AC/DC singer Brian Johnson, guitarist Slash eat at Sarasota restaurant

AC/DC singer and Sarasota resident Brian Johnson and Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash collaborated on a recently released song and music video, partially recorded at a Sarasota studio. Yet as it turns out, that wasn't the only place the two rock stars visited locally.

Johnson and Slash also ate at Sarasota Italian restaurant Marcello Ristorante, chef/owner Marcello Aquino told the Herald-Tribune. The dinner came about as Johnson was recording vocals at Sarasota's Burnt Orange Sound Studio for a cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" on Slash's upcoming album "Orgy of the Damned," which features the guitarist performing blues classics with guest vocalists.

Although Slash and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, who plays harmonica on the track, recorded their parts separately, Slash and the album's producer Mike Clink were present for Johnson's recording session.

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Aquino said Johnson and his wife, Brenda, have eaten at the restaurant before, so nothing seemed out of the ordinary when she called asking about an addition to their party, until Aquino learned it would be Slash. Johnson and Slash ate in the private dining room and wine cellar, which also has salami and capicola hanging from above. Slash ordered a pork chop, while Johnson ordered truffle pasta, Aquino said.

“My staff, we’re all a bunch of 45, 50-year-old guys," Aquino said. "We grew up with that stuff, so we were pretty starstruck. I mean, a lot of bigshots come in, but Slash is Slash.”

Slash's "Orgy of the Damned" is set for release May 17, with other guest vocalists including Gary Clark Jr., Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Stapleton, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato and Chris Robinson. He just announced the touring S.E.R.P.E.N.T. blues music festival, with dates including Aug. 10 in Clearwater, where he'll be joined by ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph. Slash also made headlines this week for his appearance at the Academy Awards, playing guitar during Ryan Gosling's performance of the Oscar-nominated song "I'm Just Ken" from "Barbie."AC/DC — the band Johnson made his recording debut with on 1980's "Back in Black," one of the best-selling albums of all time — announced their first tour in eight years earlier this year. The group also played their first live show in seven years at California music festival Power Trip last year, and released their first studio album in six years with 2020's "Power Up," reuniting Johnson with AC/DC after a hiatus caused by hearing issues.

Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by  subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: AC/DC's Brian Johnson, Slash visit Sarasota's Marcello restaurant