Rock in peace, Bon Scott

Ronald Belford “Bon” Scott
July 9, 1946 – February 19, 1980

Bon Scott could have been my dad. He was the right age. Given his legendary track record, I don’t put it past him. Hell, given his Scottish ancestry, and the fact that I mysteriously have red hairs on my chin — which led an ex-girlfriend to call me “Redbeard” — maybe papa really was an AC/DC singer.

Like most people my age, I discovered Bon Scott too late. I first heard AC/DC with Brian Johnson, and I didn’t get it. It was OK, but all I heard was Angus Young’s guitar. Eventually, though, I found the old stuff — High Voltage to Highway to Hell — and, man, did I get it. AC/DC embodied a perfection I hardly knew was possible. The minimalism, the power, the exquisite sense of timing — Miles Davis and David Gilmour could kill you with one note, and so could AC/DC.

Scott was a big reason why. In terms of nuance and phrasing, Scott was one of the most expressive rock singers ever. Even with a limited range, he did the right things at the right times. For proof, see the video below of “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll),” performed on Australian TV. In the first minute, Scott exudes more charisma than most people do in a lifetime. Look into his eyes (it’s hard not to). You just might have them.

— Cosmo Lee

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http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/_a3FCugMNZE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0