Justin Hawkins Reveals Why Singing an AC/DC Classic With Brian Johnson Didn’t Feel Right

The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins recently shared his experience performing AC/DC’s “Back in Black” with Brian Johnson during the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert at Wembley Stadium. Speaking with Professor of Rock, Hawkins admitted that the collaboration took him completely by surprise.

“I had no idea that was going to happen as well. I hated it, I’ve got to say I hated it,” he said. “The other things I did that day I’d prepared for. The Van Halen stuff was important to me. Singing with Queen was obviously amazing. I was geared up to play whatever they wanted me to do.”

Hawkins revealed that Dave Grohl had specifically selected him for challenging performances throughout the show, but AC/DC was never mentioned in advance.

Rising to the Challenge

“When Dave was putting that thing together, he was like, ‘If there’s anything difficult to sing or play, we’ll get Justin to do it.’ That’s literally what he said to our drummer Rufus,” Hawkins explained. “I was down for anything, but AC/DC? No point was that mentioned.”

Just before going onstage, Johnson approached Hawkins. “Brian came over and said, ‘Justin, you got to help me sing,’ and I was like, ‘I don’t know the words. Someone get me the words.’ I had no idea what I was doing, but it actually yielded an amazing photograph of me and Brian singing at Wembley. How many people can say that?”

Despite the initial frustration, Hawkins recognized the moment as a rare and unforgettable experience.

A Rock Supergroup Moment

The AC/DC set became one of the most memorable highlights of the tribute, featuring Lars Ulrich on drums and creating a temporary supergroup with Johnson and Hawkins. The performance kicked off with “Back in Black” and transitioned into “Let There Be Rock,” which Johnson dedicated to Taylor Hawkins. Video footage captured Hawkins stepping in to support Johnson, a moment that looked chaotic but demonstrated the camaraderie and spontaneity of the evening.

Reflecting on the experience, Hawkins admitted that while the performance was unplanned, it perfectly embodied the spirit of the tribute. “The spontaneity, the energy—it was chaotic, but that’s what rock and roll is about. Taylor would have loved that,” he said. The collaboration served as a reminder that some of the most powerful musical moments happen when artists throw the script aside and create something in the moment, leaving fans with memories that last a lifetime.