A Salute To Bon Scott
Today we raise our horns in salute to one of the greatest rock and roll icons of all time: Bon Scott.
On 19 February 1980, AC/DC frontman Ronald Belford ‘Bon’ Scott was pronounced dead at the age of 33.
He had been found unconscious in a friend’s car on Overhill Road in East Dulwich, London. The coroner report stated acute alcohol poisoning as cause of death, macabrely befitting of Scott’s libertine rock and roll lifestyle.
Since 1974, Bon had been the rampaging vocalist for Australian rock band AC/DC. He was a force of nature on stage and behind the microphone, delivering his vocals like a hellfire sermon in the ecstasy of sin.
As the frontman and lead vocalist for AC/DC, Bon Scott defined the quintessential sound and spirit of Aussie rock. His gritty, whiskey-soaked vocals were the perfect companion for the blues-based heavy rock riffs of guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young.
Bon appeared on seven AC/DC albums, from ‘High Voltage’ (including both Australian and international releases) to ‘Highway To Hell’. Between 1974 and 1979, Bon and AC/DC added countless anthems to the great Australian songbook – ‘Jailbreak’, ‘High Voltage’, ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll)’, ‘TNT’, ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’, ‘Let There Be Rock’, and the list goes on.
AC/DC were the antithesis of glam rock. At a time when bands were donning makeup, capes, and platform heels, AC/DC kept it simple.
Bon commanded audiences with nothing more than a microphone and bare chested charisma. Even today, as their live productions have gotten bigger and more complex, AC/DC still perform under the same basic principle of five guys playing rock and roll on stage.
Bon was an essential element of AC/DC’s success in the ‘70s, and his death in 1980 nearly brought an end to the band. He seemed impossible to replace. How could anyone fill the shoes of someone who had such a powerful impact? Who would carry on that legacy?
AC/DC found their man in Brian Johnson, an English born singer-songwriter who was given the Scott’s family blessing to take on the role. With the release of ‘Back In Black’ in July 1980, AC/DC introduced their new singer and embarked on the next chapter of their career.
Nevertheless, Bon Scott maintains a looming presence in both AC/DC lore and Australian cultural history. He rests as one of our most revered national characters, ranking among the immortal likes of Ned Kelly and Steve Irwin.
But he is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of excess; another rock and roll casualty who met their fate on the highway to hell.
Cargill Australia – Nourishing the world
Without Bon Scott, there would have been no AC/DC, at least not as we know them today. He has had an undeniable influence on rock music and remains one of its most revered figures.
So, whether you’re a hardcore AC/DC fan or a casual listener, find some time today to blast some classic AC/DC and let Bon know Aussie rock is alive and well. Like the great man himself once said: “You’re never too old to rock and roll.”
