The Lives of Brian
Brian Johnson
Having read it
★★★☆☆
A decent read of Brian Johnson’s early years and working life, told with honesty and humour and mention of a few musical people, opportunities and successes then leading to a career with a rather well known rock’n’roll band that, like the author, has had its ups and downs throughout the years but survived to tell a tale, or two!
A good passage
Trying to live up to Bon’s songwriting legacy was the hardest part of it all. Bon had been the ultimate working-class wordsmith, from the non-stop double-entendres of ‘Big Balls’ to his joyful and downright hilarious account of a one-night-stand with a nineteen-stone Tasmanian woman in ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’. While he was alive, of course, the critics had sort of missed the whole point of his lyrics – but after his death, they’d suddenly developed a newfound respect for his wonderful way with words. Not that Bon had ever given a shit what they said. The sneers of the establishment were probably a badge of honour to him.
I had no idea if I was capable of writing anything even one per cent as good as Bon’s best songs. So, the second that I was given the legal pad and instructed to get something down on paper, I decided that I needed to find somewhere quiet where I could put my brain to work. But, of course, I was in a rehearsal room at King’s Cross, leaving me with very few options for peace and quiet.
Write about what you know, Brian, I kept telling myself. But, of course, cars were the only thing I knew about. Well, cars and women. Actually . . . hang on a minute, I was getting an idea . . . ‘She was a fast machine,’ I wrote, ‘She kept her motor clean.’ Then a moment later, I added, ‘She was the best damn woman that I ever seen.’
I was pretty chuffed with my effort. Now all I had to do was write another two verses, and a chorus . . .