Johnson slams Live Aid style charities

Tyrannical: Johnson

AC/DC's Brian Johnson has slammed artists like Bob Geldof who use their celebrity to publicise charity work.

But the singer isn't against helping good causes - he just believes it should be done in private, because many audience members can't afford to donate while the big names can.

Johnson tells the Herald Sun in Australia: "When I was a working man I didn't want to go to a concert for some bastard to talk down to me that I should be thinking of some kid in Africa.

"I'm sorry, mate - do it yourself. Spend some of your own money and get it done.

"I do it myself. I don't tell everybody I'm doing it. It makes me angry – I become all tyrannical."

That's the reason his band refused to play Bob Geldof's Live Aid in 1985. Johnson explains: "Bob is a canny lad. He did what he thought was right at the time.

"But it didn't work. The money didn't go to poor people. Do a charity gig, fair enough - but not on worldwide television.

"It makes me mad when people try to use politics or charity for publicity."

Johnson's comments come at a time when celebrities across the world are working to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake, while news reports tell how red tape and internal struggles prevent money being spent on what's needed to keep people alive.

U2 frontman Bono, who's often criticised for his high-profile charity campaigns, has said in the past: "Celebrity is currency, so I wanted to use mine effectively. The world is more malleable than you think and it's waiting for you to hammer it into shape."

Meanwhile ex-Guns n'Roses and Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum has launched a project called Global Sound Lodge, which he calls a "collective musical consciousness." He says: "We hope to build a group of international musicians with varied humanitarian efforts based on situations around the world that need our attention. I believe it is in us all to come together with love and music to help one another." Sorum is preparing to release Hands Together, a track focusing on the Haiti disaster.

And Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine has thanked fans for donations which bought Christmas presents for underprivileged children in Mexico. He says: "Last year the church asked the kids what they got for Christmas and 70% said 'a pencil tied to a candy cane.' This year, over 300 children in one location alone received wonderful toys you guys helped me buy for them. These kids were all up on Christmas morning, wandering the streets while their prostitute and/or drug dealing/addicted parents were still sleeping it off from the night before. You did this. I love you."

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