brian Johnson’s. His courage proves that hearing loss doesn’t have to be the end of the road. It can be the start of something powerful – a comeback and a reconnection. And we believe that everyone, no matter their age or budget, deserves that same chance.
You shook us all night long, Brian. And by stepping back on stage with hearing aids, you’re still doing it.
Don Hudson is the CEO and co-founder of PocketAid, an Australian health-tech company providing affordable, ready-to-use hearing aids online.