Every artist has imposter syndrome at some point in their career. Even if you believe you have your answer to an album like Abbey Road, it is impossible to appreciate the value of your work. Unless you have received validation from someone else first. Although Brian Johnson already had big shoes to fill as Bon Scott’s replacement in AC/DC, he initially feared. Poor mixes of Back in Black would ruin it.
When Scott died, any regular AC/DC fan felt as if the band had ended. Although he may not have been responsible for all of the big riffs, Scott was the spirit of AC/DC in every way. He wrote songs that glorified the excesses of being in a badass rock and roll band.
Rock music hadn’t tackled cerebral themes before, but Led Zeppelin boldly explored into them in their songwriting. Scott was proud to write about the pleasures of rock. Whether it was the laws of the road or the more heinous behaviors that go on behind closed doors. Scott enjoyed drinking heavily. One fatal night, someone discovered him dead, devastating the band.
While replacing Scott was difficult, the band remembered that one of the greatest possibilities had already been proposed by their former frontman. After seeing the band Geordie perform, Scott returned to AC/DC and raved about the singer Brian Johnson. Johnson would replace Scott in the band.
Even though Johnson gave it to him throughout the recordings, he realized he didn’t intend to see himself as the next AC/DC singer. Years later, Johnson told Behind the Music he felt incredibly fortunate for replacing Scott. He added, “I was never brought in to replace Bon. I was brought because Bon was no longer there.”
After going through the few riffs the band had put together before Scott died, Johnson added his spin to the lyrics. While still paying homage to Scott’s customary manner, many of the lyrics on songs like ‘Hells Bells‘ and ‘Back in Black‘ reverently honored what their former vocalist had done. They celebrated the wonders of rock while acknowledging his legendary partner.
Once the recording completed in the Bahamas, the lengthy wait period to master the album caused Johnson to question its quality. When speaking with CBC, Johnson believed that the long wait period proved that it was horrible. He added, “Malcolm and Angus were putting on different bits and all of this and stayed there for the mix.” So we returned, and after approximately six weeks, I was thinking, ‘It must have been horrible’. Because I hadn’t heard anything.”
Even when recording the album, Johnson admitted that one of the first things he did after finishing his vocals was light a cigarette on a dock. He worried about what he was going to do for a living. Johnson believed that the band would despise his vocals in the mix. However, his trademark gravelly tone blended seamlessly with the band’s sound.
Without imitating Scott, Johnson beautifully spanned the gap between the band’s two periods. He went on to produce one of the best-selling rock albums of all time. It’s almost impossible to find someone who lived and breathed rock and roll like Bon Scott. Therefore, it’s amazing that AC/DC was able to locate another guy with the same vocal power.
