AC/DC say they've started offering refunds for upcoming European shows with Axl Rose in order to "do right by" their fans. They hired the Guns N' Roses frontman as a guest vocalist after Brian Johnson stopped touring on doctors orders because of concerns about his hearing.

In some circles, reaction to the temporary collaboration was decidedly mixed. AC/DC then jumped into action, a band representative told TeamRock. "The band made a decision to offer this," the spokesman says. "As they care about their fans and wanted to do right by them, they instructed local promoters to offer refunds."

Total figures have not been released on just how many ticket holders opted out of AC/DC's 12 upcoming dates in Europe, though a Belgian newspaper reported that 7,000 fans asked for refunds in advance of a May 16 date there. A local promoter told AC/DC's rep that a "small number" of refunds were also given for this weekend's opening date at Lisbon on May 7. Tickets are going back on sale today, the spokesman added, "and they expect them to sell out in half an hour."

He also confirmed the leaked recordings that surfaced earlier this week that appeared to feature Rose rehearsing for the shows at a Lisbon studio. "The audio was recorded by a Brazilian fan standing outside the site, and it is Axl," the rep said. "The band have been rehearsing solidly for two weeks in Lisbon."

Following Rose's European stint with AC/DC, he'll mount a Guns N' Roses reunion tour with fellow founding members Slash and Duff McKagan.

AC/DC Albums Ranked Worst to Best

More From 99.1 The Whale