The Lives of Brian
A Memoir
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $32.62
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Brian Johnson
-
Written by:
-
Brian Johnson
About this listen
One of SPIN'S Best Music Memoirs of 2022!
Brian Johnson’s memoir from growing up in a small town to starting his own band to ultimately replacing Bon Scott, the lead singer of one of the world biggest rock acts, AC/DC. They would record their first album together, the iconic Back in Black, which would become the biggest selling rock album of all time.
Brian Johnson was born to a steelworker and WWII veteran father and an Italian mother, growing up in New Castle Upon Tyne, England, a working-class town. He was musically inclined and sang with the church choir. By the early ’70s he performed with the glam rock band Geordie, and they had a couple hits, but it was tough going. So tough that by 1976, they disbanded and Brian turned to a blue-collar life.
Then 1980 changed everything. Bon Scott, the lead singer and lyricist of the Australian rock band AC/DC died at 33. The band auditioned singers, among them Johnson, whom Scott himself had seen perform and raved about. Within days, Johnson was in a studio with the band, working with founding members Angus and Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, and Phil Rudd, along with producer Mutt Lange.
When the album, Back in Black, was released in July—a mere three months after Johnson had joined the band—it exploded, going on to sell 50 million copies worldwide, and triggering a years-long worldwide tour. It has been declared “the biggest selling hard rock album ever made” and “the best-selling heavy-metal album in history.”
The band toured the world for a full year to support the album, changing the face of rock music—and Brian Johnson’s life—forever.
©2021 Brian Johnson (P)2021 HarperCollins PublishersYou may also enjoy...
-
Rockers & Rollers
- A Full Throttle Memoir from AC/DC's Legendary Frontman
- Written by: Brian Johnson
- Narrated by: Brian Johnson
- Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By night, Brian Johnson sings in the biggest rock 'n' roll band on the planet. But by day, AC/DC's charismatic, flat-capped frontman gets to indulge his passion for all things automotive. Cars and rock 'n'roll - they were made for each other. Car racer, car collector, and all-round car enthusiast, Johnson is an incurable, certifiable petrolhead who can't remember a time when four wheels didn't feature as large in his life as music
Written by: Brian Johnson
-
Into the Void
- From Birth to Black Sabbath—And Beyond
- Written by: Geezer Butler
- Narrated by: Geezer Butler
- Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With over 70 million records sold, Black Sabbath, dubbed by Rolling Stone “the Beatles of heavy metal,” helped create the genre itself, with their distinctive heavy riffs, tuned down guitars, and apocalyptic lyrics. Bassist and primary lyricist Geezer Butler played a gigantic part in the band’s renown, from suggesting the band name to using his fascination with horror, religion, and the occult to compose the lyrics and build the foundation of heavy metal as we know it. In Into the Void, Butler tells his side of the story.
-
-
Great book!
- By Roch Brisebois on 2023-06-09
Written by: Geezer Butler
-
I Am Ozzy
- Written by: Ozzy Osbourne
- Narrated by: Ozzy Osbourne, Rupert Farley
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say. When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of 60, with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and California, I wouldn't have put money on me, no f--king way. But here I am: ready to tell my story, in my own words, for the first time. A lot of it ain't gonna be pretty. I've done some bad things in my time. But I ain't the devil.
-
-
Absolutely Fantastic
- By Tyler Sharpe on 2022-02-07
Written by: Ozzy Osbourne
-
Fortunate Son
- My Life, My Music
- Written by: John Fogerty
- Narrated by: John Fogerty
- Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Creedence Clearwater Revival is one of the most important and beloved bands in the history of rock, and John Fogerty wrote, sang, and produced their instantly recognizable classics: "Proud Mary", "Bad Moon Rising", "Born on the Bayou", and more. Now he reveals how he brought CCR to number one in the world, eclipsing even the Beatles in 1969. By the next year, though, Creedence was falling apart; their amazing, enduring success exploded and faded in just a few short years.
-
-
Disappointing
- By Anonymous User on 2024-04-13
Written by: John Fogerty
-
Dancing with Myself
- Written by: Billy Idol
- Narrated by: Billy Idol
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An early architect of punk rock's sound, style, and fury, whose lip-curling sneer and fist-pumping persona vaulted him into pop's mainstream as one of MTV's first megastars, Billy Idol remains, to this day, a true rock 'n' roll icon. Now, in his long-awaited autobiography, Dancing with Myself, Idol delivers an electric, searingly honest account of his journey to fame - from his early days as front man of the pioneering UK punk band Generation X to the decadent life atop the dance-rock kingdom he ruled.
