VIDEO'S OF THE WEEK - BON SCOTT-Special

[Niels (Mod)]

VOTW - BON SCOTT Special

Bon Scott is and will allways be my favorite singer in AC/DC. Comparing AC/DC with Scott to the AC/DC with Johnson is kind of like comparing Van Halen with or without Roth. AC/DC in the 70's are probably around the 5th or 6th spot of my top 10 over bands of alltime. (If it was the Johnson-AC/DC they wouldn't be in top 100). I know, a LOT of people says, that Back In Black is perhaps AC/DC's best album, and it WAS also the first AC/DC-album I bought, even though I did hear my share of AC/DC in the 70's, since one of my best friends back then bought all of their albums from 1977 and on. At that time, I didn't like Scott's voice at all, but that changed as I got older. Would AC/DC had become mega-stars if Scott hadn't died? Hmm, maybe not, but who can tell?! But Scott was older than the Young-brothers, when he joined the band, so he did play with others bands before the breakthrough in AC/DC:

THE SPEKTORS - IT AIN'T NECESSARILY SO

The Spektors were one of dozens of aspiring beat groups in Perth in the mid-60s. They would probably be as obscure most others, was it not for the fact that they were the first professional band to feature the late Bon Scott. Bon was in fact co-drummer and vocalist — he shared the role with John Collins and they alternated half a set each drumming and singing. The Spektors split in mid-'66, and Bon and Wyn Milson joined up with members of another Perth band The Winztons to form The Valentines (1966-70) after which Bon joined Fraternity(1970-73) and finally AC/DC, with whom he performed until his untimely death in 1980. Obviously this isn't exactly a video, but I think it's important to add this part of Scott's history.

VALENTINES - BUILDT ME UP(?)

Perth pop group The Valentines was, for a brief period, one of the most popular bands in Australia. Although they started out a energetic soul/R&B band, their best known image was associated with the so-called "bubblegum pop" phenomenon of 1968-70. But there was a wild side to the band which was evident in their live performances (and their off-stage carousing). These days, of course, they're best known by reference to the fact that one of the singers ended up in a little band called AC/DC - although the enormous interest in them has resulted in many previously unreleased tracks becoming available in recent years.

FRATERNITY - SEASONS OF CHANGE

Fraternity were an Australian rock band which formed in Sydney in 1970 and relocated to Adelaide in 1971. Former members include successive lead vocalists Bon Scott (who later joined AC/DC), John Swan (who also played drums and later had a solo career), and his brother Jimmy Barnes (Cold Chisel). Their biggest local hit was a cover version of "Seasons of Change" which peaked at No. 1 in Adelaide, but nationally it was overrun by the original Blackfeather version. The group won the 1971 Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds with the prize being a free trip to London. Fraternity went through various line-ups and was renamed as Fang, Fraternity (again), Some Dream and finished as Mickey Finn in 1981.

AC/DC - BABY PLEASE DON'T GO

"Baby, Please Don't Go" is a blues song which has been called "one of the most played, arranged, and rearranged pieces in blues history" by music historian Gerard Herzhaft. Delta blues musician Big Joe Williams popularized it with several versions beginning in 1935. The song's roots have been traced back to nineteenth-century American songs, which deal with themes of bondage and imprisonment. "Baby, Please Don't Go" became an early blues standard with recordings by several blues musicians. In April 1975, one month after drummer Phil Rudd and bassist Mark Evans joined AC/DC, the group performed the song for the Australian music program Countdown. For their appearance, "Angus wore his trade mark schoolboy uniform while Scott took the stage wearing a wig of blonde braids, a dress, make-up, and earrings", according to author Heather Miller. Joe Bonomo describes Scott as "a demented Pippi Longstocking" and Perkins notes his "tattoos and a disturbingly short skirt." Evans describes the reaction:As soon as his vocals are about to begin he comes out from behind the drums dressed as a schoolgirl. And it was like a bomb went off in the joint; it was pandemonium, everybody broke out in laughter. [Scott] had a wonderful sense of humor.Scott mugs for the camera and, during the guitar solo/vocal improvization section, he lights a cigarette as he duels with Angus with a green mallet. Rudd laughs throughout the performance. Although "Baby, Please Don't Go" was a popular part of AC/DC's performances (often as the closing number), the song was not released internationally until their 1984 compilation EP '74 Jailbreak.

