On this, the high holy day of Bon Scott's birthday. Ronald Belford 'Bon' Scott would've been 74 today had it not been for whisky and more whisky and aspirating whisky infused vomit in a Renault in February of 1980. He left behind the tracks that would become the best rock album of all time, 'Back in Black'. While on earth though, he brainstormed blues infused rock, an amazing stage presence and brilliant videos like 'Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock n Roll)' on the back of a flatbed truck through the city of Melbourne and Hell's Bells which opened with the toll of an enormous bronze bell manufactured in Leicestershire, UK, a facsimile of which was later used on tour for Angus to ride on.
A little extra insight came to Bon Scott lovers through an interview on The Drew & Mike Show with Rick Springfield, of all people, who knew Bon back in Australia as the singer in an Aussie Folk Group with dreams of becoming the outback's next Little Richard. But a tiff in the folk band gig caused Bon to throw a bottle of Jack Daniels off the stage and storm off on his Suzuki motorcycle getting into an accident that kept him bedridden and doing therapeutic arts and crafts til someone saw his act on TV and recruited him for AC DC. Were it not for Jack Daniels and Suzuki, things may have turned out very different for AC DC, but fate brought Bon to them and distinguished their unique sound not the least of which includes the elevation of bagpipes as a rock n roll instrument. I've chosen two videos to celebrate Bon's Birthday, 'It's A Long Way To The Top' and 'Shoot To Thrill (Iron Man 2 Version)' which is technically Brian Johnson, but still thrilling because it mashes up the two greatest things I love: Everything AC DC and Tony Stark. So.....Happy Bon Scott Day everyone!!!