AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson has just announced that he's got a book coming out.

October 26 will see the release of Johnson's autobiography, The Lives of Brian.

"I’ve had some long nights and some great nights," wrote Johnson in a tweet via his Brian Johnson Racing account, "bad days and a lot of good ones. I’ve gone from choirboy to rock 'n' roll singer, and now I’ve gone and written a bloody book about it…"

You may be aware that Johnson is the steel-throated British singer who answered the call when Bon Scott tragically died and who kept the AC/DC legacy going with his breakout performance on Back in Black, the best-selling hard-rock album of all time.

Some people remember where they were when JFK died, or when 911 happened. 

I remember where I was in the summer of 1980 when I first heard Johnson holler "Back in black!" alongside a monumental guitar riff that hasn't been topped since.

On a more personal note, I've had a couple of encounters with Johnson, one of which probably won't get me a free signed copy of his memoir.

The first one was back in 1983 when I went and briefly hung out with him, rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, and new drummer Simon Wright at their swanky Vancouver hotel. It was the day before the launch of their Flick of the Switch tour, and the three rockers welcomed me into their room, offered me tea, and gave me a smoke while chatting about their latest album and Johnson's replacement of Scott. Johnson was exceedingly friendly as he chatted in a thick Geordie accent I could barely understand.

The second encounter--which wasn't really an encounter so much as me just continuing to do my job as a rock journalist--didn't go over quite so well with the AC/DC frontman, I reckon. 

It involved me being contacted in August of 2018 by a couple of Vancouver residents who had candid photos of Johnson and other AC/DC members hanging out on the deck of Gastown's Warehouse studios. When some of the photos were published on the Georgia Straight website the rumours of AC/DC making new music went viral, and I mean Brazilian-variant viral.

But the reformed AC/DC being in Vancouver recording a new studio album--which would be released last November as the top selling but overrated Power Up--was supposed to be a well-kept secret. Soon after word got out I heard through the grapevine that the band and management weren't happy about the leak.

Sorry guys. Must be tough being so rich and famous that people spot you all over town.

Anyway, it sucks if Johnson's still peeved, but I'd read his book anyway. I just wouldn't do it while Power Up was blaring on the stereo. Back in Black's definitely the ideal soundtrack for that. And after that throw on the underrated Powerage because, hey, if it weren't for Bon there'd be no Bri.