10 Most Important Member Changes In Rock Music History

5. Brian Johnson Replaces Bon Scott - AC/DC

On the 19th of February 1980, the rock and metal community lost of one of its brightest sparks.

Bon Scott, lead singer with the preposterously successful AC/DC, passed away in London as a result of acute alcohol poisoning. This tragic event came just six months after the release of Highway to Hell, the album that spawned the iconic lead single and countless other gems.

AC/DC were at a loose end. They even considered packing it all in, until Scott's own parents convinced them otherwise. It's not what Bon would have wanted, they said.

After a series of auditions, the band found their new singer in the form of Newcastle native Brian Johnson. And oh baby, did things get interesting after that.

Johnson's first album with the band was only Back in bloody Black. The track listing reads like a greatest hits for the rockers: Shoot to Thrill, Hells Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long, the title track. All of them gold.

Scott's legacy still lives on in the hearts and minds of fans, but Johnson more than stepped up to the plate when it came to filling the shoes of a legend gone too soon.

Contributor
Contributor

Jacob Simmons has a great many passions, including rock music, giving acclaimed films three-and-a-half stars, watching random clips from The Simpsons on YouTube at 3am, and writing about himself in the third person.