Bon Scott

Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott (9 July 1946 – 19 February 1980) was an Australian rock vocalist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of [a=AC/DC] from 1974 until his death in 1980. He was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland, and emigrated to Australia with his family in 1952 at the age of six. The family initially settled in Melbourne, but moved to Fremantle, Western Australia., where Bon joined his first band, [a=The Spektors], in 1964, as the drummer and occasional lead vocalist. He performed in several other bands, notably [a=The Valentines (4)] and [a=Fraternity], before replacing [a=Dave Evans] as the lead singer of [a=AC/DC] in 1974.

AC/DC's popularity grew throughout the 1970s, initially in Australia, and then internationally. Their 1979 album, Highway to Hell. reached the top twenty in the United States, and the band was on the verge of a commercial breakthrough. However, on 19 February 1980, Scott died after a night of drinking in London. AC/DC briefly considered disbanding, but the group recruited vocalist [a=Brian Johnson] of the British glam rock band [a=Geordie]. AC/DC's subsequent album, Back in Black, was released only five months later, and was a tribute to Scott. It went on to become the second best-selling album in history.

Bon was voted the greatest rock frontman of all time in Classic Rock No. 68.