Bon Scott to Brian Johnson, Best Transition Ever? (1 Viewer)

[satch]

I can't think of a more successful rock n' roll transition than when AC/DC went from the Bon Scott era to the Brian Johnson era. You may prefer one over the other, but the band's sound, image, attitude, fan base, and success never missed a beat. Johnson always, and still seems to carry the torch with the perfect blend of respect to Scott and the bands roots while having his own unique style and being a rock legend himself.

On a side note, just learned that Bon Scott's official cause of death was "Death by Misadventure". I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Agreed. I can't even think of a good analogue. Van Halen made a couple of good albums with Sammy Hagar, but nothing like the kind of long-term success AC/DC has had with Johnson.

 

[msommer]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful. So count me in the 'not really' category

 

[3C's]

Rage/Audioslave count? Same band, different lead and name.

 

[Jack White]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful. So count me in the 'not really' category

Agree.

And the other stuff still holds up. I always feel a bit of a lift when I hear an old AC/DC song.

 

[3C's]

Alice in Chains has a new lead but they haven't nearly matched the success with Layne.

Ronnie James Dio in for Ozzy in Black Sabbath was pretty good.

 

[Al O'Pecia]

Genesis went from Peter Gabriel as lead singer to Phil Collins. Genesis became more successful with Phil as the lead singer, and Gabriel became more acclaimed and famous as a solo act. Win-win.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Van Halan - david lee roth to Sammy Hagar

 

[tom22406]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful. So count me in the 'not really' category

I couldn't agree more

 

[Scoresman]

I vote for Journey's move from Steve Perry to that Filipino youtube sensation.

 

[Apple Jack]

Genesis went from Peter Gabriel as lead singer to Phil Collins. Genesis became more successful with Phil as the lead singer, and Gabriel became more acclaimed and famous as a solo act. Win-win.

Advantage Gabriel

Drive by Truckers from Rob Malone to Isbell.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Van Halen - Sammy Hagar to Gary Cherone.

 

[HellToupee]

Transition from Joy Division to New Order was pretty seamless

 

[FlapJacks]

Black Sabbath -- Ozzy to Dio

Like Van Halen, they were running on fumes creatively and the new blood brought a new sound and new life....

 

[satch]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful. So count me in the 'not really' category

I couldn't agree more

Back in Black is a huge part of the equation. It's the second highest-selling album of all time, the highest-selling album by a band, the best-selling hard rock album of all-time, and the best-selling album ever released by an Australian musical act. Back in Black alone makes a pretty strong argument that the Scott/Johnson transition was the best/most successful major band personell transition ever. Not even taking into account the rest of Johnson's albums, hits, soundtracks, wildly successful tours, and longevity.

 

[FlapJacks]

Deep Purple had a number 1 hit with Rod Evans as the lead singer and transitioned over to Ian Gillan and had their "classic" era. The move from Gillan to David Coverdale wasn't as popular in the US, but it did launch Coverdale's career.

 

[tom22406]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful. So count me in the 'not really' category

I couldn't agree more

Back in Black is a huge part of the equation. It's the second highest-selling album of all time, the highest-selling album by a band, the best-selling hard rock album of all-time, and the best-selling album ever released by an Australian musical act. Back in Black alone makes a pretty strong argument that the Scott/Johnson transition was the best/most successful major band personell transition ever. Not even taking into account the rest of Johnson's albums, hits, soundtracks, wildly successful tours, and longevity.

He was nothing close to what Bon Scott was as a frontman.

For me I would go Fleetwood Mac as the pick here.Once Peter Green left(they already were pretty big)they got even bigger.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Pete Best to Ringo seemed to work out OK.

 

[Mr. Ected]

Rush - Rutsey to Peart

 

[Mr. Ected]

Drummers for Spın̈al Tap?

 

[IvanKaramazov]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful. So count me in the 'not really' category

I couldn't agree more

Back in Black is a huge part of the equation. It's the second highest-selling album of all time, the highest-selling album by a band, the best-selling hard rock album of all-time, and the best-selling album ever released by an Australian musical act. Back in Black alone makes a pretty strong argument that the Scott/Johnson transition was the best/most successful major band personell transition ever. Not even taking into account the rest of Johnson's albums, hits, soundtracks, wildly successful tours, and longevity.

