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Bon Scott

Australian singer (1946–1980)

  • Fame63.4
  • Momentum4.0
  • Wikipedia134.6K
Source-basedStable
Lived 1946–1980, aged 34United Kingdom
United KingdomUnited KingdomMusiciansSinger / Musician
  • Wikipedia
    46 languages
    Cross-language footprint
  • Era
    1946–1980
    Aged 34
  • Known for
    AC/DC - Let There Be R…
    1980
Summary
Updated 2026-09-08

He fronted AC/DC through seven albums and the band's first real commercial breakthrough, then died at 33 in February 1980. Five months later they released Back in Black as a tribute to him — now the second-best-selling album ever made.

Biography

About

Born in Scotland in 1946, Ronald Belford Scott moved to Australia at six and settled eventually in Fremantle, Western Australia. He started as a drummer and occasional singer in the Spektors in 1964, then worked his way through the Valentines and Fraternity before replacing Dave Evans as AC/DC's lead vocalist in 1974. Over the next six years he recorded seven albums with them, including Highway to Hell in 1979 — the record that cracked the American top 20 and marked their commercial arrival. On 19 February 1980, after a night out in London, Scott died. The band nearly disbanded but brought in…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Bon Scott

Bon Scott
said
Angus? I think he's kinda crazy.
— When asked about Angus Young, lead guitarist of AC/DC. From Reims, December 1979.
Bon Scott
said
Malcolm? He's the brain [of the band].
— When asked about Malcolm Young, rhythm guitarist of AC/DC. From Reims, December 1979.
Bon Scott
said
I'm 33...before AC/DC I've played in a lot of bands in Australia. You're never too old to rock and roll.
— From Best, December 1979.
Bon Scott
said
I can't even say the word, it's too early in the day to get upset.
— When asked of his thoughts on disco music. From The Good Times, July 1979.
Bon Scott
said
I've never had a message for someone in my entire life. Except maybe to give out my room number.
— From The Good Times, July 1979.
via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA
By the numbers

Score breakdown

The six component signals behind the Fame score, and their ranks across the leaderboards.

Fame
Stable
63.4
Composite of search demand, mentions, audience & graph footprint.
Score components
Momentum4.0
Historical28.6
Now attention23.8
Source confidence70.0
Completeness80.0
Global rank
—
Country rank
—
Category rank
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Receipts

Sources

  • Wikipedia
    wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
    High confidence
  • Wikidata
    wikidata · wikidata.org
    High confidence
  • Pantheon 2.0
    database · pantheon.world
    High confidence