Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
Brian Johnson (born October 5, 1947 in Dunston, Gateshead, England) (He however lived in North Shields throughout the 1970s and 80s) is a singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist for the Australian hard rock band, AC/DC. He currently lives in Sarasota, Florida.
In 1972, Johnson formed the glam rock band Geordie and became their lead singer. However, after a few hit singles, the band split up in 1978. Johnson reformed Geordie in 1980, however, just after a record deal had been signed, he was asked to audition for AC/DC. A few days after the audition, Johnson was told he would be replacing deceased Bon Scott as the lead vocalist of the band. Johnson's first album with AC/DC, Back in Black, is the band's biggest selling album.
Johnson's sartorial trademark is his cap. Originally, he wore a flat cap, once regarded as a symbol of his native Tyneside, but in recent years, he has occasionally worn a baseball cap instead.
Biography
Johnson's father, Allan, was a Sergeant Major of the British Army's Durham Light Infantry; his mother, Esther, came from Italy. When he was young, Johnson performed in various shows with the Scouts, and appeared in a play which aired on television, and joined a local church choir.
Geordie
In February 1972, Johnson joined the Newcastle glam rock band, Geordie. The band's first single, "Don't Do That", was released at the end of the year through EMI, and reached No. 32 in the UK charts. "Don't Do That" was followed a few months later by their biggest hit, "All Because Of You", which reached No. 6. They later had another UK top 20 hit "Can You Do It". After multiple hit singles, Geordie split up in 1978, but Johnson re-formed it in 1980.
Soon after a record contract had been signed, Johnson was asked to audition for AC/DC. Among the others asked to audition were ex-Back Street Crawler vocalist, Terry Slesser and ex-Moxy frontman, Buzz Shearman, who was not able to join due to vocal chord problems.
"I remember Bon playing me "Little Richard" and then telling me the story of when he saw Brian singing." Angus Young later remembered. "And he says about that night, 'there's this guy up there screaming at the top of his lungs and then the next thing you know he hits the deck. He's on the floor, rolling around and screaming. I thought it was great, and then to top it off —you couldn't get a better encore— they came in and wheeled the guy off!" Later that night, Johnson would be diagnosed with appendicitis, which was the cause of his writhing around on stage.
AC/DC
At the AC/DC audition, Johnson sang the songs; "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Nutbush City Limits" (Ike & Tina Turner). A few days later, the band told Johnson he would be the new vocalist of AC/DC. Slesser, on the other hand, was not too excited about the idea of joining an established band from the start, and instead went on to have a solo career and co-wrote a song entitled "Rainbow's Gold", which was covered by Iron Maiden in 1984.
Johnson's first album with AC/DC, Back in Black (1980), is now regarded as a hard rock landmark. It is the second biggest selling album (worldwide) and the biggest selling album by any band.
From 1980, Johnson had co-written all of AC/DC's songs, with Angus and Malcolm Young until personal matters diverted him in 1990, when The Razors Edge was being written. Since then, the Young brothers have written all of AC/DC's material. However, Johnson is writing the lyrics for the band's new album, due for release in 2007.
Helen of Troy musical
Since April 2003, Johnson has been working on a musical version of Helen of Troy with Sarasota Ballet choreographer, Robert de Warren. The musical is a Les Miserables-style musical with rousing anthems, tender ballads and minimal dialogue. He conceived the project with writers Ian La Frenais, Dick Clement and Brendan Healy after seeing Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, Cats, and describing it as, "fucking shite, wrist-cuttingly bad".
Malcolm McDowell, who made his recording debut singing one of the songs for the soundtrack in Brian's studio, has agreed to play Zeus. The Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan and Bruce Vilanch are also set to participate.
A small public performance, that featured songs written for the musical, was given in New York on June 13, 2005.
Discography
With Geordie
Hope You Like It (1973)
Masters of Rock (1974)
Don't be Fooled by the Name (1975)
Save the World (1976)
No Good Woman (1978)
The Best of Geordie (1997)
With AC/DC
Back in Black (July 1980)
For Those About to Rock (November 1981)
Flick of the Switch (April 1983)
Fly on the Wall (June 1985)
Who Made Who (May 1986)
Blow Up Your Video (January 1988)
The Razors Edge (September 1990)
Ballbreaker (September 1995)
Stiff Upper Lip (February 2000)
TBA (2007~)
