As part of the 2018 hennemusic Rock News Awards, the daily news site is counting down the Top 10 Rock News Artists of the year.
Finalists for the 9th annual hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers: the Rock News Story Of The Year is determined by page views, while the Rock News Artist Of The Year is based on the combined total page views of the top 50 hennemusic rock news stories of the past twelve months.
Today we unveil the No. 1 hennemusic Rock News Artist Of The Year!
2018 Rock News Artist Of The Year – Top 10
10 – VAN HALEN
09 – SAMMY HAGAR
08 – FOO FIGHTERS
07 – GUNS N’ ROSES
06 – AEROSMITH
05 – ZZ TOP
04 – DEF LEPPARD
03 – FLEETWOOD MAC
02 – PINK FLOYD
Rock News Artist Of The Year No. 1 – AC/DC
AC/DC’s plans following the completion of their “Rock Or Bust” world tour in 2016 were unknown, as the group saw Brian Johnson sidelined with hearing issues and Axl Rose step in to complete the series while bassist Cliff Williams announced his retirement from the band.
A quiet 2017 ended tragically when co-founder and retired guitarist Malcolm Young died on November 18 at the age of 64 following a long battle with dementia.
2018 opened with a report out of Australia by a 2006 AC/DC biographer suggested the group would continue to record and tour with Axl Rose, with another story a few months later quoting Rose Tattoo vocalist Angry Anderson as saying guitarist Angus Young had confirmed his plans to regroup with the Guns N’ Roses frontman.
A charity tribute concert in honor of Malcolm took place in Melbourne as local cover band Whole Lotta Rosie were joined by a collection of Australian pub rock icons to perform at the city’s Corner Hotel on February 17 – 43 years to the day that AC/DC released their debut album, “High Voltage”, in 1975.
A sculpture honoring late AC/DC singer Bon Scott was unveiled in Melbourne in March.
Johnson made a rare return to the stage when he joined Mick Fleetwood for a classic rhythm and blues standard at the drummer’s restaurant and bar in Maui, Hawaii, while the band reissued their 1980 classic, “Back In Black”, on a limited-edition cassette as part of Record Store Day 2018 on April 21.
In July, Gretsch announced plans to honor Malcolm with the release of a signature guitar in November; the G6131-MY pays homage to Young’s famously battle-hardened Gretsch Jet, nicknamed “The Beast.”
An AC/DC series of 45th anniversary stamps by Australian Post caused a controversy in July, with some featuring US album covers instead of exclusively Australian versions.
A report out of Vancouver in August indicated that an AC/DC fan had spotted and spoken with both guitarist Stevie Young and drummer Phil Rudd in the Canadian city, and in the weeks that followed, images of Johnson and drummer Phil Rudd, the Young brothers, and longtime engineer Mike Fraser at The Warehouse studios led to speculation about a possible new album.
The situation brought more headlines the following month when a report suggested that a new record is happening and will feature unused recordings by Malcolm on all tracks, with material from writing sessions with Angus in the early 2000s.
AC/DC’s 45th anniversary was marked with a new series of coins from The Royal Australian Mint in October that included some coins with a bolt of man-made lightning in the spirit of the band’s 1990 classic, “Thunderstruck.”
As 2019 approaches, fans continue to await official word regarding AC/DC’s future and, in particular, an update of the 2018 Vancouver recording project.
See also:
Search AC/DC at hennemusic
2018 hennemusic Rock News Awards announced
The Eagles sweep the 2017 hennemusic Rock News Awards
AC/DC sweep the 2016 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen and KISS top the 2015 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen sweep 2014 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen and Pearl Jam top the 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen dominate the 2012 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen win two hennemusic Rock News Awards
Guns N’ Roses named hennemusic’s Rock News Artist of The Year
Jimmy Page’s 2011 plans named hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year
