BON SCOTT
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To this day, there has not
been a singer with a voice as AMAZING as that of BON SCOTT's.
Nor has there been a Lyricist that can come close to his unique
style of clever double-entendre song lyrics. And there never will
be a frontman that can perform up to his standards. He is the
ultimate ROCK AND ROLL Icon, Frontman, and Rebel. BON SCOTT Forever.
It all started on July 9th,
1946, in Kirriemuir, Scotland- that Ronald Belford Scott was born
to parents Isa and Chick Scott. Bon's parents were involved musically-
Bon's father namely played drums for a Scottish pipe band, that
Bon would soon participate with at a young age.
In 1952, the Scott family
migrated to Australia (much as the YOUNG family had done, ironically
from Scotland as well). The first located to Melbourne, and then
moved on to the Adelaide suburb Sunshine.
In 1956 the Scott family
once again relocated- this time to Fremantle.
Bon began developing his
musical talents at an early age. He would first learn the recorder
during his early school years, accordian, piano and bagpipes were
other instruments Bon would learn to play. He finally learned
the drums- inspired by his father, and would get to play alongside
his Dad in the local Scottish pipe band he performed in.
Bon left school in 1961,
at the age of 15 years. Since parting with school, Bon entered
his way into the Australian work force- holding various positions
at odd jobs- working driving a tractor, a fishing boat laborer
and painter, and weighing machine mechanic. Bon also had his try
in the military- but was found "socially maladjusted"
by the Australian army. Bon would be seen walking the streets
of Perth with a Boa constrictor around his neck.
Bon's earliest known band
was called The Spektors. Bon was the drummer, but also switched
off and doubled up on lead vocals. The Spektors set ranged mainly
of cover songs such as "Gloria" and other popular songs
of the time.
Bon Scott performing live
with The Spektors(1966)
In 1967 Bon teamed up with
his good friend Vince Lovegrove- and the band was called THE
VALENTINES. The Valentines recorded and released their debut
single on Clarion records- "Everyday I Have To Cry"
(b/w-"I can't Dance With You") in May, 1967. The single
charted well- reaching the top 5 on the local Australian charts.
Bon Scott with The Valentines
(Bon 2nd from Right)
The Valentines second single
was "She Said"(b/w "To Know You Is To Love You"),
released in August, 1967. "She Said" was (ironically)
originaly recorded by The Easybeats (ie. George Young and Harry
Vanda). The band moved their home-base to Melbourne.
The Valentines Cira 1967
(Bon on right)
The next single came out
on February, 1968, and was called "Why Me" (b/w- "I
can Hear The Raindrops"). By this time, The Valentines had
their ups and downs- but overall, were a pretty successful Pop-rock
band in Australia. The next 2 singles, again were original EASYBEATS
songs. The first "Peculiar Hole In The Sky" (b/w- "Love
Makes Sweet Music") came out during June of 1968.
The Valentines (1968) Bon
on Left
The Valentines next single
"My Old Man's A Groovy Old Man"(b/w- "Ebeneezer")
was released March, 1969. After a touring schedule and various
TV appearances. This single was also released as a maxi-single
(with picture sleeve and bonus track " Nick Nack Paddy Whack").
Their brand of Bubble-gum pop-rock seemed to be paying off. "My
Old Man's A Groovy Old Man" charted at #23 on the Australian
music charts during July of '69. "Nick Nack Paddy Whack"
(b/w- "Getting Better") was the next release during
August of 1969.
"My Old Man's A Groovy
Old Man" EP (Bon center)
Unfortunately, on September
20, 1969, The Valentines were arrested for Drug possession. This
offset the bands image, and more or less was the end of the band.
Regardless- The Valentines came back with another single on March,
1970- "Juliette" (b/w- "hoochie Coochie Billy")
Juliette reached the Australian Top 30. The band officially disbanded
on August 1, 1970.
The Valentines never officially
released any full length albums, but some compilations were released
later on."The Valentines" LP in 1987 (most of their
singles), "Bon Scott With The Valentines" LP (also featuring
most of the Valentines singles) was released in 1988, and "Bon
Scott The Early Years 1967-1972" was also released in 1988
(both in Australia). These were also re-issued on CD later on.
Sydney based blues-rock
band FRATERNITY had just recorded and released their first
single "Why Did It Have To Be Me" during Feb., 1971.
