Brian Johnson had an impossible assignment and somehow pulled off an even more impossible result.
The 32-year-old singer of the past-their-prime Newcastle band Geordie found himself in the curious position of somehow replacing the hugely popular singer of AC/DC, Bon Scott, but also assuming his role as co-lyricist of the group.
In 1980 when Scott died, AC/DC were enjoying the success of their most successful album to date, Highway to Hell which had made it to #17 on the Billboard 200. None of their five previous albums had even entered the Top 100.
Not only did Johnson fill the shoes, in a matter of a few months the jovial singer was hired, flown to the Bahamas, and tasked with writing the lyrics to the riffs and melodies of what would be the best-selling rock record of all time.
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