Alice Cooper on Axl Rose Joining AC/DC: 'That Might Just Work'

Alice Cooper is excited by the news that Axl Rose will be fronting AC/DC on the next leg of the latter band's upcoming world tour. "I just think that's such a unique combination," he tells Rolling Stone. "Whoever has tickets to that show has got the golden ticket, because who doesn't want to see that?"

Cooper, who will be embarking on his own tour this summer with his supergroup Hollywood Vampires, heard about the pairing early, likely through the Vampires' former touring bassist Duff McKagan, who has since returned to Guns N' Roses. "At first I thought it was an April Fool's thing," Cooper says. "I went, 'Oh, come on.' Then I started thinking about it and said, 'You know, his voice is absolutely perfect for that band. That might just work.'"

Rose's guest role in the group follows news that Brian Johnson – AC/DC frontman for nearly four decades – could no longer tour because he was running the risk of going deaf. They confirmed Rose's role in the band over the weekend with a statement saying they felt fortunate that the Guns N' Roses frontman had offered his support. The band, with Rose, will embark on a European stadium tour from early May to mid-June.

This past spring, the Aussies had postponed a run of gigs in the U.S., urging fans to keep their tickets. Now with Rose on board, AC/DC will announce 10 rescheduled U.S. dates imminently.

Meanwhile, Guns N' Roses are launching their own stadium tour. The band recently reunited with McKagan and Slash, having played a handful of gigs already in recent weeks, as well as the opening weekend at Coachella this past Saturday. At that gig, they welcomed AC/DC's Angus Young to the stage for renditions of his band's "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Riff Raff."

Cooper's Hollywood Vampires, which also count Johnny Depp, Aerosmith's Joe Perry and Use Your Illusion era GN'R drummer Matt Sorum among their ranks, will play 18 dates this summer. Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo will replace McKagan on bass for the tour. "We're going to miss Duff, but I think [Robert] and Matt will get along great musically," Perry recently told Rolling Stone. "I think it will be a really good matchup."

AC/DC have confirmed that Axl Rose will first join them as vocalist for the remaining dates on their Rock or Bust trek.