As AC/DC prepare to launch their first-ever tour without co-founding member Malcolm Young, singer Brian Johnson admits that he's thinking more about death these days. But that doesn't mean he's filled with dread. Quite the opposite, in fact.

“At this time of my life, I just keep reading the newspaper and saying ‘Oh, my God,'" Johnson recently told the Telegraph. "When I read about Joe Cocker, I went, 'But that’s impossible. He cannot be dead. He’s only 70.' I mean, I’m aware of the fact that I’m not long for the world but, I guess, I’m just not afraid of death. I don’t believe in anything, so therefore I’m not afraid what’s gonna happen afterward.”

Johnson said he's also bolstered by the idea that AC/DC are moving forward with the blessings of Young, who retired from the band after a diagnosis of dementia.

“It’s just given us that impetus to just do it for him," said Johnson. "Before the dementia really took hold of him he said, ‘Just get out and make music, lads -- just for me one more time.’ I don’t want to be sentimental about this because I’m not a sentimental kind of guy. But that’s what we’re doing.”

This run of new AC/DC concert dates – which, it should be noted, has not been labeled or marketed as the band's final tour – has forced Johnson to take a break from his passion for racing, but he hasn't completely shoved it aside. The second season of Cars That Rock, a six-part series that focuses on some of history's most talked-about automobiles and is hosted by Johnson, starts tonight.

Johnson admitted that he won't be getting behind the wheel again for a while, but he also said that he's not always as forthcoming as he should be with his AC/DC bandmates. “I don’t tell them until after I’ve done the races," he said. "And I've I promised them that I won’t jump in a race car until the tour’s over.”

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