-
-
GR8 Read
- By Amanda Jean on 2018-10-29
Written by: Billy Idol
-
My Effin' Life
- Written by: Geddy Lee
- Narrated by: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Cliff Burnstein
- Length: 16 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Geddy Lee is one of rock and roll's most respected bassists. For nearly five decades, his playing and work as co-writer, vocalist and keyboardist has been an essential part of the success story of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Here for the first time is his account of life inside and outside the band.
-
-
You move me, you move me
- By Jon D'Alessandro on 2023-11-19
Written by: Geddy Lee
-
Rockers & Rollers
- A Full Throttle Memoir from AC/DC's Legendary Frontman
- Written by: Brian Johnson
- Narrated by: Brian Johnson
- Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By night, Brian Johnson sings in the biggest rock 'n' roll band on the planet. But by day, AC/DC's charismatic, flat-capped frontman gets to indulge his passion for all things automotive. Cars and rock 'n'roll - they were made for each other. Car racer, car collector, and all-round car enthusiast, Johnson is an incurable, certifiable petrolhead who can't remember a time when four wheels didn't feature as large in his life as music
Written by: Brian Johnson
-
Into the Void
- From Birth to Black Sabbath—And Beyond
- Written by: Geezer Butler
- Narrated by: Geezer Butler
- Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With over 70 million records sold, Black Sabbath, dubbed by Rolling Stone “the Beatles of heavy metal,” helped create the genre itself, with their distinctive heavy riffs, tuned down guitars, and apocalyptic lyrics. Bassist and primary lyricist Geezer Butler played a gigantic part in the band’s renown, from suggesting the band name to using his fascination with horror, religion, and the occult to compose the lyrics and build the foundation of heavy metal as we know it. In Into the Void, Butler tells his side of the story.
-
-
Great book!
- By Roch Brisebois on 2023-06-09
Written by: Geezer Butler
-
I Am Ozzy
- Written by: Ozzy Osbourne
- Narrated by: Ozzy Osbourne, Rupert Farley
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say. When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of 60, with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and California, I wouldn't have put money on me, no f--king way. But here I am: ready to tell my story, in my own words, for the first time. A lot of it ain't gonna be pretty. I've done some bad things in my time. But I ain't the devil.
-
-
Absolutely Fantastic
- By Tyler Sharpe on 2022-02-07
Written by: Ozzy Osbourne
-
Fortunate Son
- My Life, My Music
- Written by: John Fogerty
- Narrated by: John Fogerty
- Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Creedence Clearwater Revival is one of the most important and beloved bands in the history of rock, and John Fogerty wrote, sang, and produced their instantly recognizable classics: "Proud Mary", "Bad Moon Rising", "Born on the Bayou", and more. Now he reveals how he brought CCR to number one in the world, eclipsing even the Beatles in 1969. By the next year, though, Creedence was falling apart; their amazing, enduring success exploded and faded in just a few short years.
-
-
Disappointing
- By Anonymous User on 2024-04-13
Written by: John Fogerty
-
Dancing with Myself
- Written by: Billy Idol
- Narrated by: Billy Idol
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An early architect of punk rock's sound, style, and fury, whose lip-curling sneer and fist-pumping persona vaulted him into pop's mainstream as one of MTV's first megastars, Billy Idol remains, to this day, a true rock 'n' roll icon. Now, in his long-awaited autobiography, Dancing with Myself, Idol delivers an electric, searingly honest account of his journey to fame - from his early days as front man of the pioneering UK punk band Generation X to the decadent life atop the dance-rock kingdom he ruled.
-
-
GR8 Read
- By Amanda Jean on 2018-10-29
Written by: Billy Idol
-
My Effin' Life
- Written by: Geddy Lee
- Narrated by: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Cliff Burnstein
- Length: 16 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Geddy Lee is one of rock and roll's most respected bassists. For nearly five decades, his playing and work as co-writer, vocalist and keyboardist has been an essential part of the success story of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Here for the first time is his account of life inside and outside the band.
-
-
You move me, you move me
- By Jon D'Alessandro on 2023-11-19
Written by: Geddy Lee
-
18 and Life on Skid Row
- Written by: Sebastian Bach
- Narrated by: Sebastian Bach
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
18 and Life on Skid Row tells the story of a boy who spent his childhood moving from Freeport, Bahamas, to California and finally to Canada and who, at the age of eight, discovered the gift that would change his life. Throughout his career, Sebastian Bach has sold over 20 million records both as the lead singer of Skid Row and as a solo artist.
-
-
Sooo Awesome!!
