Bon Scott

RONALD Belford Scott [Bon Scott] (9 July 1946 – 19 February 1980) was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980. He was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland, and immigrated to Melbourne, Australia with his family in 1952 at the age of six.

"I can't even say the word, it's too early in the day to get upset."

~ Bon Scott (when asked about disco music)

Scott formed his first band, The Spektors, in 1964 and became the band's drummer and occasional lead vocalist. He performed in several other bands including The Valentines and Fraternity before replacing Dave Evans as the lead singer of AC/DC in 1974.

"All the songs we do are basically about one of three things: booze, sex or rock n roll."

~ Bon Scott

AC/DC's popularity grew throughout the 1970s, initially in Australia, and then internationally. Their 1979 album Highway to Hell reached the top twenty in the United States, and the band seemed on the verge of a commercial breakthrough. However, on 19 February 1980, Scott died after a night of partying in London.

"I've been on the road for fifteen years and I had no intent to stop."

~ Bon Scott

AC/DC briefly considered disbanding, but the group quickly recruited vocalist Brian Johnson of the British glam rock band Geordie. AC/DC's subsequent album, Back in Black, was released only five months later, and was a tribute to Scott. It went on to become the second best-selling album in history.

"Angus? I think he's kinda crazy. Since the first night I saw the band way back in Australia, I knew their manager, and I'd never seen the band before and never even heard of AC/DC. And the manager just said stand here, the band comes on in two minutes. So I stood there and this band comes on and there's this little guy, about that big, with a school uniform and a bag on his back going crazy and I laughed, and I must have laughed for half an hour. And I still laugh, and I think he's great."

~ Bon Scott (when asked about Angus Young)

Hit Parader ranked Scott as fifth on their 2006 list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Vocalists of all time. Classic Rock magazine also voted him as the #1 in their 'Greatest Front-Man Of All Time' poll, narrowly beating Freddie Mercury who came in #2.

"My new schoolmates threatened to kick the shit out of me when they heard my Scottish accent. I had one week to learn to speak like them if I wanted to remain intact. Course, I didn't take any notice. No-one railroads me, and it made me all the more determined to speak my own way. That's how I got my name, you know. The Bonny Scot, see?"

~ Bon Scott

With the Young brothers as lead and rhythm guitarists, session drummer Tony Currenti (see AC/DC lineups) and George Young as a temporary bassist, AC/DC released High Voltage, their first LP in Australia in February 1975. Within a few months Currenti was replaced by Phil Rudd and Mark Evans was hired as a permanent bassist, and AC/DC began recording their second album T.N.T., which was released in Australia in December 1975.

Bon Scott Documentary (Part 1)

Documentary (Part 2)

Documentary (Part 3)

The first AC/DC album to gain international distribution however was a compilation of tracks from the first two albums, also entitled High Voltage, which was released in May 1976. Another studio album, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap was released in the same year, but only in Australia; the international version of the album was released in November 1976 in the U.K. and in March 1981 in the U.S., with a different track listing.

"It keeps you fit - the alcohol, nasty women, sweat on stage, bad food - it's all very good for you."

~ Bon Scott (when asked about touring)

AC/DC The Bon Scott Years {Documentary Part 1 through 6, 8}

In the following years, AC/DC gained further success with their albums Let There Be Rock and Powerage. The 1978 release of Powerage marked the debut of bassist Cliff Williams (who had replaced Mark Evans), and with its harder riffs, followed the blueprint set by Let There Be Rock. The album was the last produced by Harry Vanda and George Young with Bon Scott on vocals and is claimed to be AC/DC's most underrated album. Only one single was released for Powerage — "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation" — and gave AC/DC their highest chart position at the time, reaching #24. An appearance at the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow during the Powerage tour was recorded and released as "If You Want Blood You've Got It."

“Guys are OK... shake their hand... Women are special. You can hug 'em.”

~ Bon Scott

AC/DC - Jail Break (1976)

Music from Australia and New Zealand in the year 1976

Ac/Dc - Jailbreak (High Quality)

The band's sixth album, Highway To Hell, was produced by Robert "Mutt" Lange and was released in 1979. It became AC/DC's first LP to break the U.S. top 100, eventually reaching #17, and it propelled AC/DC into the top ranks of hard rock acts.

"I'm 33. Before AC/DC i've played with lots of bands in Australia. You're never to old to rock & roll"

~ Bon Scott

AC/DC - Gone Shootin

After Highway to Hell, Bon Scott and company began developing a new album that was to eventually become "Back in Black," but Scott would not be a part of its success. On 19 February 1980, Scott, 33 at the time, passed out after a night of heavy drinking in a London club called the Music Machine (hosted at the Camden Palace, currently known as the KOKO).

He was left to sleep in a Renault 5 owned by an acquaintance named Alistair Kinnear, at 67 Overhill Road in East Dulwich, South London. The following afternoon, Kinnear found Scott lifeless, and alerted the authorities. Scott was rushed to King's College Hospital in Camberwell, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Pulmonary aspiration of vomit was the cause of Scott's death, and the official cause was listed as "acute alcohol poisoning" and "death by misadventure." Scott was cremated and his ashes were interred by his family in Fremantle, Western Australia.

AC/DC - Highway to Hell (Live At Arnhem 1979)

AC DC Highway To Hell Lyrics

Inconsistencies in media accounts of Scott's death (incorrect spelling of Alistair Kinnear's first name, amongst others) have been cited in conspiracy theories, which suggest that Scott died of an alcohol overdose, or was killed by exhaust fumes redirected into the car, or that Kinnear did not exist.

Additionally, Scott was asthmatic, and the temperature was below freezing on the morning of his death. Ozzy Osbourne states in the documentary "Don't Blame Me" that Scott actually died of hypothermia. The coroner had no such doubts based on the medical facts.

"I am the poet with this band"

~ Bon Scott

AC/DC Go Down Lyrics

Shortly after Scott's death, the remaining members of AC/DC briefly considered quitting. However, it was eventually decided that Scott would have wanted them to continue and, after the blessings of Bon's family, the band hired Brian Johnson as the new vocalist.

Angus Young stated in an interview with VH1 that Scott's mother, whom all the band members personally knew, heartily approved of the band continuing, and felt that it was the only way to properly remember her son and their band mate.

Five months after Scott's death, AC/DC finished the work they began with Scott and released Back in Black as a tribute to him with two tracks from the album, "Hells Bells" and "Back in Black," dedicated to his memory. It is now the second best-selling album in history, behind Michael Jackson's Thriller, and the best-selling album by a band.

Scott's ashes were interred in Fremantle Cemetery and his grave site has become a cultural landmark; more than 28 years after Scott's death, the National Trust of Australia decreed his grave important enough to be included on the list of classified heritage places. It is reportedly the most visited grave in Australia.

AC/DC Bad Boy Boogie Lyrics