In 1980, Bon Scott, the charismatic frontman of the Australian rock band AC/DC, found himself in a parked car in London on a fateful night. Known for his heavy drinking, even by rockstar standards, Scott had been indulging in his habit at a local club before passing out in the backseat of the car after his friends left him there to sleep it off.
Tragically, when they returned the next morning, Scott was discovered dead. Since that day, lingering questions have surrounded the events of that night, casting a shadow over the legacy of one of rock's most revered bands.
Who was Bon Scott, and what led to his untimely demise?
The Early Life Of Bon Scott
Ronald Belford Scott, later known as Bon Scott, was born on July 9, 1946, in Kirriemuir, Scotland. At six, his family decided to relocate to Melbourne, Australia.
Scott wasn't popular as the new kid with a deep Scottish accent.
"My new schoolmates threatened to kick the sh*t out of me when they heard my Scottish accent," Scott later remembered. "I had one week to learn to speak like them if I wanted to remain intact… It made me all the more determined to speak my own way. That's how I got my name, you know. The Bonny Scot, see?"
Scott's rebellious spirit and refusal to conform often led him into trouble during his youth. He made the decision to drop out of school at the age of 15, and his defiance resulted in his arrest for stealing gasoline.
Following this, his application to join the Australian Army was denied, leading him to pursue various odd jobs to make ends meet. Despite these setbacks, Scott's undeniable talent as a vocalist remained evident. In 1966, he started his musical journey by forming his first band, the Spektors. Despite encountering only modest success initially, Scott gained valuable experience while touring with different bands.
Once Scott recuperated, he began searching for a new band. Serendipitously, two fellow Scottish emigrants, Malcolm and Angus Young, had recently formed a band and were in need of a vocalist.
How Bon Scott Transformed AC/DC
Bon Scott became the frontman of AC/DC after the band parted ways with their singer Dave Evans. It was Scott's tumultuous past and rebellious demeanor that solidified the band's identity as a rowdy, unrefined rock group.
Having been turned away from the Australian Army due to being "socially maladjusted," Scott brought his unique perspective into AC/DC, which resonated with audiences. However, the demands of relentless touring and performing took a toll on Scott. Struggling with alcoholism, he heavily relied on drinking during this time.
Simultaneously, AC/DC's album "Highway to Hell" soared to the US Top 100 chart, catapulting the band to major stardom practically overnight.
This newfound success brought financial stability for the first time in Scott's life. However, it also placed strains on his relationships within the band.
Scott's witty and tongue-in-cheek lyrics had always been integral to the band's dynamic. However, tensions arose as he began to clash with Malcolm and Angus Young regarding the recognition he received for his contributions to the band's work.
After years of touring with the band, Scott was tired of it. Despite being on the cusp of mainstream success, he considered leaving for good so that he could get a handle on his drinking. But he would never get the chance.
The Mysteries Surrounding Bon Scott's Death
In February 1980, Bon Scott was in London, immersed in the production of the upcoming 'Back in Black' album. True to form, this involved several nights of raucous revelry.
On the evening of February 18, 1980, Scott joined some friends at the Music Machine club in London, where he indulged in heavy drinking. Subsequently, he retired to a parked car owned by his friend Alistair Kinnear. His companions assumed he simply needed to sleep off the effects of alcohol and regain sobriety.
However, the following morning of February 19, 1980, Bon Scott remained in the car. His friends discovered him in an unresponsive state, slumped in the backseat amid a scene of vomit. Scott was swiftly rushed to a hospital, but tragically, he was pronounced dead upon arrival. He was only 33 years old. Subsequent speculation suggested that Scott had choked to death as his vomit entered his lungs.
Scott wouldn't have been the first rockstar to meet such a tragic end. Just a decade earlier, Jimi Hendrix had passed away after choking on his own vomit. Similarly, John Bonham of Led Zeppelin met a similar fate a few months after Scott. Ultimately, Bon Scott's cause of death was determined to be "acute alcohol poisoning."
Given Scott's reputation as a seasoned drinker, the notion that a few drinks could prove fatal seemed improbable to many. As biographer Jesse Fink noted in a subsequent account of Scott's death, "He was a prodigious drinker. The idea that seven double whiskeys would put him in the ground seems a strange notion."
This, coupled with the initial confusion surrounding the circumstances of his death, led to the emergence of various conspiracy theories. Some have even posited the possibility of foul play, suggesting that Scott may have been murdered by someone tampering with the car's exhaust, possibly at the behest of other band members who wanted to remove him from the group.
The theory of foul play seems improbable. Instead, it's plausible that drugs may have contributed to his demise. Scott had a known history of heroin use, and several individuals he was with on the night of his death were allegedly associated with hard drugs.
"When he got to London the in thing was snorting smack… and it was brown heroin and very strong. All the characters linked to Bon in the last 24 hours of his life were allegedly associated with heroin. Heroin was a recurring theme in his death," Fink wrote.
Reports suggest that Scott had previously experienced two heroin overdoses before his death. When combined with alcohol, a third overdose could have proven fatal.
The Controversies Over Back In Black
Despite the mystery surrounding Bon Scott's untimely death, his devastated bandmates faced a difficult decision: disband AC/DC or seek a replacement. They ultimately opted for the latter.
English singer-songwriter Brian Johnson was chosen to fill Scott's formidable shoes, and AC/DC pressed on. Their resilience paid off, particularly with the release of their iconic album "Back in Black," which debuted just five months after Scott's passing.
Speculation abounds that Scott had contributed significantly to the album's material. An ex-girlfriend of his alleges to have seen his journals containing lyrics, including those for the famous hit "You Shook Me All Night Long," prior to his death.
Many argued that Bon Scott deserved posthumous recognition for the album, given his integral role in launching the band to fame and shaping their early success.
Upon his return to Australia, Scott's resting place became a pilgrimage site for fans who revered the distinctive lyrical talent he brought to the band.
Vince Lovegrove, a member of one of Scott's early bands, eloquently captured Scott's essence, stating, "The thing I loved most about Bon Scott, was his almost unique self. What you saw was what you got, he was a real person and as honest as the day is long. To my mind, he was the street poet of my generations and of the generations that followed."