- By Chris Pascoe on 2019-06-05
Written by: Sebastian Bach
-
Wild and Crazy Guys
- How the Comedy Mavericks of the '80s Changed Hollywood Forever
- Written by: Nick de Semlyen
- Narrated by: Curtis Armstrong
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The behind-the-scenes story of the iconic funnymen who ruled '80s Hollywood - Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and Eddie Murphy - and the beloved films that made them stars, including Animal House, Caddyshack, and Ghostbusters.
-
-
A great listen about a great time in comedy
- By Anonymous User on 2023-05-15
Written by: Nick de Semlyen
-
What Does This Button Do?
- An Autobiography
- Written by: Bruce Dickinson
- Narrated by: Bruce Dickinson
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Pioneers of Britain's nascent rock and metal scene back in the late 1970s, Iron Maiden smashed its way to the top, thanks in no small part to the high-octane performances, operatic singing style, and stage presence of its second but twice-longest-serving lead singer, Bruce Dickinson. As Iron Maiden's front man - first from 1981 to 1993 and then from 1999 to the present - Dickinson has been, and remains, a man of legend.
-
-
GET THIS BOOK!
- By tiffany Stocco on 2021-03-09
Written by: Bruce Dickinson
-
It's So Easy
- And Other Lies
- Written by: Duff McKagan
- Narrated by: Christian Rummel
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1984, at the age of 20, Duff McKagan left his native Seattle - partly to pursue music, but mainly to get away from a host of heroin overdoses then-decimating his closest group of friends in the local punk scene. In LA only a few weeks and still living in his car, he answered a want ad for a bass player placed by someone who identified himself only as "Slash." Soon after, the most dangerous band in the world was born. Guns N' Roses went on to sell more than 100 million albums worldwide.
-
-
Absolutely loved it!
- By Chris Pascoe on 2020-12-10
Written by: Duff McKagan
-
Life
- Written by: Keith Richards, James Fox
- Narrated by: Johnny Depp, Joe Hurley
- Length: 23 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Now at last Keith Richards pauses to tell his story in the most anticipated autobiography in decades. And what a story! Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records in a coldwater flat with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones, building a sound and a band out of music they loved. Finding fame and success as a bad-boy band, only to find themselves challenged by authorities everywhere....
-
-
Life is a worthy read
- By john on 2018-09-19
Written by: Keith Richards, and others
-
Confess
- The Autobiography
- Written by: Rob Halford, Ian Gittins - contributor
- Narrated by: Rob Halford
- Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Most priests hear confessions. This one is making his. Rob Halford, front man of global iconic metal band Judas Priest, is a true "Metal God." Raised in Britain's hard-working, heavy industrial heartland, he and his music were forged in the Black Country. Confess, his full autobiography, is an unforgettable rock 'n' roll story—a journey from a Walsall council estate to musical fame via alcoholism, addiction, police cells, ill-fated sexual trysts, and bleak personal tragedy, through to rehab, coming out, redemption...and finding love.
-
-
Amazing
- By wind_stopper on 2021-05-11
Written by: Rob Halford, and others
-
Led Zeppelin
- The Biography
- Written by: Bob Spitz
- Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
- Length: 21 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the author of the definitive New York Times best-selling history of the Beatles comes the authoritative account of the group many call the greatest rock band of all time, arguably the most successful, and certainly one of the most notorious.
-
-
good but could have been better
- By Laqtantius on 2021-12-14
Written by: Bob Spitz
-
The Dirt
- Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band
- Written by: Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, and others
- Narrated by: Sebastian York, Roger Wayne, Fred Berman, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Celebrate over 30 years of the world's most notorious rock band with the audiobook edition of The Dirt - the outrageous, legendary, no-holds-barred autobiography of Mötley Crüe. Fans have gotten glimpses into the band's crazy world of backstage scandals, celebrity love affairs, roller-coaster drug addictions, and immortal music in Mötley Crüe books like Tommyland and The Heroin Diaries, but now the full spectrum of sin and success by Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, and Mick Mars is an open book in The Dirt.
-
-
Very good
- By jason harrison on 2021-02-22
Written by: Tommy Lee, and others
-
Heavy Duty
- Days and Nights in Judas Priest
- Written by: K.K. Downing, Mark Eglinton
- Narrated by: Maxwell Caulfield
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Judas Priest formed in the industrial city of Birmingham, England, in 1969. With its distinctive twin-guitar sound, studs-and-leather image, and international sales of over 50 million records, Judas Priest became the archetypal heavy metal band in the 1980s. Iconic tracks like "Breaking the Law", "Living After Midnight", and "You've Got Another Thing Coming" helped the band achieve extraordinary success, but no one from the band has stepped out to tell their or the band's story until now.
-
-
Great read with lots of insight.
