Blast From The Past - Brian Johnson (Geordie to AC/DC)

Born: Dunston, Gateshead, October 5, 1947.

Brian Johnson is the distinctly gravel- voiced lead singer of rock band AC/DC who made his name in the early 1970s with top North East group Geordie.

Ironically it was just after re-forming Geordie in 1980 and with a record deal pending that he got a call to audition as replacement for the band's Australian front man Bon Scott. He had died in the back seat of a car after a heavy drinking session.

AC/DC management had been listening to auditions, when they received a tape from an AC/DC fan from Chicago, Illinois. The tape contained the Geordie lp "Hope You Like It", as the fan thought that Brian's sound would be perfect for AC/DC. Management agreed, Brian auditioned, and got the job. Ironically, Bon Scott's pre-AC/DC band "Fraternity" had supported Geordie on a 1973 European tour, and at that time Bon was very impressed with the singing of Brian Johnson.

Johnson got the job and his first album with AC/DC, Back in Black, is the band's biggest- selling album and regarded as a classic.

In February 1972, he joined Geordie, whose biggest hit was All Because of You, which reached No 6 in the charts. They later had another UK top-20 hit, Can You Do It? Geordie split up in 1978, but Johnson re-formed it in 1980 before his call from AC/DC.

03 All Because Of You

05 Can You Do It

At the audition Johnson sang Whole Lotta Rosie and Nutbush City Limits. On joining the band, Johnson co-wrote all of AC/DC's songs with Angus and Malcolm Young. However, personal matters diverted him in 1990, when the band's album The Razor's Edge was being written.

Since then, the Young brothers have written all of AC/DC's material, although Johnson is believed to be writing for their new album.

Quote/fact: Since April 2003, Johnson has been working on a musical version of Helen of Troy. A small public performance was given in New York in June 2005.