Did You Know? Brian Johnson’s AC/DC Audition Was A Tina Turner Song. Really.
Did you know that Brian Johnson, AC/DC’s legendary frontman, didn’t land the gig by screaming “Highway to Hell”? Nope. He belted out “Nutbush City Limits” by Ike & Tina Turner at his audition. Yeah, the same “Nutbush” you’ve danced to while listening to Seger’s version on Live Bullet. That one. It’s one HELL OF A STORY. And with the first U.S. tour in nine years coming up, seemed like a good time to tell the story.
Brian Johnson and his AC/DC audition
Picture this: It’s 1980, AC/DC is searching for a new lead singer after Bon Scott’s tragic passing. Enter Brian, a guy from Newcastle with a voice so gritty it could sand a deck. He steps into London’s Vanilla Studios, cracks open a Newcastle Brown Ale (Malcolm Young’s idea of a warm welcome), and lets loose on “Nutbush City Limits.” The Young brothers? Instantly smitten. Angus probably did his signature duck walk out of pure joy. Here’s Brian talking about it:
And if you’re wondering what it might of sounded like – check this out from 2003 at a charity event:
AC/DC – not done yet
Fast-forward 45 years: Brian’s still rocking harder than your dad’s garage band ever dreamed of. In 2025, he’s hitting the road with AC/DC for their “Power Up” tour, bringing face-melting riffs and thunderous vocals to stages across North America. Guess what? Detroit’s on the list! On April 30, 2025, they’re storming Ford Field – more info here.
This marks AC/DC’s first big North American tour in nearly a decade. If you miss it, you’ll probably regret it more than that time you skipped leg day (yeah, I’m trying to keep the pounds off this time of year).
Brian Johnson’s journey from “Nutbush” to stadium-filling rock god is proof that sometimes, all it takes is one unforgettable audition. And, okay, a voice that sounds like it’s powered by jet fuel. 🤘