Bon would receive a phone call from Bruce Houwe (Fraternity's
Bass player- and band leader), and soon enough Bon Scott was the
Lead Singer of Fraternity.
FRATERNITY 1971 (Bon center)
The band was now based in
Adelaide, and recorded and released their debut album in 1971
on the Sweet Peach label, titled "Livestock". Bon guested
on BLACKFEATHER's album "Mountains of Madness" on recorder.
This album also featured the song "Seasons of Change"
(which was on "Livestock"). Blackfeathers version was
out first, which more or less stumped Fraternity's versions success.
FRATERNITY 1971 (Bon Center)
Fraternity released "Season's
of Change" (b/w- Sommerville) during May, 1971. The second
single was "The Race" (part 1 and part 2) during October
of 1971. This was not on the album. "If You Got It"
(b/w "Raglan's Folly" and "You Have A God")
would also be released October, 1971 (and featured a Picture sleeve).
At this time, Fraternity would enjoy pretty good success in Australia,
touring around Adelaide.
FRATERNITY 1971 (Bon 3rd
from left)
Fraternity would be working
on their next album during the earlier part of 1972. Bon would
marry his girlfriend Irene around this time.
The first single would be
"Welfare Boogie" (b/w- "Annabelle") released
March, 1972, now on the RCA label. Fraternity's second album,
titled "Flaming Galah" would be released April, 1972.
FRATERNITY (circa 1972)
(Bon center)
Fraternity's brand of Progressive
bluesey rock proved pretty successful in Australia. It was time
to conquer other places. The band decided to give a try in Europe.
The primarily toured throughout England and Germany during most
of 1973. And most Ironically of all, supported the U.K. band GEORDIE
in England. (the band that was fronted by BRIAN JOHNSON, who would
eventually become Bon's replacement).
FRATERNITY on Tour, 1973
(Bon on right)
Fraternity did not achieve
the stardom they hoped for in Europe, and ended up going back
to Australia broke. The band was falling apart, and Bon's marriage
wasn't too stable either. Bon would end up in a severe motorcycle
accident after an argument, landing him in the hospital and in
a coma for several months. This was the end of Fraternity.
After Bon's recovery, he
was back to odd jobs for work, until he got together with Peter
Head and recorded some new music. THE MOUNT LOFTY RANGERS would
be the band- which also featured Bon's longtime friends Vince
Lovegrove and Bruce Houwe. They would record 2 tracks ("Round
and Round" and "Carey Gully"), but these songs
would not be heard until they were released on CD in 1996. (in
addition, the musically remastered "Round and Round and Round").
Peter Head's songs were just right for Bon- and Bon sounded just
as great as ever on them.
By this time, Bon would
soon find himself driving around the new rock band AC/DC. Bon
would often jam with the band- filling in on Drums. AC/DC's current
singer was DAVE EVANS at the time, whose membership in the band
was dwindling. His "Gary Glitter" rock star image was
something AC/DC could do without. Dave Evans didn't show up one
night for a show- so Bon jumped at the opportunity. Dave Evans
was fired, and Bon was now the new singer of AC/DC.
AC/DC with Dave Evans,
1973 ~AC/DC With Bon, 1974
AC/DC recorded their debut
album, properly titled "High Voltage", which was released
February, 1975 in Australia. The album's success soon achieved
GOLD status in Australia. The bands next release would be T.N.T.,
also released during 1975- and also going GOLD.
Bon in 1976
AC/DC 1974
The next AC/DC album would
be called "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", and was released
in 1976. AC/DC were already enjoying huge success throughout Australia
and parts of Europe- touring in support of their album "High
Voltage" which was released in 1976 (basically a compilation
of the 2 original Aussie albums).
AC/DC 1975(Before Mark
Evans)
LET THERE BE ROCK was the
album to really break AC/DC in Europe. Released in 1977- and definately
one of AC/DC's finest recordings ever. AC/DC would go on to tour
throughout Europe, and then to America.
AC/DC Live onstage, 1976
(Malcolm and Angus Young,
Phil Rudd, Bon (in front), Mark Evans)
The next AC/DC album would
be "Powerage", to be released in 1978. Followed by the
great Live album "If You Want Blood You've Got It".
AC/DC were on the move- building their fan base, and touring constantly.
