Bon scott last photo

1. Biography of Bon Scott
2. Early Musical Career
3. Joining AC/DC
4. AC/DC and Tragic End

Biography of Bon Scott

Born in 1952 in Scotland, Bon Scott's family immigrated to Australia when he was young, joining thousands of other families seeking a new life. Growing up in Melbourne until 1956, the family then moved to Fremantle, where Bon learned to play drums and bagpipes in a local orchestra. Constant conflicts with authority led to Bon leaving school at the age of 15. He was sent to a reception center at Fremantle Prison for various offenses, including giving false names and addresses to the police, escaping from supervision, engaging in illegal activities, and stealing 50 liters of fuel. After spending nine months in a juvenile detention center, Bon briefly served in the Australian armed forces but was discharged due to poor social integration.

Early Musical Career

Bon Scott's first band was called The Spektors. He then formed his next group, The Valentines, where he served as one of the lead vocalists alongside Vince Lovegrove. The Valentines recorded several songs written by George Young from The Easybeats, including their hit "Every Day I Have to Cry." During his time with The Valentines, Scott became one of the first Australian rock musicians to be arrested for marijuana possession. Scott later moved to Adelaide, where he joined the band Fraternity. After relocating to Sydney, Fraternity recorded albums such as "Livestock" and "Flaming Galah" and toured Europe in 1971. However, the band's activity came to a halt in 1973 after returning from a tour in England, and Scott joined Peter Head's Mount Lofty Rangers.

Joining AC/DC

A year later, while working as a driver in Adelaide, Scott met the members of AC/DC. The band, founded by Angus and Malcolm Young, the younger brothers of his longtime friend George Young, caught Scott's attention with their energy and ambition. In turn, AC/DC's young members were captivated by Scott's experience. After the departure of AC/DC's lead vocalist, Dave Evans, Scott took his place. In a 2002 interview with Australian radio station Triple J, Angus Young noted that Scott was much older than the rest of the group. To the youngest member, Angus, Scott advised, "Never do what I do!" With Scott's arrival, AC/DC quickly transitioned from glam rock to a simplified, pure rock 'n' roll style.

AC/DC and Tragic End

At the helm of AC/DC, Bon Scott proved to be, according to some, the most charismatic vocalist Australia had ever seen. His strong yet charming persona attracted the attention of audiences of all genders. However, Scott was also known for his alcohol addiction, which ultimately led to tragedy. After a heavy night of drinking in Camden Town, London, Scott passed out in a friend's car and was left there to sleep it off. The next morning, on February 19, 1980, Scott was found dead in the car. He was 33 years old. His death certificate cited acute alcohol poisoning and accidental death as the cause. Shortly after Scott's death, AC/DC recruited vocalist Brian Johnson, with whom they recorded the album "Back in Black." This album is now the second best-selling album in history. In memory of Scott, the cover was made entirely black.

Bon Scott is buried at Fremantle Cemetery. In 2006, his grave was added to the list of heritage-listed sites by the Australian National Heritage Fund.