Brian Johnson Receives Hope For Hearing Loss

Stephen Ambrose, who invented the wireless in-ear monitor in 1965, reached out to Johnson with a video posted on YouTube May 4, a few days before AC/DC launched its European tour with Axl Rose filling in on vocals. The Guns N’ Roses singer took over after AC/DC revealed that doctors had told Johnson he had to “stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss.”

The video begins with Ambrose saying, “This is an open message to Brian Johnson. Please don’t stop performing. Help is on the way.”

Ambrose explained that he stopped manufacturing inner-ear monitors in the ‘90s after he learned that personal listening devices can cause permanent hearing loss.

“Recently, with help from the National Science Foundation and 64 Audio, I’m proud to announce that I’ve invented an improved version of my original in-ear monitors called the Ambrose Diaphonic Ear Lens or ADEL, which introduces a second synthetic ear drum into your ear canal that absorbs only the harmful sound pressures, keeps them from damaging your ears and even allows lower volumes to sound louder and far better,” Ambrose said.

“Instead of causing rampant hearing loss this new technology promises to effectively protect vast millions from hearing loss. And my inflatable version, the ADEL bubble, has been known to actually restore hearing in persons who are profoundly deaf and who can no longer experience music in stereo or at all.”

Ambrose went on to say that while he’s a big fan of Axl’s voice, he can’t imagine anyone but Johnson singing AC/DC songs like “Back In Black.”

Maybe Johnson will once again be belting out those classic tunes. Here’s his statement, which was issued via Asius Technologies and posted on Ambrose’s Facebook page. (hat tip to Rolling Stone).

“It WORKS. It just totally works and you can’t argue with that. I was really moved and amazed to be able to hear music again like I haven’t heard for several years now. I can’t wait for it to be miniaturized so I can use it in every situation from normal communication, going out to noisy restaurants, to performing live music on stage.”

The post from Abrose includes a photo of him and Johnson, along with a signed copy of the singer’s “Rockers and Rollers: A Full-Throttle Memoir” with a note saying, “Thank for the hope!! Stephen you’ll do it.”