Today (February 19, 2010) is the 30th anniversary of the death of AC/DC singer Bon Scott.
Bon died in London in a true rock and roll fashion, by choking on his own vomit after a drinking binge, in a car outside 67 Overhill Rd, East Dulwich in South London. He was 33.Scott was lead singer of AC/DC from 1974 until 1980, taking over the job from original singer Dave Evans.
Ronald Belford Scott was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland on July 9, 1946.
AC/DC was not his first band. Bon started out as the drummer in Perth band The Spektors in 1964. He then went on to join The Valentines from 1966-1970 then Fraternity in the early 70s. (Trivia point: When Bon left Fraternity he was replaced by Jimmy Barnes who went on to Cold Chisel).
Legend has it that Bon was a roadie for AC/DC before he became lead singer but Vince Lovegrove, a former band member of Bon's in The Valentines sets the story straight., "One of the most misreported 'facts' about Bon Scott is that he was a roadie for AC/DC," he tells Undercover. "Mate, he was never ever a roadie for AC/DC. At the time of meeting them for the first time, in fact, he was on crutches, living in my loungeroom, unable to walk without a walking stick, let alone drive a car. His first meeting with them was at the Pooraka Hotel, he with a walking stick, in the audience, laughing at their dinky sound and clothes. This is one of the many un-facts about Bon Scott - totally untrue".
So Scott joined AC/DC when Evans left after the band’s first single ‘Can I Sit Next To You Girl’. When the song appeared on the ‘TNT’ album two years later, it was re-recorded with Bon’s vocal.
The first AC/DC album ‘High Voltage’ was released in 1975. It featured the first hit single with Bon ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’. The album has to this day not been released on CD. (A U.S. album released as ‘High Voltage’ was a compilation of the Australian ‘TNT’ and ‘High Voltage’ albums).
The albums Bon recorded with AC/DC were:
High Voltage (1975)
TNT (1975)
Dirty Deeds Done Deed Cheap (1976)
Let There Be Rock (1977)
Powerage (1978)
If You Want Blood You’ve Got It (1978 live album)
Highway To Hell (1979)
In 1997, Alberts released the box set ‘Bonfire’ featuring the live albums ‘Live From Atlantic Studios’ and ‘Let There Be Rock: The Movie’ plus the rarities ‘Volts’ as well as ‘Back In Black’.
Bon Scott’s ashes were interred in Fremantle Cemetery. Two years ago, the site has listed by the National Trust of Australia as heritage. Scott’s gravesite is reported to be the most visited grave in Australia.