- By Rick Stasiewich on 2021-05-22
Written by: K.K. Downing, and others
-
Rocks
- My Life in and out of Aerosmith
- Written by: Joe Perry, David Ritz
- Narrated by: Joe Perry
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Rocks, Joe Perry exposes his unrepentant, unbridled life as the lead guitarist of Aerosmith. He delves deep into his volatile, profound, and enduring relationship with singer Steve Tyler and reveals the real people behind the larger-than-life rock gods onstage. The nearly five-decade saga of Aerosmith is epic, at once a study in brotherhood and solitude that plays out on the killing fields of rock and roll.
-
-
factual & chronological
- By Stav on 2019-03-21
Written by: Joe Perry, and others
-
Lightfoot
- Written by: Nicholas Jennings
- Narrated by: Nicholas Jennings
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The definitive, full-access story of the life and songs of Canada's legendary troubadour. Gordon Lightfoot’s name is synonymous with timeless songs about trains and shipwrecks, rivers and highways, lovers and loneliness. His music defined the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and ‘70s, topped charts and sold millions. He is unquestionably Canada’s greatest songwriter, and an international star who has performed on the world’s biggest stages.While Lightfoot’s songs are well known, the man behind them is elusive. He’s never allowed his life to be chronicled in a book - until now.
-
-
enjoyable and interesting
- By craig on 2018-05-24
Written by: Nicholas Jennings
-
Face the Music
- A Life Exposed
- Written by: Paul Stanley
- Narrated by: Paul Stanley
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Face the Music, Paul Stanley - the co-founder and famous "Starchild" frontman of KISS - reveals for the first time the incredible highs and equally incredible lows in his life both inside and outside the band. Face the Music is the shocking, funny, smart, inspirational story of one of rock’s most enduring icons and the group he helped create, define, and immortalize. Stanley mixes compelling personal revelations and gripping, gritty war stories that will surprise even the most steadfast member of the KISS Army.
-
-
Great book...
- By Bob on 2022-08-13
Written by: Paul Stanley
What listeners say about The Lives of Brian
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- nick2slick
- 2022-11-04
This book feels like meeting Brian at a bar
Brian Johnson is a living legend, but he spent the first half of his life as a regular working class guy. What an inspirational story. This is probably the most down to Earth and friendly autobiography I've ever listened to.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Consumer
- 2024-01-23
10/10
This is my favourite audio book to date. The man is an excellent story teller but not only that…. It’s an excellent journey. I love this book
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lisa Ireland
- 2023-01-24
An amazing Story!
Besides the ‘topic’ - I’m stating the obvious, AC/DC is one of the best bands EVER - Brian Johnson’s childhood, adolescence , his adulthood, his life IS fascinating, relatable and, dare I say it - honourable, lol. And HILARIOUS! Seriously laugh out loud funny! You will be so missing out on a fabulous read, better yet, a fabulous listen as Brian reads it himself.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- andrew simpson
- 2023-10-27
Love the accent! Great story fun life he had!
This kept me listening. What a story. His crazy youth in Post War England his life as a trying musician, all his jobs etc were fun to listen to. Lots of laughs and excitement! Then ACDC, that was where it got really good. But he didn't go into his fame and fortune it ended!! Guess a tell all about sex drugs and rock and roll is coming? Or is it too much, too embarrassing telling stories about groupies? So he skipped all that over 30 years of it! He thought "Who cares about my rock life? I'll give it a miss." but he did have to add "I'll tell them about my hearing loss like a good senior citizen. Doing my duty!"
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dominic Cassivi
- 2023-05-15
Wonderful
Great stories! This is a great book to listnen, thank you Mr.Johnson for sharing your amazing story!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cwiss
- 2024-04-20
What a life !
All I can say is worth the listen Brian narrated this so well with such emotion !
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2023-03-15
Amazing
Great stories, and fantastic narration. Brian delivers. I was sad when it was over. Always been a fan, bigger fan now. Favourite band!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jason R Walker
- 2023-02-23
Loved it!
Great stories and I enjoyed the performance more than I anticipated. Would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a good biography and not just a “tell all” book. It helped me appreciate the person behind the performer a lot more.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- JASON
- 2024-05-09
Getting the call !!
I liked the whole story , from the beginning to the finish !getting the call was my favourite part !
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2024-08-07
Never Give Up Your Dream
A very honest story of one man’s journey from a dream to fruition as a kickass rock ‘n roll singer. The moment he actually gets the gig to be ACDC’s singer really tugged at my heart strings. Loved it, just wished it was longer and told some stories about being in AC/DC. Maybe a future book?
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!