The Lives of Brian: The Sunday Times bestselling autobiography from legendary AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson
- Downloads：8113
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-11-20 04:51:33
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Brian Johnson
- ISBN：0241446422
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
"It wasn't me。 I didn't do it。 And I'll never do it again！" says Brian Johnson of The Lives of Brian。 That AC/DC's legendary frontman got to do it all is one of the most cheering and entertaining stories in rock'n'roll history。
The son of a British army sergeant major and Italian mother， Brian grew up in Dunston， Tyne and Wear， as it emerged from the shadow of the Second World War。 Then he saw Little Richard on the BBC and it changed the course of his life。
The choir boy and sea scout was going to be a singer。
For over a decade he tried to make his mark with a succession of bands。 He appeared frequently on TV and toured Europe and Australia with Geordie， yet real success slipped out of reach。 Brian had a family to support and a mortgage to pay， so was forced to take a succession of jobs eventually leading to him running his own business。 But if fate had a plan for Brian 。 。 。 fate didn't stand a chance。
Out of the blue， he was invited to London for an audition for one of the world's best up-and-coming acts。 AC/DC were a band in crisis following the tragic death of their lead singer， Bon Scott， but with Brian on board they would record their masterpiece: Back in Black。 It became the biggest-selling rock album of all time。 The tour that followed played to packed-out arenas and Brian was embraced by their fans。 But there was to be a twist in the tale。 In 2016， Brian was forced to quit the band after being diagnosed with hearing loss， only to make a triumphant return to the band he loved with the release of 2020's smash hit album Power Up。 Brian has lived many lives within his lifetime， but somehow he's kept his feet on the ground， never losing touch with his roots。
Touching， personal， indomitable， but always laugh-out-loud funny， The Lives of Brian is the story of one of the world's best-loved performers， told in his own inimitable and unique voice。 'Nine lives， Cat's Eyes。 Abusing every one of them， and running wild。'
The son of a British army sergeant major and Italian mother， Brian grew up in Dunston， Tyne and Wear， as it emerged from the shadow of the Second World War。 Then he saw Little Richard on the BBC and it changed the course of his life。
The choir boy and sea scout was going to be a singer。
For over a decade he tried to make his mark with a succession of bands。 He appeared frequently on TV and toured Europe and Australia with Geordie， yet real success slipped out of reach。 Brian had a family to support and a mortgage to pay， so was forced to take a succession of jobs eventually leading to him running his own business。 But if fate had a plan for Brian 。 。 。 fate didn't stand a chance。
Out of the blue， he was invited to London for an audition for one of the world's best up-and-coming acts。 AC/DC were a band in crisis following the tragic death of their lead singer， Bon Scott， but with Brian on board they would record their masterpiece: Back in Black。 It became the biggest-selling rock album of all time。 The tour that followed played to packed-out arenas and Brian was embraced by their fans。 But there was to be a twist in the tale。 In 2016， Brian was forced to quit the band after being diagnosed with hearing loss， only to make a triumphant return to the band he loved with the release of 2020's smash hit album Power Up。 Brian has lived many lives within his lifetime， but somehow he's kept his feet on the ground， never losing touch with his roots。
Touching， personal， indomitable， but always laugh-out-loud funny， The Lives of Brian is the story of one of the world's best-loved performers， told in his own inimitable and unique voice。 'Nine lives， Cat's Eyes。 Abusing every one of them， and running wild。'
Reviews
S。 Wright
，
I'm really enjoying reading this book。 It's funny and elegant and very entertaining。 Anyone interested in music history， the northeast of England and post-war Britain thoroughly enjoy it。 I'm really enjoying reading this book。 It's funny and elegant and very entertaining。 Anyone interested in music history， the northeast of England and post-war Britain thoroughly enjoy it。 。。。more
Todd Charlton
，
It was great for someone my age， having grown up with both Bon and Brian， to read this book。 Spending time with Jonna， as the boys call him， was brilliant; and he's a good writer too。 Only the last 90 or so pages is about AC/DC， most of the book is about the lives of Brian， through apprenticeship and his various bands to when Geordie II was doing nicely， coupled with his car business he was settling into life， then the call from Olga of the Volga。。。Oh and about the lyrics to Back in Black， if Br It was great for someone my age， having grown up with both Bon and Brian， to read this book。 Spending time with Jonna， as the boys call him， was brilliant; and he's a good writer too。 Only the last 90 or so pages is about AC/DC， most of the book is about the lives of Brian， through apprenticeship and his various bands to when Geordie II was doing nicely， coupled with his car business he was settling into life， then the call from Olga of the Volga。。。Oh and about the lyrics to Back in Black， if Brian says he wrote them then he wrote them。 Anyone who says differently wasn't fucking there！The heartbreak of his hearing， I was at the shows in Sydney just before he had to give up， he did a grand job， the heartbreak of Malcolm; he was in a hospital room only a stone's throw from Malcolm at the time but due to family wishes he wasn't allowed to see him， which he and I understand。 Then the triumph of his recovery and the Power Up album。 It was great to read your book Brian me son！ 。。。more
