When super stars were still people. I love his normal every day candidness. You don’t see that often anymore. Grew up with AC/DC and they’re still my favorite at 50.
I used to live in North Shields in the early '70s. Brian Johnson lived literally around the corner. My dad repaired his television and my mam fixed a pair of his jeans he was using for a gig with Geordie.
@@vascoribeiro69 Brian Johnsons accent is what is known as 'geordie' - the Newcastle accent. Look at the north east part of map of England and you will find Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This is where Brian, and myself, come from.
I was 14 when Bon Scott died. I liked AC/DC and was devastated thinking it was over. Then I bought Back in Black and heard this guy and was blown away. That’s still my favorite album, and Brian my favorite AC/DC singer.
@@paulboegel8009 I can't believe the world didn't catch on to Shake a Leg. Maybe it's the song title, I don't know. Can't find a single live performance. I prefer Bon Scott's catalog, but Shake a Leg is by far my favorite AC/DC song.
Brian is one of the best replacement members in rock history ! When he joined AC/DC, the task was so hard : replace a charismatic singer at a moment when the band was becoming increasingly popular. Brian has a huge respect for Bon, he has never tried to copy him, and his voice perfectly fits the AC/DC style.
Brian's personality is impossible not to like. Always quick to smile and have a laugh. Love his singing voice and Bon's and other singers with that style of voice.
Never knew Brian was such a down to earth, funny character, makes me very proud that he’s a north east lad. Super star rock star but no airs and graces, still Newcastle through n through. Love it.
I'm an Aussie and I remember AC/DC starting up in the mid 1970's. I was a huge Bon fan and I still am. The band couldn't have found a better replacement than Brian though. Great singer and as it shows in this interview he seems a lovely guy.
@@apolloton1 I wasn't contradicting the comment at all. I agree they probably couldn't have found anybody better than Johnson to replace Bon Scott. Johnson was definitely a much better fit for AC/DC than Noddy Holder would have been. All I was doing was sharing an interesting anecdote.
I remember sneaking around in 1978...giving Dirty deeds..lp a listen ..my cuz said .grandma's...woulndt like it. ....I loved it ...then on the way back home from new orleans in Dec . 1980 the Back in black l.p. single was on the radio..I was 12 and fuken lovin g it .
That's true. I loved Bon but Brian gave us Back in Black. I remember going to a friends house to listen to it. He told me there was no bad songs on it. He was right. Everyone of them were fantastic. How often does that happen?
Fantastic interview, just so relaxed, two blokes having a drink and a chat. Brian's so down to earth,no airs and graces,just a regular bloke,super friendly, sort of man who makes you feel like you've been mates for years. Too many of today's stars are up their own arses,here's a man whose in one of the biggest bands in the world yet he's just a regular bloke who always has time for his fans. Best replacement singer in the history of rock
Really appreciate the openness and honesty of Brian. Didn't know he played soccer with an USA team. So glad he recovered from his hearing issues. It's great to see the band back together and sounding as good as 40 years ago!!!
I think he was actually working as a car mechanic before joining AC/DC. The gigs with the 2nd Geordie band were a bit of money on the side. Real working-class lad.
Yeah, one of the most unlikely rockstars with one of the greatest rock voices in history, Brian looks like he could fix my sink in between selling out a stadium
this guy hit the jackpot the aussies invited him to join but mutt lange was the genius whose production values on back in black were sublime and launched the band into the stratosphere, they should hire him again for their next album and i would be willing to bet they'd have another massive hit album
Actually saw him in a working mans club in dunston Gateshead Tyne and wear. He was there with his old man. Nobody bothered him. He's never forgotten his roots.
@@disprogreavette8545 hi it's not a silly question. Working men's club definition in the UK means ordinary working class people meet up for drinks and entertainment. Women we're never allowed in the bar but could socialise in the lounge. Every village town city had lots of working mans clubs. Not a place for middle class or upper class.
@@disprogreavette8545 his accent is proper Geordie dialect meaning he comes from Newcastle upon Tyne UK or Newcastle Gateshead where he was brought up as a kid is about a mile away from my home. Dunston Gateshead is a rough and ready type of place.
Bon raved about Brian after seeing Geordie in the '70's. I imagine they would have gotten on very well having a drink together. I can practically see Bon leaning over and saying "What are ya sayin'?" A Geordie and a Scottish Aussie trying to converse ha haa!!
