I'm Buzznight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast music history on foot. If you want to keep up with Taking a Walk episodes, or if you want to suggest a guest or be a guest, go to takin Awalk dot com, subscribe to our newsletter, or leave us a comment. We also appreciate if you like this podcast, please follow us on Apple podcast or Spotify or wherever you get your podcast, leave us a review, or share this with a friend.

I'm Buzznight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast music history on foot. If you want to keep up with Taking a Walk episodes, or if you want to suggest a guest or be a guest, go to takin Awalk dot com, subscribe to our newsletter, or leave us a comment. We also appreciate if you like this podcast, please follow us on Apple podcast or Spotify or wherever you get your podcast, leave us a review, or share this with a friend.

Today we have a treat.

Today we have a treat.

We're Virtual because this is how we're going to get this member of Rock Royalty, and we're so excited we couldn't miss this opportunity to speak with Brian Johnson, the lead singer of ac DC. Brian is the legendary frontman and he's the author of the new book The Lives of Brian, and I'm honored to have him on Taking a Walk.

We're Virtual because this is how we're going to get this member of Rock Royalty, and we're so excited we couldn't miss this opportunity to speak with Brian Johnson, the lead singer of ac DC. Brian is the legendary frontman and he's the author of the new book The Lives of Brian, and I'm honored to have him on Taking a Walk.

Hello everybody, Hello.

Hello everybody, Hello.

Bryan, Yes, sir, I'm so happy to have Rock Royalty here.

Bryan, Yes, sir, I'm so happy to have Rock Royalty here.

Oh fu any boy, Oh Brian, thanks for being on the Taking a Walk Podcast.

Oh fu any boy, Oh Brian, thanks for being on the Taking a Walk Podcast.

It's a tremendous honor.

It's a tremendous honor.

Oh honestly, it's my pleasure anything.

Oh honestly, it's my pleasure anything.

So congratulations on the Lives of Brian. I want to talk about that, but I wanted to ask you take me inside that moment when you're you're on stage, the lights go down in the stadium, the music begins, the band starts breaking into rock or bust or thunderstruck or whatever the opener is, What does that moment feel like from your perspective when it's happening?

So congratulations on the Lives of Brian. I want to talk about that, but I wanted to ask you take me inside that moment when you're you're on stage, the lights go down in the stadium, the music begins, the band starts breaking into rock or bust or thunderstruck or whatever the opener is, What does that moment feel like from your perspective when it's happening?

Okay, Well, first of all, it's never boring. It's never you never get used to it. It's every nerve is ready to go. You look along your side there and there's Angus just walking away in his guitar and moving and me, you know, I'm blimbering up getting ready. I mean, we go on just like you know, just when you see football players before they go on the pitch, you know they're jumping around and moving because you know the minute you're going to get on there, you're not going to get a brick for two and a half hours. Isn't any ballads, so you know, and then you hear the crowd and then when you do get on, I've got to say this, they say, audience is really lift you. I mean I actually lift you and just give your strength that you just didn't think was there. You know, and after you go and that's it, that's the end of that's no turning back. And I think what you've got to do is set it to a for fure with us singers. When I asked what I do, I said, I said, before you go on stage to sing, you fix it. It's as simple as that. You fix them being at voice and just charge. Otherwise you know, there's nothing, it's just regular or average. So yeah, it's it's a fascinating time.

Okay, Well, first of all, it's never boring. It's never you never get used to it. It's every nerve is ready to go. You look along your side there and there's Angus just walking away in his guitar and moving and me, you know, I'm blimbering up getting ready. I mean, we go on just like you know, just when you see football players before they go on the pitch, you know they're jumping around and moving because you know the minute you're going to get on there, you're not going to get a brick for two and a half hours. Isn't any ballads, so you know, and then you hear the crowd and then when you do get on, I've got to say this, they say, audience is really lift you. I mean I actually lift you and just give your strength that you just didn't think was there. You know, and after you go and that's it, that's the end of that's no turning back. And I think what you've got to do is set it to a for fure with us singers. When I asked what I do, I said, I said, before you go on stage to sing, you fix it. It's as simple as that. You fix them being at voice and just charge. Otherwise you know, there's nothing, it's just regular or average. So yeah, it's it's a fascinating time.

Buzz oh, I love it.

Buzz oh, I love it.

One of the listeners to our podcast a guy named Dennis from Tennessee outside of Nashville.

One of the listeners to our podcast a guy named Dennis from Tennessee outside of Nashville.

He asked me to ask you this question.

He asked me to ask you this question.

He said, how do you feel when you see young and old generations jam in their ass off to a c DC.

He said, how do you feel when you see young and old generations jam in their ass off to a c DC.