Andy McCarthy
，
It is really a great book。 Great stories。 Hoping for a volume 2。
Brian Cohen
，
Listened to Brian reading it and loved every minute， he’s a great talker。 Yeah， as with all my memoir reviews， I wish it covered everything in intricate detail， but I’ll just have to hope for a sequel。 His is an entertaining story of good and bad luck and perseverance， and you can’t help but cheer when he gets called up to the majors。
Viki Farrow
，
I am not a fan of autobiographies because they tend to be too self serving--until this one。 Brian Johnson is a true entertainer and storyteller， whether in song or the written word。 Just a real joy to read！
Steve
，
Picked this up thinking I'd get round to reading it sometime， read the first couple of pages and then could hardly put it down。 Ended up reading it in a few days （work and family life got in the way of me reading it quicker）。 This book is written in the manner that it feels like Brian is chatting to you over a beer doen your local。 Very easy to read and interesting to read a lot I didn't know about his life。 This book covers his story up to Back In Black and his first few gigs with AC/DC， he doe Picked this up thinking I'd get round to reading it sometime， read the first couple of pages and then could hardly put it down。 Ended up reading it in a few days （work and family life got in the way of me reading it quicker）。 This book is written in the manner that it feels like Brian is chatting to you over a beer doen your local。 Very easy to read and interesting to read a lot I didn't know about his life。 This book covers his story up to Back In Black and his first few gigs with AC/DC， he does also cover the more recent issue of his hearing loss that meant he had to be replaced by Axl Rose for a while。 Read it， you won't be sorry and you may just thank me。 Definitely。one of the best biogs I've read in recent years。 。。。more
Rocco Pallotto
，
Best autobiography I've ever read。 Everything I'd hoped it to be。 Best autobiography I've ever read。 Everything I'd hoped it to be。 。。。more
Paul Ingrey
，
Fab， great rags to riches， never stop working towards the goal read。 If anyone has paid thier dues its Brian。
Eric
，
I really enjoyed this book。 Probably one of the best rock bios I've read in a long time。 I actually knew very very little about Brian Johnson and what he did before AC/DC other than a band called Geordie， which I also knew next to nothing about。 I thought it was great that this story focuses on his life leading up to Black in Black。 You're practically seeing a rock and roll dream come true reading those few pages where one day he's installing vinyl car roofs and the next day he's singing with An I really enjoyed this book。 Probably one of the best rock bios I've read in a long time。 I actually knew very very little about Brian Johnson and what he did before AC/DC other than a band called Geordie， which I also knew next to nothing about。 I thought it was great that this story focuses on his life leading up to Black in Black。 You're practically seeing a rock and roll dream come true reading those few pages where one day he's installing vinyl car roofs and the next day he's singing with Angus and Malcolm Young。 And no spoilers， but he answers one thing I've always wondered about: What's with the cap？ 。。。more
Rafaey Ali
，
Brian has broken the mold。 One of the best autobiographies I've ever read！ His writing is compelling and hilarious （no ghostwriter here， he wrote it in longhand）， and it's a gold mine of windows into his pre-fame life， all written so sincerely。He could've been like some rockstars and written about limos and luxury， but nope。 He chose to write about being a broke， failing musician， ending up supporting two kids while living with his parents at 32， and then--through sheer perseverance and luck--su Brian has broken the mold。 One of the best autobiographies I've ever read！ His writing is compelling and hilarious （no ghostwriter here， he wrote it in longhand）， and it's a gold mine of windows into his pre-fame life， all written so sincerely。He could've been like some rockstars and written about limos and luxury， but nope。 He chose to write about being a broke， failing musician， ending up supporting two kids while living with his parents at 32， and then--through sheer perseverance and luck--suddenly stumbling into making the second-best selling album in music history （it's still second only to Michael Jackson's Thriller）。He also details his recent hearing loss， as well as growing up in post-war England in the years of food rationing， when lettuce was a commodity and the only way to afford music equipment was to join the Army's parachute regiment and jump out of planes。 The whole thing is funny but also heartfelt， which could come as a surprise from a singer not known for his nuance！ As an AC/DC lover it's priceless， but non-fans would probably love it too。 。。。more