I was in the audience for Top gear when he was on the show. The interview went on for about an hour but they edit it for TV. He was one of the nicest/interesting people you’d ever want to listen to. Top man
1995, Albany NY, sitting at the Marriott Lobby Bar before the show, Brian Johnson took a seat next to me at the bar! He rolled himself a cigarette, we shared a beer, and we shot the shit. It was glorious!.....pretty much the greatest days of my life! I remember having to piss SO bad, but I was literally prepared to piss down my leg before I gave up that seat! Eventually, me (and 100 other people) followed him to his waiting limo. At the limo door, he grabbed what was left of my beer, chugged it, and said "nice talking to you Chris.....see ya at the show!" Greatest Band Ever....fronted by a truly great man!!!
Lovely guy. Saw them at Donington Aug 1991 they were headlining. Metallica, Motley Crue , Black Crowes and Queensryche were also there. Will never forget it.
I used to ride off-road bikes at a quarry when I was young, Johnas was there with a different bike every weekend, his mate owned a bike shop on Westgate road apparently? He was always pi55ed/hungover and let you run free with his latest bike whilst he puked up in the bushes.He said he wouldn't be around for a while cos he'd scored for a new job, ''big time charlie'' (his own words). He never went into any details but well after the event we realised it was working on Back in Black as the new front-man!!....he never made anything of it...just so down to earth.
I remember commenting on one of Brian Johnson’s interviews saying that at some point if I was interviewing him I would’ve said “all right, fuck the interview lets go and have a pint”. I did not realize that there’s actually an interview out there where Brian literally just invites the guy for a drink. How awesome is that? I’d love to have a pint with the guy.
Thanks for posting this. Love Brian. Always have. He is sometimes overlooked in the Rock Gods Hall of Fame since he is so down to earth and such a regular guy.
Bon picked him b4 he passed away by commenting how good unique his voice was when he heard him play. Funny how how it works out in the end doesn't it. But AC/DC Knew who they were gonna pick b4 they even auditioned him. And the rest is history and we all gained with all the albums ac/dc made since Back in Black. Not 1 bad Album made since 1980. Lucky us and lucky them too. Thanks AC/DC Your the best Rock n Roll band ever to play The Blues/Rock n Roll. My favourite song personally was "That the way I wanna Rock n Roll" perfect name for AC/DC's best ever song. And still going strong. I love this band thru and thru. 🇮🇪🎸🇨🇮
What is amazing to me is how when Bon died and Brain came in and wow it was just like AC/DC is immortal. From what I've read it has a lot to do with Malcolm. Also they remembered that Bon had picked Brian as his replacement should Bon ever die. Thank you Brian and AC/DC for so much motivating R & R. You guys are my favorite.
@@garrylowther Back in the 70's 80's and 90's here in Colorado we didn't get much AC/DC and I'm a die hard rock fan. I can think of one really hot chic I took to see Billy Squires. I would have loved to have taken her to see Bon and/or Brian. My three favorite front men of all time were Bon, Brian and Kim Wilson. You have some good memories.
Thank you so much, Brian. For everything you've done for AC/DC. They would've been fine without you, but they were better because of you! 42 year old American who's seen you live many times.
what an amazing character! totally unpretentious. Product of a by gone age in many ways. Don't make em like that anymore. From a time well before social media.... its got a lot to answer for lol. Fascinating interview.
I was lucky and privileged enough to go see Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden in 2006. His guest appearance was AC/DC. Hands down they were by far the best live appearance I ever saw. And most likely ever will!
I've caught them a few times over the years but when they played at the SARSFEST thing in Toronto in 2003(?) it was something else. AC/DC, Rush, The Guess Who with the Rolling Stones headlining and AC/DC owned the show in front of a crowd of roughly 500 000 people. Luckily it's on RU-vid so I can go back and watch it.
The most humble,honest,gentleman you will ever meet...met him in 88 BUYV TOUR....was blown away though how much smaller he was.....brilliant guy ,gave so much time for me.......cant wait to see him again with the boys...
To think he went from being penniless to creating the biggest selling album in history by any band within a year. Back in Black is only bettered by Thriller in terms of sales. Insane.
If you only knew the Truth !! Brian Pinocchio Johnson didn't write Back in Black, a 14 year old kid did !! Bon Got his notes from a kid in UCLA PICU over 30 songs the kid was on his deathbed but survived... Brian Pinocchio Johnson is a Liar... and a thief ... HOW DO I KNOW ?? IM THAT KID !!
