Brian Johnson, born 1947, was the third lead singer of iconic rock band, AC/DC, taking over from Bon Scott following his death in 1980.

A proud Newcastle native, the singer/songwriter had been a member of a string of bands throughout the Seventies - including one called Geordie, which peaked at No.6 in the UK Charts with the track ‘All Because Of You’ in 1973.

After Bon Scott’s death from acute alcohol poisoning, caused by a night out in London, founding members Angus and Malcolm Young asked him to audition as replacement.

As the new lead, Australian-natives AC/DC released Back In Black in July 1980 – with tracks including ‘Back In Black’ and ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ becoming international hits.

To this day it is still regarded as one of the best and most influential rock albums of all time. Even 44 years later, it remains the second best-selling album ever, beaten only by Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

Johnson has largely remained with the band ever since, even being inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

He was forced to step away from the band for a period after suffering hearing loss in 2016, but he rejoined the band just two years later, releasing album Power Up with the group in 2020.

Among his other accolades, he created a Helen of Troy musical in 2003, and was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Music by Northumbria University in 2014.

He released his memoir, The Lives of Brian, in 2022.

Mark Knopfler OBE, born 1949, is the former lead guitarist, singer and songwriter for British band Dire Straits.

Raised in the seaside town of Blyth in Northumberland, England, Knopfler is initially of Scottish heritage.

He was a founding member of Dire Straits alongside his younger brother David, and their friends John Illsley and Pick Withers, in 1977.

They released six albums across their time as a band, with the 1985 album, Brothers In Arms, selling 30 million copies.

In 1988, the band briefly broke up after performing at Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday concert. They reformed again in 1990 before splitting for good in 1995, after selling more than 100 million records as a band.

Since then, Knopfler has worked as a producer, film composer and solo performer, and was voted by Rolling Stone as ‘one of the greatest guitarists of all time’.

In 1993, Knopfler received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contribution to music, and in 2012 he received an Ivor Novello award for lifetime achievement.

In 2018, Dire Straits was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Johnson and Knopfler’s Music Legends is making sure the show lives up to its title, with celebrated musicians across five decades of music history all making an appearance.

The first series of Johnson and Knopfler’s Music Legends consists of:

Kicking off the series, Brian and Mark meet the iconic Sir Tom Jones. In conversation and song, they reminisce on their earliest musical influences and Sir Tom shares captivating stories from his career, including his friendship with Elvis Presley.

Brian and Mark visit Mark’s own British Grove recording studio to meet UK singer-songwriter, and proud Geordie, Sam Fender. Sam tells the story of his musical journey so far, discusses the influence Brian and Mark have had on him and shows them how to play his smash hit Seventeen Going Under.

Brian and Mark hook up with Eighties icon Cyndi Lauper at New York’s legendary recording studio, The Power Station. Cyndi discusses her tumultuous career in the music industry and brings her dulcimer along to teach Brian and Mark a special arrangement of her classic hit, True Colours.

In Miami, Brian and Mark meet disco legend Nile Rodgers and explore his impressive musical career, from Studio 54 to David Bowie and Daft Punk. Nile and Mark jam together on an exclusive ‘Johnny Cash version’ of Chic’s disco classic, ‘Good Times’.

Brian and Mark travel to California to visit Carlos Santana, who recounts his incredible journey in music, from early days, through his Woodstock performance and resurgence in the late Nineties. Together, they jam an amazing version of ‘Black Magic Woman’ and Carlos plays some of his biggest hits.

Brian and Mark head to Nashville, Tennessee to meet up with Mark’s longtime friend and sometime collaborator, Emmylou Harris. Emmylou shares her career highlights and discusses her relationship with legendary country rock pioneer Gram Parsons. They’re also joined for a jam session with country music guitarist, Vince Gill.

Johnson and Knopfler’s Music Legends is available now on Sky Arts, Freeview and NOW.