Kim
，
Omg I LOVE THIS BOOK！！！！ I loved the humor with all those back stories。 I loved the history of his family。 I loved everything about this book。 I hope he does another with stories from his time in AC/DC。
Maureen
，
I got this one as a whim having been bored by a lot of other rock memoirs。 But I thought what the heck。 It captured my interest on every page and the humor was terrific。 I remember so many things from his life even though I was living 'way down South' in Yorkshire at the time。 Highly recommendif you like rock and stories of the 'old days'。 I got this one as a whim having been bored by a lot of other rock memoirs。 But I thought what the heck。 It captured my interest on every page and the humor was terrific。 I remember so many things from his life even though I was living 'way down South' in Yorkshire at the time。 Highly recommendif you like rock and stories of the 'old days'。 。。。more
LESLIE J
，
Thank you to Harper Audio for my complimentary audiobook and to Dey St and Harper Collins for the physical book。 I had no idea how entertaining and insightful The Lives of Brian was going to be when I requested a review copy。 I laughed so many times while listening the stories of Brian’s early life。 （My husband is only reading the physical copy and I do not think he will find the book as enjoyable） The best story is the mittens with elastic。 Brian does an amazing job narrating the book。 I person Thank you to Harper Audio for my complimentary audiobook and to Dey St and Harper Collins for the physical book。 I had no idea how entertaining and insightful The Lives of Brian was going to be when I requested a review copy。 I laughed so many times while listening the stories of Brian’s early life。 （My husband is only reading the physical copy and I do not think he will find the book as enjoyable） The best story is the mittens with elastic。 Brian does an amazing job narrating the book。 I personally enjoyed the behind the scenes look into how Brian came to be in the band。 It was an incredible turn of events that transpired and subsequently changed his entire life。 Some may feel cheated at the absence of more information on the band。 But this is Brian’s memoir and not the bands。 A must read for any fan of AC/DC and Brian。 I am looking forward to a possible second part to his story。 Maybe I’ll carry my copy around with me when I’ll be in Sarasota next month。 Be on the lookout Brian ！！ 。。。more
Laura Rash Wonderchick
，
If you’re going into this book thinking it’s going to be mostly about his time with AC/DC then you’ll be disappointed。 It’s mostly about his family life until about the last 3 chapters， the Back in Black era。 Many thanks to the publisher for this copy for review
Tboyd
，
My favorite autobiographies to date: “Total Recall” by Arnold Schwarzenegger and “Barry Sonnenfeld， Call Your Mother” by Barry Sonnenfield。 To me， a good autobiography should have great stories， and a glimpse of the life of said person。 In my opinion， autobiographies all too often become a list of accomplishments this person has done。 That’s ok， but it can come off as bragging， not sharing your story; even Arnold’s book does this。 I get it， share with me your life’s work， just don’t get a rotato My favorite autobiographies to date: “Total Recall” by Arnold Schwarzenegger and “Barry Sonnenfeld， Call Your Mother” by Barry Sonnenfield。 To me， a good autobiography should have great stories， and a glimpse of the life of said person。 In my opinion， autobiographies all too often become a list of accomplishments this person has done。 That’s ok， but it can come off as bragging， not sharing your story; even Arnold’s book does this。 I get it， share with me your life’s work， just don’t get a rotator cuff injury by patting yourself on the back too much。 Brian Johnson’s “Lives of Brian” does everything right。 It tells a great story about pursuing your dream。 I listened to the audiobook， which is narrated by the author。 One thing I learned from listening to this book， Brian Johnson is a very humble， down to earth person。 The idea he was able to take over as the lead singer for AC/DC still boggles his mind to this day。 Throughout the book， he gives credit to everyone that has helped him out along the way， which is not something you usually hear in an autobiography。 The guy is damn grateful。 I have always liked Brian Johnson， but I freaking love him now。 What a great human being！ His stories about his childhood， so good。 I am not going to give a play by play of this book， but my advice to you is to read it。 Whether you are familiar with his career or not， it is just an excellent story。 Thank you for sharing， Brian！ 。。。more
Chris
，
I heard about this book almost a year ago and waited for its release。 As a fan of AC/DC and having seen them live， the story of how the only front man I knew for them was very compelling。 Because I started listening to their music when Brian joined the band， he was all I had known。 That said his glimpse into who they are and how they operate is refreshing after so many stories of fighting and squabbles over money and other things in bands。 I was disappointed that they story jumped from Back in B I heard about this book almost a year ago and waited for its release。 As a fan of AC/DC and having seen them live， the story of how the only front man I knew for them was very compelling。 Because I started listening to their music when Brian joined the band， he was all I had known。 That said his glimpse into who they are and how they operate is refreshing after so many stories of fighting and squabbles over money and other things in bands。 I was disappointed that they story jumped from Back in Black to present day very quickly。 That said Brian did suggest that the stories or 35 years on the road would be another book。 I guess I’ll be waiting for that one too！ 。。。more