It's fantastic. I mean, there's not many bonds I can have it. And every day I'll get somebody's in here. There's a photograph of my grandson and he too, and he's got an air seed deep song and he's dancing a weird to some tune or other, and it's just it makes you feel so good because you know, so many tunes are forty odd years old and to not sound dead actually sound like that just you know, news the world those years ago. It's a pretty good feeling and sage, you know.

It's fantastic. I mean, there's not many bonds I can have it. And every day I'll get somebody's in here. There's a photograph of my grandson and he too, and he's got an air seed deep song and he's dancing a weird to some tune or other, and it's just it makes you feel so good because you know, so many tunes are forty odd years old and to not sound dead actually sound like that just you know, news the world those years ago. It's a pretty good feeling and sage, you know.

Oh it's the soundtrack of our lives.

Oh it's the soundtrack of our lives.

Man, my god.

Man, my god.

So in the book you talk about the influence of Little Richard, talk about it.

So in the book you talk about the influence of Little Richard, talk about it.

The first time you heard a Little Richard too, Well, it.

The first time you heard a Little Richard too, Well, it.

Was on you know, I was off school. I had to go the dender stuff something. And anyway, the television in England then was just awful. You know. There was there was one channel and it was on. It came on at noon, and it went off again at twelve thirty, and then it came on again at about three and it was called Watch with Mother. Awful and then there's said and now we're going to have any interlude because they were very posh, the people on the road. And in this interlude there's a young chap from America with a new pop song and he's called Little Richard and the tange thing. And here was this handsome young black man, head pushed by this immaculate jacket on a little mustache, you know, the tie. He just looked like nothing had seen before. And he just burst in the wamp of blue bam lamp and my jaw everything dropped, you know. Me jaw went south and everything else went north. I couldn't believe how brilliant this was. I mean, it really was a revolution. And I said, I want to sing like that. It was right up there. It was exciting. It was just and he was excited too, you know. And of course I hadn't heard music like that before in my life. I did not existed, just the boring stuff you would hear on the BBC, you know. And you know, it was just a defining moment for me in my life, you know. And I couldn't go out and buy the record here. I couldn't afford it be we didn't have a record, you know. So it was not until I heard it playing from a woman's house and I banged on the window and I said, could you play it again? Please? She said, your chicky little bugger, okay, then come on. So she opened the window and put it on again, and she came outside and started doing the hand give and taught me how to do the hands. And I'll never forget what a lovely lady was.

Was on you know, I was off school. I had to go the dender stuff something. And anyway, the television in England then was just awful. You know. There was there was one channel and it was on. It came on at noon, and it went off again at twelve thirty, and then it came on again at about three and it was called Watch with Mother. Awful and then there's said and now we're going to have any interlude because they were very posh, the people on the road. And in this interlude there's a young chap from America with a new pop song and he's called Little Richard and the tange thing. And here was this handsome young black man, head pushed by this immaculate jacket on a little mustache, you know, the tie. He just looked like nothing had seen before. And he just burst in the wamp of blue bam lamp and my jaw everything dropped, you know. Me jaw went south and everything else went north. I couldn't believe how brilliant this was. I mean, it really was a revolution. And I said, I want to sing like that. It was right up there. It was exciting. It was just and he was excited too, you know. And of course I hadn't heard music like that before in my life. I did not existed, just the boring stuff you would hear on the BBC, you know. And you know, it was just a defining moment for me in my life, you know. And I couldn't go out and buy the record here. I couldn't afford it be we didn't have a record, you know. So it was not until I heard it playing from a woman's house and I banged on the window and I said, could you play it again? Please? She said, your chicky little bugger, okay, then come on. So she opened the window and put it on again, and she came outside and started doing the hand give and taught me how to do the hands. And I'll never forget what a lovely lady was.

It. Again, that's awesome, What a great story, my god? Yeah right, how special was it to you know? Have to leave the band due to the hearing loss, and then to return triumphantly in twenty twenty.

It. Again, that's awesome, What a great story, my god? Yeah right, how special was it to you know? Have to leave the band due to the hearing loss, and then to return triumphantly in twenty twenty.

How special was that for you, my friend?

How special was that for you, my friend?

Oh, it was more than special, you know. It was you know, I was sixty nine or something when I had to give up, you know, and I thought, hey, listen, he shudden complain who else goes this long? And but I think it was the suddenness. I mean, it wasn't gradual. I mean it just hit me after a gig and the whole operations all in the book, the whole the horrible thing that I had to go through with operations and everything.

Oh, it was more than special, you know. It was you know, I was sixty nine or something when I had to give up, you know, and I thought, hey, listen, he shudden complain who else goes this long? And but I think it was the suddenness. I mean, it wasn't gradual. I mean it just hit me after a gig and the whole operations all in the book, the whole the horrible thing that I had to go through with operations and everything.

But to.

But to.

