Eddie Van Halen Wanted to Join AC/DC

[AFD5]

Back in 1984 I met Brian Johnson in our local working men's club up here near Newcastle. He is a smashing bloke & at the end of the night he came over shook my hand & said he had a great night. He signed my jeans (long gone) &  AC/DC's new single at the time Rock 'n' Roll Aint Noise Pollution (the club's dj gave me his copy) so Brian could sign it for me I gave him my copy the following night.

Anyway Brian & myself were talking about Donington (AC/D.C. & Van Halen) had played a couple of weeks earlier. Brian said he & Eddie (Van Halen) had become good friends. He said there was trouble in the band & it was that bad that Eddie had asked about joining AC/D.C.  Brian said it wasn't going to happen as Angus was having none of it.

If any of you have ever met Brian you will know he's a great bloke & at the end of the night. He made me feel like i'd made a new best friend 34 years on & i'vs never forgotten that night. 

One other thing after Brian had signed my jeans & record, people around the club started going over to Brian with bits of paper & beer mats to sign. They realised he was someone famous. I said to Brian "i'm sorry if i'vs caused you any bother with signing my stuff. Brian's words to me were "Stevie don't worry about it, you know who I am they dont" 

I just wanted to share this with you all if I remember anything else from that night i'll share it if that's ok.

[AFD5]

I've just remembered something else Brian told me his last gig with his group Geordie was in a club a few miles away from the club we were in. He said there was only about 40 people in the audience. He said one of the first shows he played with AC/D.C. was Maddison Square Garden he said there was something like 15,000 people there. I said "weren't you scared" Brian replied " Nar the way the lights are positioned you could only see the first 2 or 3 rows so it was ok.

Brian also told of his diisappointment at meeting his hero Chuck Berry. He said they were on tour with Berry in America & Brian asked for Berry's autograph Berry replied "No i'vs signed one today" Brian said that put him right off him & is the reason he'll never refuse an autograph

[Dean]

This is class, thanks for sharing! Brian mentioned that autograph incident with Chuck during an interview with Stern I believe it was.

[lame ass security]

15 hours ago, AFD5 said:

I've just remembered something else Brian told me his last gig with his group Geordie was in a club a few miles away from the club we were in. He said there was only about 40 people in the audience. He said one of the first shows he played with AC/D.C. was Maddison Square Garden he said there was something like 15,000 people there. I said "weren't you scared" Brian replied " Nar the way the lights are positioned you could only see the first 2 or 3 rows so it was ok.

Brian also told of his diisappointment at meeting his hero Chuck Berry. He said they were on tour with Berry in America & Brian asked for Berry's autograph Berry replied "No i'vs signed one today" Brian said that put him right off him & is the reason he'll never refuse an autograph

He must've caught Chuck on a good night.  Keith Richards caught him on a bad night and got punched in the face for his trouble.  Iirc, he also punched Ronnie Wood thinking that he was Keith.

[dalsh327]

 

[dalsh327]

Brian lives somewhere in Tampa, Florida and has been known to get up on stage with local bands... Chuck Berry did that too but he wanted cash up front. 

[Tomek1985]

Thanks. Great story. Another proof of Chuck Berry being an ass. As a lot of The Greatest of All Times sadly.. anyway, thanks for sharing.

[adamsapple]

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Edited January 6, 2019 by adamsapple

[thunderram]

I don't know how much I believe the EVH thing. Not saying that Johnson was lying, but more that EVH may have been extremely drunk or kidding or both. Eddie is well-known for being a bit of a music snob. I really don't see him being enthused about playing AC/DC's music. In fact, other than Eric Clapton and Cream he pretty much doesn't admit to being much of a fan of others music. He even grew cold on Clapton over something Eric said about him.

[lame ass security]

10 hours ago, thunderram said:

I don't know how much I believe the EVH thing. Not saying that Johnson was lying, but more that EVH may have been extremely drunk or kidding or both. Eddie is well-known for being a bit of a music snob. I really don't see him being enthused about playing AC/DC's music. In fact, other than Eric Clapton and Cream he pretty much doesn't admit to being much of a fan of others music. He even grew cold on Clapton over something Eric said about him.

Didn't Eddie want to join Kiss too?  As weird as that sounds I think I remember reading that somewhere.

[AFD5]

10 hours ago, thunderram said:

I don't know how much I believe the EVH thing. Not saying that Johnson was lying, but more that EVH may have been extremely drunk or kidding or both. Eddie is well-known for being a bit of a music snob. I really don't see him being enthused about playing AC/DC's music. In fact, other than Eric Clapton and Cream he pretty much doesn't admit to being much of a fan of others music. He even grew cold on Clapton over something Eric said about him.

Brian had nothing to gain about telling me about Eddie as I said Brian told me he & Eddie had became great friends. Eddie had asked about joining AC/D.C. Wether you believe the story or not its up to you but I know what Brian told me that night. 

[Sosso]

Angus should be the only lead guitarist for AC/DC. There is only space for one schoolboy. 

Edited January 8, 2019 by Sosso