When Mutt Lange tried to kill Brian Johnson

“Back in Black” (read the review here) of the AC/DC it is the best-selling rock album of all time and, for many, the greatest rock album of all time. The record was also a source of inspiration for numerous rock musicians. “’Back in Black’ saved rock ‘n’ roll in the ’80s,” he said Slashguitarist of Guns N’ Roses. Another rocker who reveres the album is the frontman of Nickelback Chad Kroeger.

In an interview with Classic Rock of 2022, Kroeger listed some of his favorite albums, including among them “…And Justice For All” (read the review here) of the Metallica And “Vulgar Display Of Power” of the Panther.

Kroeger also explained why “Back in Black” it holds a very special place in his heart. “All those songs that make you start with an involuntary movement of the head. They had everything under control. I love the lyrics of “Have A Drink On Me”. Simply brilliant. All that fun and simplicity, but with that extra touch: like, argh!”.

“Back in Black”
it was the second of three albums that he
AC/DC
they made with the manufacturer
Mutt Lange
. And when i
Nickelback
worked with Lange for their 2008 album
“Dark Horse”
Kroeger couldn’t resist and asked Lange for stories about the making of the album
AC/DC
.

What Lange remembered best was an episode in which, in search of perfection, he pushed the singer of
AC/DC Brian Johnson
to the limits of human endurance. Here’s how Kroeger reports the episode: “Brian Johnson was screaming. Brian would finish screaming these songs, then go into the studio and collapse. You can’t exaggerate that much and not hear anything. One time, a producer who worked in the studio next door came in and said, ‘We can hear the screaming through the soundproof wall!’ He looked at Mutt and said, ‘You’re going to kill him!’ Mutt replied: ‘Yes! But doesn’t that sound great?'”

Regarding the contribution of
Mutt Lange
to the album of
Nickelback,
Chad Kroeger
praised him. “I’ve learned so much from working with Mutt. His ability to understand what’s right and when it’s not yet is impeccable. It’s amazing what he can hear and focus on. Before we started, Mutt told us, ‘You don’t have a hard time selling records and you don’t have a hard time writing songs. But hopefully I can take you in directions you wouldn’t normally go on your own.’ And that’s been perfect for us.”

Lange is known for being a loner, but while recording
“Dark Horse”
a deep friendship was born between him and Kroeger. At the time, the producer was separating from his wife
Shania Twain
. “When Mutt and Shania were breaking up, he moved into my house for five months. So I got to know him pretty well.”