Gorgeous house I love brian I could listen to him all day I just cant believe this is nearly 40 years old wow where has the time gone and I hope brian as many more years left in him he is now in his mid 70s and still looks fabulous. Love brian I just hope he has great great life still and we get to see him on tour soon ❤
I wish Brian Johnson still had his voice from when he was with Geordie and when he sang on the Back in Black album. After Back in Black his voice was never as good again. Back then he had some gravel in his voice but he could hit highs cleanly. It reminds me of Axl Rose when he was with Hollywood Rose. His voice was still amazing on Appetite for Destruction, but he never hit highs as high or as cleanly as he did in previous years (listen to Rocker by Hollwood Rose for example). However, unlike Axl Rose, Brian Johnson's voice has remained relatively stable since For Those About to Rock and still sounds good. On the recently released Power Up album he sounds the same as he did 25 years ago on Ballbreaker, which is beyond amazing for a 73-year-old. Axl's voice on the other hand, has sounded terrible since at least 2000.
Brian's voice is stable? When axl sang for acdc he hit notes brian hadn't hit in 30 years or more...have you heard brian singing 6 month's ago with foo fighters his voice is completely shot to pieces
@@CS-mo7xp If you are familiar with AC / DC, you know that Dave Evans was the first singer, he was even a founding member, he has released only a single with AC / DC, but he was the first singer, Inform yourself first before you insult others
A tiny, tiny percentage have a recording success. To then turn it into longevity like AC/DC is pretty much unheard of. Most performing arts careers are brutally short. It is tragic, the stories of those who had a success at one point, then faded back into normalcy. Just freaking tragic. Hard for the members of Geordie, but you can rattle off thousands of performers who did not sustain their success. it's a great hobby when you're young, it provided a great social life, but for longevity - if you're into having a predictable source of income throughout your life - avoid the performing arts careers like the plague. Consider Brian Johnson's case. He was born in 1947. He did not get a success, really, until he was 33 years old, in 1980, when he got the call from AC/DC. Very few people dream of playing in a rock band to an audience of teenagers at age 33. In our various bands, we were called 'old men' when we hit our early 20s. The thought of playing in a band at age 30 - to a bunch of 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 year-olds - nah. No thank you. Get a college degree in an area that provides an income: engineering, accounting, finance, etc. Helix was big in the early 1980s. Their lead singer, just a few years later, was working as a clerk at a 7-11. Lots of stories like that. Freaking TRAGIC. One of the keys for AC/DC's success was - they had an older family member - George Young - running a large Australian record company. Motley Crue - Nikki Sixx, the guy who started the band - his dad was a record company executive. Having older, experienced business people, who know the industry, helping you along - it's a HUGE advantage. . .
@@BWater-yq3jx My perspective was "music as a career" in response to "It would've sucked to be in Geordie and watch this guy make millions" Many of us who started playing in bands as teenagers saw the reality of the business from the inside. Tom Scholz is a great example of doing it the right way. He has a solid engineering education and played music as a serious hobby. Boston music is on the radio now and then but they had a short career. Beatlemania in the 1960s was a worldwide phenomenon and it was dead by 1970. These are very cruel, pathetically brief careers for people. Led Zeppelin - huge and now gone. Pink Floyd - huge and gone. Cream, Derek and the Dominos, and Clapton's namesake band - huge and gone. If you enter the music 'business' with a good attitude - "this is a serious hobby and if I have a short run of success, I'll declare victory and move on with my life" - yeah, sure, go for it. But HAVE A PLAN 'B'. Have an education and a fallback career. The record companies, promoters, managers - there is so little success in the business that they are geared to suck all the life and money of any small measure of success that comes their way, and the artists are the LAST people they care about. Having a relative you're on good relationship terms with who is in the business - see Lenny Kravitz, Nikki Sixx, the Young family of AC/DC - it is a real benefit, because the promoters, managers and record companies will be **much more careful** not to screw with band members who have industry contacts that have power in the business. Even the greedy managers/promoters/record companies worry about professional reputation. But even that is not foolproof. Even when the stars line up, popular interest in music shifts constantly and selling your music can be easy one year and impossible the next year. It's not a good business if you feel that you need a long term, stable source of income. It is a great way to have an interesting, fulfilling social life when you're younger. But the music business is a kid's game, mostly. Jazz musicians keep going but they do not sell out concerts at the peak of their popularity - they live hand-to-mouth. .
Im sure Geordie toured with ACDC as a backing band as a farewell fund for them. (not comfirmed) Geordie Can you do it is a cracking tune. Also geordies dont hold grudges on fellow geordies been a success. Rags to riches has to be respected.
Great interview and interviewer. i feel I really got to know Brian and the interviewer did a phenomenal job. No sensationalism, just doing his job getting down to what makes Brian, Brian.
