Bon Scott would have been 70 years old today (9 July 2016).
Scott was best known as the second lead singer for AC/DC, he replaced Dave Evans in 1974, but had a long rock career prior to that.
Bon Scott formed his first band The Spektors in Perth in 1964. They won a Perth heat of Hoadley’s Battle of the Bands. Bon sang lead vocals on their cover of Van Morrison’s ‘Gloria’ but they failed to have a national impact in Australia at the time.
Bon moved on to The Valentines with Vince Lovegrove (who later went on to manager Divinyls). The Valentines were a bubble-gum band who went on to score a hit with ‘My Old Man’s A Groovy Old Man’ in 1969.
The Valentines – My Old Man’s A Groovy Old Man
Check out this 1969 Coca-Cola jingle featuring Bon with The Valentines.
Then came Fraternity. Bon went from Bubble-gum to Art Rock. Fraternity based themselves in Adelaide in 1971. The band at stages also included John ‘Swanee’ Swan and his brother Jimmy Barnes.
Fraternity had a number one hit in Adelaide with ‘Seasons of Change’ but the rest of Australia gravitated to the version by Sydney band Blackfeather.
Fraternity – Seasons of Change
Dave Evans was the original lead singer with AC/DC and sang on the band’s first single ‘Can I Sit Next To You Girl’. The song was re-recorded with Bon on vocals for AC/DC’s second album ‘TNT’.
AC/DC – Can I Sit Next To You Girl with Dave Evans
Bon’s first single with AC/DC was ‘Love Song’ with ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ on the b-side. The b-side became the hit giving AC/DC their first To 40 hit peaking at no. 20.
‘High Voltage’ was next, powering into the Top 10.
Bon was lead singer of AC/DC for their first seven albums, the first five came in a prolific 25 month period.
Bon Scott’s AC/DC albums
High Voltage, February 1975
TNT, December 1975
High Voltage, April 1976
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, September 1976
Let There Be Rock, March 1977
Powerage, May 1978
If You Want Blood You’ve Got It (1978) (live album)
Highway To Hell, July 1979
The Bon Scott AC/DC singles
Love Song/Baby Please Don’t Go (no 20, 1975)
High Voltage (no 10, 1975)
TNT (no 19, 1976)
It’s a Long Way To The Top (no 9, 1976)
Jailbreak (no 10, 1976)
Dirty Deeds Done Cheap (no 29, 1976)
Dog Eat Dog (no 60, 1977)
Love At First Feel (no 63, 1977)
Let There Be Rock (no 82, 1977)
Whole Lotta Rosie (failed to chart, 1977)
Rock N Roll Damnation (no 83, 1978)
Whole Lotta Rosie (live) (failed to chart, 1978)
Girls Got Rhythm (failed to chart, 1979)
Highway To Hell (no 24, 1979)
Touch Too Much (failed to chart, 1980)
Bon Scott and AC/DC performed ‘Touch Too Much’ on Top of the Pops 12 days before he died.
Since Bon’s death on 19 February 1980 AC/DC have never performed ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top’, the song they and the fans consider Bon’s anthem.
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