Originally from Scotland, Bon (born Ronald Belford Scott) and family moved to Melbourne in 1952 when he was six. A wildcat, Scott dropped out of school at 15 and ran into trouble with the law, spending time in juvenile institutions in Fremantle, West Australia, home since 1956.
Bon started as drummer and sometimes lead singer in his first band, The Spektors, when he was 18; two years later, they became The Valentines, and recorded several songs by George Young.
Small World Part 1: George is Malcolm and Angus Young’s older brother, who had his own musical success with The Easybeats (“Friday On My Mind”), before becoming AC/DC’s producer during their early years.
The Valentines – Build Me Up Buttercup (1969)
(originally a hit by The Foundations in 1968)
The Valentines made headlines with a drug bust in September ’69, before having a top 30 hit in Australia, “Juliette,” in early 1970; they disbanded later that year.
The Valentines – Coca Cola jingle (1969)
Bon joined the Adelaide band Fraternity late in ’70, recording two albums before heading off to tour the U.K. in 1971.
Small World Part 2: On the ’71 UK tour, Fraternity opened for bands like Status Quo and Geordie – which included lead singer Brian Johnson, Bon’s replacement in AC/DC 9 years later.
Fraternity – Seasons Of Change
(features Bon with a recorder and a beard!)
When Fraternity went on hiatus, Bon played with another band, and was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in 1973. It was while working in Adelaide, when he eventually met Malcolm and Angus Young and became AC/DC’s driver. Bon tried, unconvincingly, to talk the brothers into letting him become the band’s drummer, before they gave him a shot as lead singer…..and we all know how that worked out….
R.I.P. Bon Scott
AC/DC – It’s A long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N Roll)