Anthony Killeen
，
This is the best rock biography I have ever read。 I found the description of working class life in Newcastle fascination。 It’s the life story of one of life’s good guys。 Really looking forward to the follow up。
William
，
Autobiographys can be funny things。 On the one hand someone I really love， like Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden a band I've seen live and have many T-shirts of and had posters on my bedroom wall， can release one that I rush out and buy and turns out to be one of the most boring books I've ever read。 Then you have ones like this。 Now I do like ACDC but I've never been to see them or worn one of their t shirts but I took a punt on Brian's book， despite not being a massive fan， and I must say I'm Autobiographys can be funny things。 On the one hand someone I really love， like Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden a band I've seen live and have many T-shirts of and had posters on my bedroom wall， can release one that I rush out and buy and turns out to be one of the most boring books I've ever read。 Then you have ones like this。 Now I do like ACDC but I've never been to see them or worn one of their t shirts but I took a punt on Brian's book， despite not being a massive fan， and I must say I'm really happy I did。 This an absolutely charming book， full of entertaining stories from Brian's childhood to the struggles he had being in Geordie to finally making it big with ACDC。 Brian is clearly very grateful to his band mates and has a lot of love for them， it's very touching， I came away feeling like I'd really got to know a great guy。 I'm now off to dust off some of my old ACDC CDs and， who knows， I might just buy a T shirt too。 。。。more
Matt St-Onge
，
I really enjoyed the book。 It was a big surprise to see the first lines of the book， with Brian describing that 2015 concert in Edmonton， which I actually was attending！ Very well written， honest， humble， and genuine。 I hope to see more in the future！
Andrew Niekrasz
，
One of the greatest rock biographies ever…。
Kalle Wescott
，
I read /The Lives of Brian/， by AC/DC singer/lyricist （post Bon Scott） Brian Johnson:https://www。rollingstone。com/music/mu。。。The best part of this book is its title。I enjoyed reading the book， but Brian's early life was of less interest to me than his years with Geordie and then auditioning for AC/DC when Bon Scott died。 Of most interest was Brian writing the lyrics to and singing all of Back in Black。 I read /The Lives of Brian/， by AC/DC singer/lyricist （post Bon Scott） Brian Johnson:https://www。rollingstone。com/music/mu。。。The best part of this book is its title。I enjoyed reading the book， but Brian's early life was of less interest to me than his years with Geordie and then auditioning for AC/DC when Bon Scott died。 Of most interest was Brian writing the lyrics to and singing all of Back in Black。 。。。more
Jennifer
，
Nothing short of brilliant。 Everything you’d expect from an AC/DC album， but on paper。 Professional， tightly put together and generous at its heart。 I loved it - especially the last 3 chapters。
Sublimacia
，
Brian je laska！
Hilary Mortz
，
Brian Johnson is a Geordie national treasure。 Reading the first volume of his memoirs brings back fond memories of the Newcastle music scene in the 60’s and 70’s and it’s like listening to a （slightly） older brother reminiscing about the good old days when a typical Friday night comprised of seeing some legendary rock band at the Mayfair or the City Hall for 50 pence then having enough left over from your pay packet to buy a pair of platform heeled boots and an Afghan coat the next day then goin Brian Johnson is a Geordie national treasure。 Reading the first volume of his memoirs brings back fond memories of the Newcastle music scene in the 60’s and 70’s and it’s like listening to a （slightly） older brother reminiscing about the good old days when a typical Friday night comprised of seeing some legendary rock band at the Mayfair or the City Hall for 50 pence then having enough left over from your pay packet to buy a pair of platform heeled boots and an Afghan coat the next day then going out and doing it all again the next weekend。 Brian’s stories are epic， but I got the feeling he was only scratching the surface and he’s got a lot more up his sleeve - ‘Lives of Brian’ unexpectedly stops when things start getting really interesting - at the point when he started touring with AC/DC， shortly after the seminal ‘Back in Black’ came out。 Volume 2 is in the pipeline apparently， and I for one can’t wait， therefore only 4 Stars from me because I have been left wanting more。 Rock on Wor Brian， bonny lad！ \m/ 。。。more
Piper Winchester
，
Yes Brian！Fun storytelling from the legend。I now need him to speak some Italian
Сибин Майналовски
，
Велико четиво， задължително за всеки фен на хардрока， метъла и хубавата музика като цяло！
Yannis
，