Brian Johnson

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Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson live with AC/DC on November 23, 2008.
Brian Johnson live with AC/DC on November 23, 2008.
Background information
Born 5 October 1947 (1947-10-05) (age 61)
Dunston, Gateshead, England
Genre(s) Hard rock, Blues-rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s) Vocals
Years active 1972—present
Associated acts AC/DC
Geordie

Brian Johnson (born October 5, 1947) is an English singer and songwriter who, since 1980, has been the lead singer for the Australian rock band AC/DC. He currently lives in the Bird Key area of Sarasota, Florida, United States.

In 1972, Johnson formed the glam rock band Geordie. However, after a few hit singles, the band split up in 1978. After Geordie reformed in 1980 and signed a record deal, he was asked to audition for AC/DC, whose charismatic frontman, Bon Scott, had died on February 19, 1980. A fan sent the band's management a tape of Johnson performing with Geordie. A few days after his audition, Brian Johnson was named AC/DC's new lead singer.

Johnson's first album with AC/DC, Back in Black, is the band's best selling album and ranks second among the top-selling albums, trailing only Michael Jackson's Thriller, which was released in 1982.

In 1997, Johnson recorded with the band Jackyl on their song "Locked and Loaded", and in 2002 wrote lyrics and sang on the track "Kill the Sunshine" from their album Relentless.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Brian Johnson was born in Dunston, Gateshead, UK. Johnson's father, Allan, was a Sergeant Major of the British Army's Durham Light Infantry; his mother, Esther, came from Italy.[1] 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.[2] Brian used to have a wife named Carol, but he divorced her during the writing of the Razor's Edge album. He is now married to Brenda.[3]

His home features a lightning bolt in the back patio area inspired by the lightning bolt in the AC/DC logo, as well as a guitar-shaped pool.[citation needed]

[edit] AC/DC

At the AC/DC audition, Johnson sang the songs; "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Nutbush City Limits" (Ike & Tina Turner).[2] A few days later, the band told Johnson he would be the new vocalist of AC/DC.

From 1980, Johnson had co-written all of AC/DC's songs with Angus Young 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.[4]

Brian Johnson customarily wears a cap on stage and frequently off. Originally, he wore a flat cap, once regarded as a symbol of his native Tyneside, but has occasionally worn baseball caps as well. His brother suggested that the singer wear the cap onstage to prevent sweat rolling off his thick, curly hair into his eyes while singing. "He said, 'Put it on, at least you'll be able to see what the bloody freak you're doing!' So I put it on and after three songs in the second set, I looked at him, put my thumbs ups — 'This is brilliant!' He never did get that hat back."[5]

[edit] Helen of Troy musical

Since April 2003, Brian Johnson, who says "I love musical theatre, especially the classic stuff, like Rodgers and Hammerstein"[1], 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.

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.[6]

A small public performance, that featured songs written for the musical, was given in New York on June 13, 2005.

[edit] Other Activities

A car and racing enthusiast, Brian Johnson currently enjoys racing his vintage race cars: a Royale RP-4 and a Pilbeam MP84, which he races in vintage and historic races throughout the United States.

He also made a cameo appearance in the 2005 film Goal! where he appears as a Newcastle United fan in a bar in Mexico.

[edit] Discography

With Geordie

Title Release date Label
Hope You Like It 1973 Repertoire
Don't Be Fooled By The Name 1974 Repertoire
Masters Of Rock 1975 Repertoire
Save the World 1976 Repertoire
No Good Woman 1978 Repertoire
The Best of Geordie 1997 Platinum

With AC/DC

Title Release date Label U.S. Album Sales
Back in Black July 1980 Atlantic 22,000,000
For Those About to Rock November 1981 Atlantic 4,000,000
Flick of the Switch September 1983 Atlantic 1,000,000
Fly on the Wall June 1985 Atlantic 1,000,000
Who Made Who May 1986 Atlantic 5,000,000
Blow Up Your Video January 1988 Atlantic 2,000,000
The Razors Edge September 1990 Atco 5,000,000
Live October 1992 Atco 5,000,000
Ballbreaker September 1995 Elektra 2,000,000
Stiff Upper Lip February 2000 Elektra 2,000,000
Black Ice October 2008 Columbia 3,000,000

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Brian Johnson biography". IMDb.com.
  2. ^ a b "Johnson bio". Bedlam in Belgium. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  3. ^ Helen of Troy (200?) Malcolm McDowell, Brian Johnson of AC/DC
  4. ^ Italian Rock Hard magazine, January 2004
  5. ^ http://www.motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0810_acdc_singer_brian_johnson_celeb_drive/black_ice_us_soldiers.html AC/DC Lead Singer Brian Johnson]
  6. ^ Classic Rock magazine, October 2003

[edit] External links

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