Get it right again through you know, mister Ambrose who designed these new ear pieces and I worked with him for three years, Steve. And to get back with the boys in the studio and do an album, I kind of tell you. And it was such a good album too, you know, Power Up. I was so proud of it. And then to rehearse again with the boys in Holland and we were all ready to rock, you know, to go out. Were rehearsed for about three weeks and then the pandemic hit and talk about bomb look it was. It was horrible and there we were ready to rock. You know, that's just the way things go.

Get it right again through you know, mister Ambrose who designed these new ear pieces and I worked with him for three years, Steve. And to get back with the boys in the studio and do an album, I kind of tell you. And it was such a good album too, you know, Power Up. I was so proud of it. And then to rehearse again with the boys in Holland and we were all ready to rock, you know, to go out. Were rehearsed for about three weeks and then the pandemic hit and talk about bomb look it was. It was horrible and there we were ready to rock. You know, that's just the way things go.

Well, and when you really come down to it, you really are a choir boy at heart.

Well, and when you really come down to it, you really are a choir boy at heart.

Right, I was here. You know, my mother was Catholic, but my father was CV Protestant or whatever, and so we were confused to see if the choir boy in the Catholic choir because you know, they paid your money. You got one shillings and thicks to sing on Sunday morning. And because I first went to the Catholic Mass and I thought, poor boy, these guys. You know, there was all kinds of shiny clothes on and then this guy walked around and he was throwing water on people. And then I had a smoke machine, you know, with the chain and the fuck it was. I thought it was very endertainment, you know, I didn't know what was going to happen. And then at the end of the Mass, the priest came up and he got some crackers and wine out and shared it with everybody. This was good stuff.

Right, I was here. You know, my mother was Catholic, but my father was CV Protestant or whatever, and so we were confused to see if the choir boy in the Catholic choir because you know, they paid your money. You got one shillings and thicks to sing on Sunday morning. And because I first went to the Catholic Mass and I thought, poor boy, these guys. You know, there was all kinds of shiny clothes on and then this guy walked around and he was throwing water on people. And then I had a smoke machine, you know, with the chain and the fuck it was. I thought it was very endertainment, you know, I didn't know what was going to happen. And then at the end of the Mass, the priest came up and he got some crackers and wine out and shared it with everybody. This was good stuff.

In closing by, I thought, I was I was only an eleven year old and I'm thinking and at the end of the only thing that disappointed me was the fact nobody give him a round of applause.

In closing by, I thought, I was I was only an eleven year old and I'm thinking and at the end of the only thing that disappointed me was the fact nobody give him a round of applause.

I thought he'd done that. You well, nothing, nothing, that just walked out.

I thought he'd done that. You well, nothing, nothing, that just walked out.

Brian And closing, How important is having a sense of humor being in the business that you're in.

Brian And closing, How important is having a sense of humor being in the business that you're in.

Oh, I think it's uh. I think you have to happen. If you don't, I've seen people who don't have a sense of humor at all, and the very sad and blondly. And I don't mean nothing about that. You just you know, you've got to laugh at yourself. You've got to laugh at this business. You have to because it's it's pretending the whole thing. You know, you're singing and having you know, having enough talent to be a good you know, guitarist of singing and drummer and everything. You've got to laugh. Attention is always good. You know, we've lost Taylor Hawkins. What a lovely, lovely man he was. Everybody looked at me. You had a wonderful sense of humor and friendly and always willing to laugh. And you know, so, yes, I would say a sense of humor is very important, you know, especially on long tours, you know, and things like that, because there's a lot of boring traveling goes on, you know, yeah, you have to just have a sense of humor about it or whoa.

Oh, I think it's uh. I think you have to happen. If you don't, I've seen people who don't have a sense of humor at all, and the very sad and blondly. And I don't mean nothing about that. You just you know, you've got to laugh at yourself. You've got to laugh at this business. You have to because it's it's pretending the whole thing. You know, you're singing and having you know, having enough talent to be a good you know, guitarist of singing and drummer and everything. You've got to laugh. Attention is always good. You know, we've lost Taylor Hawkins. What a lovely, lovely man he was. Everybody looked at me. You had a wonderful sense of humor and friendly and always willing to laugh. And you know, so, yes, I would say a sense of humor is very important, you know, especially on long tours, you know, and things like that, because there's a lot of boring traveling goes on, you know, yeah, you have to just have a sense of humor about it or whoa.

Well, thank you for the sense of humor, thank you for the joy of the music.

Well, thank you for the sense of humor, thank you for the joy of the music.

Brian.

Brian.

Congratulations on the lives of Brian, and I'm so grateful that you are on my podcast.

Congratulations on the lives of Brian, and I'm so grateful that you are on my podcast.

Well, thank you very much. There was you. Take care and that's the season. Greetings to everybody.

Well, thank you very much. There was you. Take care and that's the season. Greetings to everybody.

Taking a walk with Buzznight is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Taking a walk with Buzznight is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.