Working "Other than Back in Black . . . " into this is the FFA equivalent of "If you throw out his two long TD runs, his YPC was pretty pedestrian."

They turned out a couple of bad albums in the 1980s, after Back in Black, but from Thunderstruck on they've been consistently solid IMO.

 

[msommer]

Deep Purple had a number 1 hit with Rod Evans as the lead singer and transitioned over to Ian Gillan and had their "classic" era. The move from Gillan to David Coverdale wasn't as popular in the US, but it did launch Coverdale's career.

Deep Purple had a number 1 hit with Rod Evans as the lead singer and transitioned over to Ian Gillan and had their "classic" era. The move from Gillan to David Coverdale wasn't as popular in the US, but it did launch Coverdale's career.

Good one, and they've done it back again and then transitioned guitarists three times as well. Pretty impressive really

 

[msommer]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful. So count me in the 'not really' category

I couldn't agree more

Back in Black is a huge part of the equation. It's the second highest-selling album of all time, the highest-selling album by a band, the best-selling hard rock album of all-time, and the best-selling album ever released by an Australian musical act. Back in Black alone makes a pretty strong argument that the Scott/Johnson transition was the best/most successful major band personell transition ever. Not even taking into account the rest of Johnson's albums, hits, soundtracks, wildly successful tours, and longevity.

Working "Other than Back in Black . . . " into this is the FFA equivalent of "If you throw out his two long TD runs, his YPC was pretty pedestrian."

They turned out a couple of bad albums in the 1980s, after Back in Black, but from Thunderstruck on they've been consistently solid IMO.

Consistently formulaic I'd agree to

 

[IvanKaramazov]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful. So count me in the 'not really' category

I couldn't agree more

Back in Black is a huge part of the equation. It's the second highest-selling album of all time, the highest-selling album by a band, the best-selling hard rock album of all-time, and the best-selling album ever released by an Australian musical act. Back in Black alone makes a pretty strong argument that the Scott/Johnson transition was the best/most successful major band personell transition ever. Not even taking into account the rest of Johnson's albums, hits, soundtracks, wildly successful tours, and longevity.

Working "Other than Back in Black . . . " into this is the FFA equivalent of "If you throw out his two long TD runs, his YPC was pretty pedestrian."

They turned out a couple of bad albums in the 1980s, after Back in Black, but from Thunderstruck on they've been consistently solid IMO.

Consistently formulaic I'd agree to

Works for me. I've never considered this a criticism -- if I like their sound, why would I want a band to reinvent themselves all the time? (ZZ Top is another band I like whose songs from their two different eras all follow more or less the same formula).

 

[cstu]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful. So count me in the 'not really' category

I couldn't agree more

Back in Black is a huge part of the equation. It's the second highest-selling album of all time, the highest-selling album by a band, the best-selling hard rock album of all-time, and the best-selling album ever released by an Australian musical act. Back in Black alone makes a pretty strong argument that the Scott/Johnson transition was the best/most successful major band personell transition ever. Not even taking into account the rest of Johnson's albums, hits, soundtracks, wildly successful tours, and longevity.

I believe Back in Black was mostly written when Bon died.

Bon died Feb. 19, 1980, Johnson joined the band in March and the album was released in July.

Bon’s late mother Isa said in 2006: “The last time we saw him was Christmas ’79, two months before he died. [bon] told me he was working on the Back in Black album and that that was going to be it; that he was going to be a millionaire.”

 

[cstu]

Works for me. I've never considered this a criticism -- if I like their sound, why would I want a band to reinvent themselves all the time? (ZZ Top is another band I like whose songs from their two different eras all follow more or less the same formula).

I'm a big AC/DC fan and have no problem with the formula, but there's only a handful of post-Back in Black songs I like.

 

[satch]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful. So count me in the 'not really' category

I couldn't agree more

Back in Black is a huge part of the equation. It's the second highest-selling album of all time, the highest-selling album by a band, the best-selling hard rock album of all-time, and the best-selling album ever released by an Australian musical act. Back in Black alone makes a pretty strong argument that the Scott/Johnson transition was the best/most successful major band personell transition ever. Not even taking into account the rest of Johnson's albums, hits, soundtracks, wildly successful tours, and longevity.

