Bon Scott's Legend Still Growing

Seems like every week there's a major news article somewhere in the world's press praising AC/DC's late, great front man, Bon Scott. Though the street fighting singer died nearly thirty years ago, Bon's rock star status seems to be shining brighter than ever.

Just in the past two days, three very interesting reads crossed my desk. In the first, Bon Homilies Linger Beyond The Grave, The West discusses why fans of all ages are devoted to Bon and how they're participating in the Bon Scott Project which opened earlier today in Fremantle, Scott's adopted hometown in Australia.

The Vine has published a tremendous pictorial in honor of Bon, too. Bon Scott Lives On should not be missed if you're a dedicated fan of the man who often cheekily compared himself to Enrico Caruso.

Finally, possibly topping all the latest features, do not miss Bon To Rule, which features one man's personal memories of seeing Bon-era AC/DC in concert. Not only that, but famous Bon Scott biographer, Clinton Walker, weighs in on the Fremantle art exhibition dedicated to Bon, as well. Even though it's tiny, I'm betting fans will love the picture of Bon with some female friends who appear to be hanging out together in a hotel room after a concert, too. What a night that must have been for ol' Bon!

By the way, one other great site to check out is the Super Groupie's blog where she shows off her contributions to the Bon Scott Project. Regular AC/DC News readers might remember this story about her Bon related artwork called Bon Scott's Crotch. Also, a cool news video has been posted about the event over at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) website.

Oh, and it would be remiss of me to fail to mention that today is the start of the third annual Bon Scott Weekend held in Kirriemuir, Bon's original hometown in Scotland. Fans there will be able to celebrate in style with a number rock bands, including an AC/DC tribute act. See this BBC link for more information.

Of course, as most everybody knows, young Bon swam across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to escape to Australia at the tender age of 6 after Scottish authorities put him on the Most Wanted list of juvenile offenders for allegedly stealing the virginity of several girls nearly three times his age. Otherwise, he surely would have remained in Scotland and Malcolm Young might still be working in a bra factory today. Lucky for us, Bon was a good swimmer...

Anyway, if you've read this far and are still not part of the world's biggest Bon Scott fan club, why not join us? Even if you're too shy to participate in the forum, I'm sure you'll enjoy seeing the great collection of AC/DC pics that fans have posted there over the years. All AC/DC fans are welcome!

Keep rockin, Jon

Patrick Donovan on the Bon Scott Project

The Age's Patrick Donovan recently wrote an excellent piece regarding the Fremantle Arts Centre's (FAC) upcoming tribute to Bon Scott. According to the FAC, "the Bon Scott Project is a multi-faceted event that sees 19 artists celebrate and critique the life, the legacy, the letters and the loins of Bon Scott!"

I've posted Donovan's story below in it's entirety, but you definitely ought to check out the article itself for a great picture of Bon performing on stage with AC/DC in 1974 in front of rows of adoring female fans.

Homage continues to a kilt-wearing, hellraisin' Scott

SOME art curators would consider late AC/DC singer Bon Scott too lowbrow a subject on which to base an exhibition.

But not Jasmin Stephens. Despite neither being a fan of the singer nor his band, she was curious enough to commission 19 artists, including fashion critics and Archibald Prize winner Adam Cullen, to explore notions of masculinity, remembrance and rebellion by deconstructing the charismatic rock star.

Ms Stephens says the Bon Scott Project exhibition aims to prove there was more to the diminutive singer than a powerful voice, tight pants, showmanship and sexually suggestive lyrics.

Ms Stephens assigned artists that knew little about the band. "The project is not intended to be sycophantic because those results would tend to be cliched," she said. "I hope it will offer new ideas and perspectives. I wanted to create an exhibition with a wide range of platforms that will interest different people."

Interest in Scott keeps surging 28 years after his drink-induced death just as the band was hitting its prime. British magazine Classic Rock has named Scott the greatest ever frontman, ahead of Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant.

The Melbourne City Council has named a laneway after his band, his birth town of Kirriemuir in Scotland unveiled a Caithness stone slab in his honour and money was raised to erect a bronze statue of him in Fremantle, Western Australia.

The new exhibition is part of plans by Fremantle to reclaim its favourite son. Scott grew up there, and is buried there — his National Trust-listed grave is the most visited in Australia.

"Bronze statues are generally associated with bishops and governors," Ms Stephens said. "I feel that Bon has always relished his outsider status. He's always been a bit of a rascal and hellraiser, like a Ned Kelly figure, so I wanted to look at other ways we could celebrate his life."

Some of the works include personal letters, photographs uncovered from the late Rennie Ellis' collection, Bevan Honey's Apparition installation, which is visible only in certain light, and a blog written by Lucas Ihlein about the cult of Scott.

"I feel that a blog is public art, and I wanted people from all over the world to participate in the project, because Bon has more fans in the northern hemisphere than he does here," Ms Stephens said.

They will even wheel out fashion critics to analyse "the ugly/sexy factor" — Scott's allure despite his not being conventionally handsome.

"By wearing kilts and dressing up as a schoolgirl, it's clear Bon had an intuitive understanding about how to play dress-ups," Ms Stephens said. "And yet he was admired so much for resisting the pressure to go glam — he was a denim man through and through."

Ms Stephens expects the exhibition will appeal to a broad audience. "I've met very high-profile movers in the corporate world and government who adore his cheekiness as well as his music."

The exhibition opens at the Fremantle Arts Centre on May 17, and organisers hope it will tour eastern Australia. The Melbourne Arts Centre also plans to present exhibitions on AC/DC and Peter Allen.

Want to find out more about the Bon Scott Project? Click here!

Bon Scott fans should also check out The West's page dedicated to the project.


AC/DC: Not just your Dad's favorite band!

Fremantle Launches The Bon Scott Project

by Paul Cashmere - April 7 2008

The City of Fremantle is presenting the Bon Scott Project, an event to mark the life and times of their historic rocker Bon Scott.

The Project, which will take place at the Fremantle Arts Centre from May 17-June 29, will features works from 19 artists honoring the late AC/DC singer.

Although Scott died in London and lived in Sydney and Melbourne in his day with AC/DC, he is still remembered as the boy from Fremantle.

Scott was raised in North Fremantle and was laid to rest in the city following his death in 1980.

The Bon Scott Project is designed to bring together the stories about Bon from the fans moreso than traditional media.

As part of the Project, fans can contribute to the Bon Scott Blog at bonscottblog.com.

The Project will also display Bon's private letters. The letters show his bawdy and humorous side but also offer an insight never before seen into the personality of the man.

More at Undercover.