The statement said: "AC/DC are forced to reschedule the 10 upcoming dates on the U.S. leg of their Rock or Bust World Tour. AC/DC's lead singer, Brian Johnson, has been advised by doctors to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss.

"Tomorrow's show in Atlanta through Madison Square Garden in New York, NY in early April will be made up later in the year, likely with a guest vocalist."

The shock announcement comes six months after long-time drummer Phil Rudd was arrested on drugs and "threatening to kill" charges and sentenced to home detention in New Zealand. Two years ago founding guitarist Malcolm Young left the band suffering dementia.

Despite the upheavals, the band's 17th studio album Rock or Bust topped the charts in 12 countries, including Australia, and led to the band again being booked to headline big international music festivals.

Johnson isn't a founding member of AC/DC, but he's still an essential one. In 1980 he was picked to replace cult AC/DC frontman Bon Scott who had died from acute alcohol poisoning. Johnson was immediately enormously successful, performing lead vocals on Back in Black, which is still the band's most popular album and one of top-selling albums by any artist.