Biography
Replacing a founding member who meets a tragic end is seldom straightforward, yet Brian Johnson integrated seamlessly into AC/DC and won instant approval from the Australian hard rockers' vast audience. Born on October 5, 1947, in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, he performed with a church choir in his youth, though rock & roll captivated him in the same way it did countless other teenagers during the 1960s. In early 1972 he assembled his first serious rock outfit, USA; within months the group adopted the name Geordie and set its sights on the thriving U.K. glam rock circuit. Several domestic hits followed, among them the Top Ten single "All Because of You" and the Top 20 track "Can You Do It."
By the mid-'70s the glam movement was in steep decline, yet Geordie kept performing across England until the band disbanded in 1976. Johnson then stepped away from music for several years before reviving Geordie in 1980. At the moment the group secured a fresh recording deal, AC/DC invited him to audition for the lead vocalist role left vacant by Bon Scott, who had died in February 1980 from alcohol poisoning. Scott himself had earlier witnessed Johnson onstage with Geordie and delivered an enthusiastic endorsement to his AC/DC colleagues. Johnson passed the tryout without difficulty and received the position. Setting his Geordie tenure aside—the band attempted to continue without him but met with no success—his debut AC/DC album, the 1980 classic Back in Black, registered as an immediate blockbuster. Over time the record has ranked among hard rock's all-time best-sellers and elevated the band to global prominence.
Johnson's commanding yet somber vocal style complemented AC/DC's high-energy, hard-hitting sound, enabling the group to sustain a run of best-selling albums and sold-out tours. Additional Johnson-fronted releases that achieved hit status include the 1981 worldwide number one For Those About to Rock, the 1986 motion picture soundtrack Who Made Who, 1990's The Razor's Edge, and Stiff Upper Lip, the band's first release of the 21st century. Having now spent far more years in AC/DC than Scott, Johnson continues to rank among rock's most instantly recognizable voices.
By the mid-'70s the glam movement was in steep decline, yet Geordie kept performing across England until the band disbanded in 1976. Johnson then stepped away from music for several years before reviving Geordie in 1980. At the moment the group secured a fresh recording deal, AC/DC invited him to audition for the lead vocalist role left vacant by Bon Scott, who had died in February 1980 from alcohol poisoning. Scott himself had earlier witnessed Johnson onstage with Geordie and delivered an enthusiastic endorsement to his AC/DC colleagues. Johnson passed the tryout without difficulty and received the position. Setting his Geordie tenure aside—the band attempted to continue without him but met with no success—his debut AC/DC album, the 1980 classic Back in Black, registered as an immediate blockbuster. Over time the record has ranked among hard rock's all-time best-sellers and elevated the band to global prominence.
Johnson's commanding yet somber vocal style complemented AC/DC's high-energy, hard-hitting sound, enabling the group to sustain a run of best-selling albums and sold-out tours. Additional Johnson-fronted releases that achieved hit status include the 1981 worldwide number one For Those About to Rock, the 1986 motion picture soundtrack Who Made Who, 1990's The Razor's Edge, and Stiff Upper Lip, the band's first release of the 21st century. Having now spent far more years in AC/DC than Scott, Johnson continues to rank among rock's most instantly recognizable voices.
Singles