AC/DC - TOUCH TOO MUCH

Filmed on February 7, 1980 for BBC's "Top Of The Pops". AC/DC had just finished up their "Highway To Hell" world tour just two weeks earlier, and were continuing to promote the album. Bon Scott died 12 days later following an all-night drinking binge. On 15 February 1980 Scott attended a session where Malcolm and Angus Young were working on the beginnings of two songs that would later be recorded on the Back in Black album; "Have a Drink On Me" and "Let Me Put My Love Into You" with Scott accompanying on drums rather than singing or writing lyrics. On 19 February 1980, Scott, 33, passed out after a night of heavy drinking in a London club called the Music Machine (currently known as the KOKO). He was left to sleep in a Renault 5 owned by an acquaintance named Alistair Kinnear, at 67 Overhill Road in East Dulwich, South London. The following afternoon, Kinnear found Scott lifeless, and alerted the authorities. Scott was rushed to King's College Hospital in Camberwell, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. It has been contended that pulmonary aspiration of vomit was the cause of Scott's death, but the official cause was listed on the death certificate as "acute alcohol poisoning" and classified as "death by misadventure".

[Scott]

At work so its hard to watch and pay attention. But, that Fraternity video is hilarious! He must've felt so free to perform once he got in ACDC....

[RJhog (Admin)]

It Ain't Necessarily So - Nice bit of history to read there.  I didn't know any of it.  This song is definitely done in the sixties. It almost sounds like a religious song.  The production is pretty bad, but again, it's from about 50 years ago, so you don't expect much.  Interesting.

Buttercup - I've heard that song many times and always thought it was a good 60's song.  But which one is Bon?  I'm guessing the backing vocalist for this track.  They look kind of goofy, but so did everybody back then.  I love how the credits start rolling with a minute left in the song.  

Seasons Of Change - I would never, ever guess that was Bon Scott on vocals.  He sounds so different.  This song has a much more serious and mature song than anything AC/DC ever did, with Scott or Johnson.  But that's not a knock on AC/DC, it just speaks to the style of music they played.  This is prog"ish".  It's a fairly cool tune.

Baby - Video does not work.  Can't comment on that, but I was never particularly a fan of the song by anybody that did it.

Touch Too Much - My favorite Bon Scott AC/DC song.  It's really perfect.  The groove, the drums, the guitar solo, even the backing vocals.  Not sure why bands had to lip sync on shows like that, but none the less the video is a cool slice of the band's history.  Very sad what happened to Scott.

AC/DC lost a piece of it's heart when Scott died, but totally reinvented itself with the addition of Johnson, without really changing a thing.  It's an amazing thing they did.

Song ranking:

1. Touch Too Much

2. Seasons Of Change

3. Build Me Up

4. It Ain't Necessarily So

5. Baby Please Don't Go

[Scott]

THE SPEKTORS ... From this would come one of hard rocks greatest vocalists ever.  No way this could've been a predictor for anything to come.  Its so, so, so...  mellow and slow paced, there's nothing to the tune.  But maybe, just maybe it was experiences like this that made him want out for something better and harder.  Still a fun listen!

VALENTINES ...  That lead singer needs to stop that with the arms!  really annoying!  its taking my focus away from watching Bon - who looks hilarious with that mod hair style.  Kind of ironic that the guitar player is playing an SG.  Just sayin'  ... another fun look into Bons path...

ACDC - TOUCH TOO MUCH ...  Kinda sad watching this knowing it was a short 12 days from his death.  The video chops the song up poorly as well, but still gotta wonder if the audience appreciated what they were witnessing.  If not at the time of taping then certainly 12 days later. RIP!!

Youre on fire my friend!