The primal force of AC/DC
For years it has been very quiet when it came to AC/DC. But when the band
surfaces again, with a new album and world tour, it immediately becomes
world wide news.
What kind of secret power hides behind this unique success story?
A talk with singer Brian Johnson, who also tells all about the new album
'Black Ice'. He also takes us back to the first turbulent months of his
membership in AC/DC.
"I felt what was at stake. The bands future. My input would be very
defining.
Black
A colleague reporter from Switzerland has brought a guitar with him. Angus
Young inspired him to become a musician, he told me. That's why he would
like very much to go home with an autograph by the Australian guitarist on
his instrument.
There is only one small problem: The record company has assigned him to talk
to Brian Johnson. The face of the Swiss native lights up when I focus his
attention on a blonde lady sitting in the lounge of the German hotel,
drinking a cup of tea. It is Ellen Young, Angus' Dutch wife.
He walks over. Would Angus want to sign his guitar? He brought his own
marker.
It seems like no problem at all. Just when the Swiss reporter has gone off
for his own interview, Young strolls into the waiting area. His wife leads
him to the guitar case, which they open together.
Both the guitar and the marker are as black as a certain 1980 AC/DC album.
Angus looks at the marker, and he looks at the guitar. And again at the
marker, and then the guitar. It's a comic coming to life. A bit desperate he
pulls up his slender shoulders. A bunch of vowels and consonants escape from
the corner of his mouth, from where only the words 'black', 'marker' and
'guitar' can be deciphered.
"Maybe it's an idea to sign the back of the guitar?" his wife suggests
helpfully.
The guitarist firmly shakes his head. He knows his guitars. Gibsons are as
black on the back as they are on the front. Eventually he pens something on
the body of the guitar and slowly strolls off.
A bit later I cant resist the temptation to take the instrument out of the
case and take a look at it. When the light drops on it from a certain angle
and you really squeeze your eyes you can just make out something. 'Cheers,
Angus Young' it says. Black on black.
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