Working "Other than Back in Black . . . " into this is the FFA equivalent of "If you throw out his two long TD runs, his YPC was pretty pedestrian."

They turned out a couple of bad albums in the 1980s, after Back in Black, but from Thunderstruck on they've been consistently solid IMO.

Consistently formulaic I'd agree to

If by "consistently formulaic" you mean a formula their fans have consistently enjoyed, I would agree. Their consistency is one of their greatest traits. If more band were as consistent as AC/DC, more bands might stick around a little longer.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful.

FYP

 

[Sabertooth]

Favre to Rodgers is looking good so far.

 

[Mr. Ected]

Favre to Rodgers is looking good so far.

Bledsoe to Brady wasn't too bad either!

Manning to Luck has potential too.

 

[gump]

Brian Jones to Mick Taylor.

 

[Sabertooth]

Jefferson Airplane to Foo Fighters.

 

[Sinn Fein]

George Bush to Barack Obama

 

[zamboni]

The Yardbirds (Beck/Page/Clapton)

Not as prominent: Thin Lizzy (Brian Robertson to Gary Moore)

 

[McGarnicle]

Van Halen -- Gary Cherone to that homeless guy they found

 

[Sinn Fein]

Tom Brady: Moynahan to Bundchen

/thread

 

[Apple Jack]

Three's Company: Roper to Furley.

Enormous shoes to fill - and we lost Helen, too - but dude brought it with the funny clothes and wicked awesome face stretching.

 

[Sabertooth]

Timschochet to Doctor Detroit.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Sabertool to Sabertool

 

[Limp Ditka]

RHCP - Hillel Slovak to John Frusciante

Faith No More - Chuck Mosley to Mike Patton

 

[zamboni]

Doobie Brothers - Tom Johnston to Michael McDonald to Rerun

 

[elguapo07]

Happy Days - Arnold to Al

 

[McGarnicle]

Aerosmith -- sober Steven Tyler to obviously using again Steven Tyler.

 

[Bojang0301]

Farve to Rodgers

Manning to Luck

Bill Gates to whoever the hell runs Microsoft now

Montana to Young

 

[Drunken Poster]

Ladies and gentlemen, Bon Scott

 

[cstu]

Genesis went from Peter Gabriel as lead singer to Phil Collins. Genesis became more successful with Phil as the lead singer, and Gabriel became more acclaimed and famous as a solo act. Win-win.

Advantage Gabriel

I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.

 

[Brock Middlebrook]

Genesis went from Peter Gabriel as lead singer to Phil Collins. Genesis became more successful with Phil as the lead singer, and Gabriel became more acclaimed and famous as a solo act. Win-win.

Advantage Gabriel

I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.

Once somebody played the Genesis card, it was only a matter of time....

 

[3C's]

AC/DC after Back in Black (yes I know that's Johnson) is mostly painful. So count me in the 'not really' category

I couldn't agree more

Back in Black is a huge part of the equation. It's the second highest-selling album of all time, the highest-selling album by a band, the best-selling hard rock album of all-time, and the best-selling album ever released by an Australian musical act. Back in Black alone makes a pretty strong argument that the Scott/Johnson transition was the best/most successful major band personell transition ever. Not even taking into account the rest of Johnson's albums, hits, soundtracks, wildly successful tours, and longevity.

Working "Other than Back in Black . . . " into this is the FFA equivalent of "If you throw out his two long TD runs, his YPC was pretty pedestrian."

They turned out a couple of bad albums in the 1980s, after Back in Black, but from Thunderstruck on they've been consistently solid IMO.

Consistently formulaic I'd agree to

Works for me. I've never considered this a criticism -- if I like their sound, why would I want a band to reinvent themselves all the time? (ZZ Top is another band I like whose songs from their two different eras all follow more or less the same formula).

With Bon it wasn't a reinvention of sound, it was diversity. They would rock your socks off on one song and go bluesy with another. Post Bon it's all the same sound. Nothing particularly wrong with that but I prefer the Bon Scott era.

 

[Sabertooth]

Topanga to Topanga

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Pink Floyd - Syd Barrett to David Gilmour

The Stones - Brian Jones to Mick Taylor to Ronnie Wood