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The “horrible” 1985 number one that Brian Johnson admits “still makes me puke to this day”
Brian Johnson has singled out Starship’s “We Built This City” as a symbol of the commercial rock sound he despised in the 1980s. His criticism reflects AC/DC’s resistance to pressure from music executives to reshape their sound for wider exposure.
The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1985 and sold more than 500,000 copies in the US and over a million worldwide. In a 2008 interview, Johnson said it still made him feel sick; he also recalled rejecting an executive’s suggestion that AC/DC imitate Judas Priest, despite the band receiving little radio or television exposure.
In short
- Johnson still detests Starship’s “We Built This City”.
- The 1985 hit sold over a million copies worldwide.
- AC/DC resisted pressure to alter its sound.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Johnson’s criticism can be read as a defence of artistic integrity: AC/DC had a distinct sound, and resisting pressure to imitate another band or chase radio exposure helped preserve that identity. From this perspective, commercial success alone does not make a song worthwhile, and artists should be free to reject trends they find inauthentic.
The case against
A defender of “We Built This City” could argue that its polished, accessible sound was a deliberate creative choice that helped it reach a broad audience, as its chart and sales performance showed. Popularity does not by itself make a song artistically empty, and Johnson’s personal dislike need not settle its value for listeners who enjoy it.
Explained simply
AC/DC are an Australian rock band known for a loud, guitar-led style that has changed little over the years. Brian Johnson became their singer in 1980, after the death of their original frontman, Bon Scott.
In the 1980s, record companies and broadcasters could help determine which songs reached large audiences. Some executives urged AC/DC to change their sound to attract more radio and television play, but the band resisted. Starship’s 1985 hit became a prominent example of the polished, radio-friendly rock that Johnson disliked.