Questions
What was Bon Scott’s real name?
He was born Ronald Belford Scott on July 9, 1946, in Forfar, Angus, Scotland.
How did he get the nickname Bon?
There was another Ronald in his class, so classmates started calling him Bon as a play on Bonnie Scotland.
When did his family move to Australia?
Scott moved to Australia at age 6 in 1952, living first in Melbourne’s Sunshine suburb and later in Fremantle, Western Australia.
What bands was he in before AC/DC?
He played in The Spektors (1964), The Valentines (1966 to 1970), Fraternity (1970 to 1973), and the Mount Lofty Rangers (1973).
Did he play any instrument before he was a frontman?
Yes, he started as a drummer, and reportedly learned drums with the Fremantle Scots Pipe Band.
When did Bon Scott join AC/DC?
He joined on October 24, 1974, as lead vocalist and lyricist, replacing original singer Dave Evans.
Which AC/DC albums did he sing on?
He appeared on seven albums, ending with Highway to Hell (1979), which reached number 17 on the US charts.
Is it true he was in a serious motorcycle accident?
Reportedly, on May 3, 1974, he crashed his Suzuki GT550 after storming out of a Mount Lofty Rangers rehearsal, spending three days in a coma and 18 more days in hospital.
Did he have a criminal record as a kid?
Reportedly, in 1963 he spent time in Fremantle Prison’s assessment centre and nine months at Riverbank Juvenile Institution on charges including giving false identity information and petrol theft.
Why did the Australian Army reject him?
He was reportedly deemed socially maladjusted when he tried to join.
What jobs did he have before music?
He reportedly worked as a postman, bartender, truck packer, crayfisherman, and trainee weighing-machine mechanic.
How did Bon Scott die?
He died on February 19, 1980, in London at age 33, and the coroner concluded acute alcohol poisoning, classified as death by misadventure.
What happened the night he died?
He was found unconscious in a friend’s Renault 5 after a night at The Music Machine nightclub in London.
What was his final recording?
His last recording was reportedly an improvised jam of Ride On with the French band Trust.
What is his lasting legacy?
AC/DC’s Back in Black was released as a tribute after his death and became one of the best selling albums of all time, and his grave in Fremantle Cemetery is reportedly Australia’s most visited grave.
