From Working Men’s Clubs to Global Icon
Before he was the voice of AC/DC, Brian Johnson was far from a household name. He spent his early years fronting the Jasper Hart Band and Geordie, playing local working men’s clubs in North East England. While Geordie found minor success with the 1973 hit “All Because of You,” Johnson was largely considered a “comparative nobody” in the global hard rock landscape.
The catalyst for his artistic shift wasn’t a piece of original music, but a legendary cover. Johnson identifies Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild” as the pivotal song that forced him to re-evaluate his artistry.
The “Born to Be Wild” Catalyst
In a 2022 interview for BBC Radio 2’s Tracks of My Years, Johnson revealed that seeing clips of West Coast bands performing the anthem “flicked a switch.” He cited the track as the essential blueprint for his future sound:
The Punch: It offered a raw, rocky energy that local covers lacked.
The Versatility: It was heavy enough for musicians but rhythmic enough to dance to.
The Influence: Johnson’s bands played the song for nearly five years before moving on, using it as a “necessary learning curve” to improve their stage presence.
The Bon Scott Connection
Without this creative awakening, Johnson likely would never have caught the eye of the late Bon Scott. It was Scott who, after seeing Johnson perform with Geordie, famously proclaimed him one of the greatest vocalists in the world.
When AC/DC faced the impossible task of replacing Scott after his death, they recalled this “seal of approval.” Johnson’s grit—honed through years of performing “punchy” rock anthems—made him the only choice to front the band. Without that early Steppenwolf inspiration, the world might never have heard the definitive “Back in Black.”