AC/DC On Tour 1978
(L to R- Cliff, Phil, Angus,
Bon, and Malcolm)
It was 1979 that the greatest
album of all time would be recorded. HIGHWAY TO HELL was released,
and AC/DC would go on to tour the world- now headlining many venues,
and even supporting THE WHO at the Wembley. This would be the
album to finally break AC/DC in America, and prove they were a
driving force in Rock 'n Roll.
Bon Scott Live onstage,
circa 1979
The Highway To Hell world
tour was a great success and achievement for AC/DC. They would
already be in pre-production for the next AC/DC album, when tragedy
struck. Bon was always a heavy drinker. This was nothing unusual
for him. After a heavy drinking binge, Bon was too heavy for his
equally drunken friend- Allisdair Kinnear to move. He covered
Bon in his car, and left him there to sleep it off. The next morning,
Bon was found dead, in the card in front of his friends South
London flat. February 19th, 1980 would be the end of the greatest
singer of all time.
AC/DC promotional photo
session, 1979
(Malcolm, Bon, Cliff, Angus,
and Phil)
Bon Scott, age 33, was pronounced
dead on arrival at Kings College Hospital in London. Apparantley,
his neck had twisted in his sleep, causing him to asphixiate when
vomiting from the alchohol. Approximately 7 double-whiskeys were
consumed the night before his death. Bon was flown back to Australia,
and now Lies there, in Fremantle Cemetary's Memorial Garden.
Bon Scott's Grave- In Fremantle,
Australia
The world had lost a voice-
a lyricist, a performer, and an entertainer. He was a man of Charisma,
charm, and cheer. Bon Scott will always be remembered- through
his voice, his words, and his legacy.
AC/DC were faced with a
disasterous situation. Replacing Bon would be something they would
not even consider at first, and once they actually did decide
to continue, would be no easy task. No one out there could replace
Bon. And the band did not want some cheap Bon Imitator. Brian
Johnson was finally brought in for an audition- on the note that
Bon himself thought Brian was such a great singer and performer
when Fraternity and Geordie toured together. Bon was right. Brian
Johnson would be the ONLY suitable replacement for Bon- and would
allow AC/DC to carry on. The album BACK IN BLACK was recorded,
and released during the summer of 1980, and dedicated to BON SCOTT.
Back In Black went on to
become the best selling hard rock/ and-or/ Metal album of all
time, and the rest is AC/DC history. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
was released in the U.S., finally in 1981, which also proved to
be mega-successful. In 1984, AC/DC released the EP '74 JAILBREAK,
to commemorate 10 years as a band- and also another suitable dedication
to Bon. Finally, in 1998- AC/DC released the long-awaited boxed
set, entitled BONFIRE.
Bon himself came up with
the title- once telling the band, if he ever became a bigshot,
and did some sort of solo album or something, he's gonna call
it BONFIRE.
This boxset was the best
thing to come out in the past 15 years. What an excellent package!
The unreleased songs were enough alone! I would like to thank
AC/DC for such an excellent idea for us AC/DC fans!!! The ONLY
disappointment was that there weren't too many unreleased songs.
But- hopefully, these are something AC/DC are holding onto for
something in the future. I'm sure there are more tracks with BON-
But I guess, we'll unfortunately have to wait and see. A FULL
LENGTH VIDEO of all BON clips and Promos would be nice!! (hint-hint!)
NOTE: I am an avid fan and collector of AC/DC and BON
SCOTT. I am searching for any and all record and CD releases recorded with
Bon, any tour merchandise and memorabilia from that era, all Magazines with
Bon (especially w/ Bon on the cover). authentic Bon Scott autographed items,
acetates, unused artwork, posters, photos, promotional items,tour merchandise
from 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979, Let there Be Rock MOVIE promotional
items...ANYTHING! Please e-mail me with trade/sale offers!
Also wanted- All FRATERNITY,
THE VALENTINES, THE SPEKTORS, and THE MOUNT LOFTY RANGERS Items,
merchandise, memorabilia, etc. etc. etc.
If you actually knew Bon Scott personally, worked
with Bon, met Bon, or just saw him perform Live- I'd love to hear from you.
E-mail me! 
BON PHOTOS WILL BE FOUND
IN THE AC/DC PICTURES SECTION
