AC/DC singer Brian Johnson received an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne on Wednesday, and video of his acceptance speech is available for fans to check out.
The degree recognizes the significant contribution Johnson has made to the music industry as lead singer of one of the world’s most successful rock bands for the past three decades.
“When I first heard about this great honor, I was humbled … especially since it’s from my hometown university,” said Johnson. “I was an engineering student myself here a long time ago.”
The rocker was born along the river from the University at Dunston and performed with a series of bands before finding Top 20 success with Geordie during the Glam Rock era of the 1970s.
Brian joined AC/DC in 1980 as lead vocalist and his first album with the group, “Back In Black”, is one of the most successful albums of all time, selling over 22 million copies in the US alone.
“It is fitting that we honor one of the most distinctive voices in rock music, who is also a native of the North East,” said Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at the school. “Northumbria University has a strong tradition of partnership working in the region’s cultural and creative sectors, and our Students’ Union has long been a focus for key bands who have gone on to achieve worldwide success.”
“It is interesting to reflect on the importance of culture to collective life of the North East and of the cultural industries as a major UK export: Brian Johnson symbolizes both of these things and, moreover, has been an inspiration to generations of young musicians over several decades,” he added.
Johnson has revealed that AC/DC have completed the recording of a new album in Vancouver over the past two months without founding member Malcolm Young, who remains on a break to address some health issues.
Learn more news about the project here.
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