AC/DC's Brian Johnson sounds off on the 30th anniversary of Back in Black

It's been 30 years since AC/DC unleashed its timeless blues-metal opus, Back in Black, but vocalist Brian Johnson—who made his debut with the Aussie earbusters on that album, replacing the deceased Bon Scott—still remembers how anxious he felt recording it with his then-new bandmates and producer Mutt Lange. He'd only been with the group for a couple of weeks before heading over to Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas and laying down tracks for the stone-cold classic, which has sold nearly 50 million copies worldwide.

In an interview with Absolute Radio's Leona Graham, the 62-year-old rocker comically recalls getting his first phone call from the band, inviting him to a rehearsal (where he showcased his vocals via Ike & Tina Turner's "Nutbush City Limits"). Turns out that Scott had previously raved about Johnson—who was in the British rock band Geordie at the time—to Angus Young and the other AC/DC members, which is why they gave him a shot in the first place.

Johnson kicks off the interview promoting his upcoming book, Rockers and Rollers: An Automotive Autobiography, in which the fanatical car lover describes all the sweet rides his rock 'n' roll riches have allowed him to obtain over the years. In his usual self-effacing style, Johnson comes off as anything but a literary prima donna, calling the book "a toilet reader". "You can use it after if you want," he points out, "it's quite soft."