LEGENDARY AC/DC frontman, Brian Johnson, was named a Doctor of Music by Northumbria University today (Wednesday, July 9).

The honorary degree recognises the significant contribution he has made to

the music industry as lead singer of one of the world’s most successful

rock bands during the past three decades.

The singer, with one of the rock world’s most instantly recognisable voices, was born along the river from the University, at Dunston, and performed with a series of bands before finding success with Geordie during the Glam Rock era of the 1970s.

Johnson joined AC/DC in 1980 as lead vocalist and his first album with the

group, Back in Black, is one of the most successful albums of all time,

selling more than 22 million copies in the US alone.

AC/DC have sold an estimated 200 million albums worldwide and their most

recent tour, Black Ice is said to be the fourth highest grossing concert tour of all time.

AC/DC’s were recognised last year by The Recording Academy which inducted the group’s 1980’s hit Back in Black into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame, taking its place alongside recordings that have inspired and influenced fans and music makers for generations.

One of Brian’s heroes is WO Bentley, founder of the eponymous motor

company whose vision was "to build a fast car, a good car, the best in its class". As a self-styled “incurable, certifiable petrolhead” Johnson shares the same appreciation of and passion for excellent design and engineering, and so he received his degree alongside students from Northumbria’s Engineering and Environment programmes.

Professor Andrew Wathey, vice-chancellor and chief executive of Northumbria University, said: “It is fitting that we honour one of the most distinctive voices in rock music, who is also a native of the North-East.

“Northumbria University has a strong tradition of partnership working in the region’s cultural and creative sectors, and our Students’ Union has long been a focus for key bands who have gone on to achieve worldwide success.

“It is interesting to reflect on the importance of culture to collective

life of the North-East and of the cultural industries as a major UK export.

"Brian Johnson symbolises both of these things and, moreover, has been an inspiration to generations of young musicians over several decades.”