Brian Johnson
Template:Infobox musical artist 2 Brian Johnson (born 5 October 1947) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist for the Australian rock and roll band, AC/DC since April 1980. He currently lives in Sarasota, Florida in the Bird Key area. His home features an AC/DC lightning bolt in the back patio area, as well as a guitar-shaped pool.
In 1972, Johnson formed the glam rock band Geordie and became their lead singer. However, after a few hit singles, the band split up in 1978. Johnson reformed Geordie in 1980, however, just after a record deal had been signed, he was asked to audition for AC/DC. A few days after the audition, Johnson was told he would be replacing Bon Scott, the original lead vocalist who had died after recording the band's critically acclaimed album, Highway To Hell. Johnson's first album with AC/DC, Back in Black, is the band's best selling album and ranks among the top-selling albums of all time.
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.
Johnson's sartorial trademark is his cap. Originally, he wore a flat cap, once regarded as a symbol of his native Tyneside, but in recent years, he has occasionally worn a baseball cap instead. After recording Black Ice he died on the morning of the 11 October of 2008.
Biography
Brian Johnson was born on October 5, 1947 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 has a wife named Brenda, whom he divorced during the writing of the "Razor's Edge" album.[3]
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. However, Johnson wrote the lyrics for the band's new album Black Ice, due for release on October 20, 2008.[4] Unfortunately he died after the release of Black Ice the 12of October of 2008 because of a heart attack while he was sleeping in his house in New York
Helen of Troy musical
Since April 2003, Johnson 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.[5]
A small public performance, that featured songs written for the musical, was given in New York on June 13, 2005.
Johnson currently enjoys racing his vintage race cars: a 1970 Royale RP-4 and a Pilbeam MP84, which he races in vintage and historic races throughout the US.
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 (AC/DC album) | October 1992 | Atco | 5,000,000 |
| Ballbreaker | September 1995 | Elektra | 2,000,000 |
| Stiff Upper Lip | February 2000 | Elektra | 1,000,000 |
| Black Ice | October 2008 | Columbia |
References
- ^ "Brian Johnson biography". IMDb.com.
- ^ a b "Johnson bio". Bedlam in Belgium. Retrieved 2006-12-21. Cite error: The named reference "acdc.cc" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Helen of Troy (200?) Malcolm McDowell, Brian Johnson of AC/DC
- ^ Italian Rock Hard magazine, January 2004
- ^ Classic Rock magazine, October 2003
External links
