Bon Scott, the lead singer of the iconic rock band AC/DC, died on February 19, 1980, at the age of 33. Scott’s death shocked the world and left a void in the music industry that was hard to fill. What happened on his final night alive remains a topic of discussion and speculation to this day.
Scott was born on July 9, 1946, in Scotland, but his family moved to Australia when he was six years old. He grew up in Fremantle, Western Australia, where he showed a natural talent for music from a young age. Scott’s first band was The Spektors, but he gained fame as the lead vocalist for the band Fraternity, which enjoyed a moderate level of success in Australia.
In 1974, Scott was invited to audition for AC/DC, who were in need of a new lead vocalist. Scott’s raw and powerful voice impressed the band’s members, and he joined AC/DC soon after. With Scott as their frontman, AC/DC reached new heights of success and became one of the most popular rock bands of the 1970s.
On the night of February 18, 1980, Scott went out drinking with a friend, Alistair Kinnear, who was an acquaintance of Scott’s bandmate, drummer Phil Rudd. They visited several bars in London before arriving at the Music Machine nightclub in Camden Town. According to Kinnear, Scott was heavily intoxicated and had to be carried into the club. Kinnear also stated that Scott had taken heroin that night.
At the club, Scott reportedly continued to drink heavily, and several witnesses claimed to have seen him pass out. Kinnear and Scott were eventually kicked out of the club by bouncers, and Kinnear tried to hail a taxi to take them back to Scott’s flat. However, he was unable to find a taxi, and he left Scott lying unconscious in the backseat of a parked car on a freezing night.
The following morning, Kinnear returned to the car and found Scott unresponsive. He called an ambulance, but it was too late. Scott was pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby hospital, and the cause of death was listed as acute alcohol poisoning.
Scott’s death was a tragedy that left his fans and bandmates devastated. AC/DC briefly considered disbanding after his death, but they ultimately decided to continue making music in his memory. The band’s next album, “Back in Black,” was dedicated to Scott and became one of the most successful albums in rock history.
In conclusion, Bon Scott was a talented musician who rose to fame as the lead singer of AC/DC. His final night alive remains shrouded in mystery, but his tragic death from acute alcohol poisoning has left a lasting impact on the music industry. Scott’s contributions to rock music will always be remembered and celebrated, and his legacy as a true rock icon lives on.
