Originally scheduled for release a year earlier in October 2021, “The Lives Of Brian” is Johnson’s memoir from growing up in a small town to starting his own band to ultimately replacing Bon Scott, the lead singer of one of the world biggest rock acts, AC/DC. They would record their first album together, the iconic “Back In Black”, which would become the biggest selling rock album of all time.
Brian was born to a steelworker and WWII veteran father and an Italian mother, growing up in New Castle Upon Tyne, England, a working-class town. He was musically inclined and sang with the church choir. By the early ’70s he performed with the glam rock band Geordie, and they had a couple of hits, but it was tough going and by 1976, they disbanded and Brian turned to a blue-collar life.
Then 1980 changed everything.
AC/DC icon Bon Scott died at the age 33. The band auditioned singers, among them Johnson, whom Scott himself had seen perform and raved about. Within days, Johnson was in a studio with the band, working with founding members Angus and Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, and Phil Rudd, along with producer Mutt Lange.
When the album “Back In Black” was released in July – a mere three months after Johnson had joined the band – it exploded, going on to sell 50 million copies worldwide, and triggering a years-long worldwide tour. It has been declared “the biggest selling hard rock album ever made” and “the best-selling heavy metal album in history.”
The band toured the world for a full year to support the album, changing the face of rock music – and Brian Johnson’s life – forever.
"I've had some long nights and some great nights, some bad days and a lot of good days,” says Johnson, “and during that time I've gone from choirboy to rock 'n' roll singer, and now I've gone and written a bloody book about it."
AC/DC released their latest album, “Power Up”, in 2020.
Johnson performed a pair of AC/DC classics at The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at London’s Wembley Stadium last weekend.
See also:
Metallica and AC/DC members added to Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts
Guns N’ Roses debut AC/DC classic Back In Black in Spain
Guns N’ Roses rock AC/DC classic in Lisbon
AC/DC: Back In Black named Greatest Australian Album Of All Time
Search AC/DC at hennemusic
