Bon Scott Death
The tragic end of the thunderous voice that defined a generation of hard rock.
Bon Scott died on 19 February 1980 after a night out in London with former musician and alleged drug dealer Alistair Kinnear. His death marked the end of AC/DC's original lineup and forced the band to consider disbanding. Scott had been the second lead vocalist and lyricist of AC/DC from 1974 until his death, performing on the band's first seven albums including their commercial breakthrough *Highway to Hell* (1979). The loss of the 33-year-old singer, who had been ranked number one in *Classic Rock*'s 2004 list of the "100 Greatest Frontmen of All Time," brought an abrupt halt to the band's rising international momentum.
- Character
- Bon Scott
- Role
- Lead Vocalist
- Date
- 19 February 1980
- Age at Death
- 33
- Location
- London, England
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
On 19 February 1980, Bon Scott died after a night out in London with former musician and alleged drug dealer Alistair Kinnear. The circumstances of his death are not detailed in the source beyond that location and company. AC/DC briefly considered disbanding following Scott's death, but the group recruited vocalist Brian Johnson of the British glam rock band Geordie. AC/DC's subsequent album, *Back in Black*, was released only five months later and was a tribute to Scott. It is currently the second-best-selling album of all time. Scott's death occurred just as AC/DC's popularity was growing internationally; their 1979 album *Highway to Hell* had reached the top 20 in the United States and was their commercial breakthrough.
In Their Own Story
The source does not provide a narrative account of the events surrounding Scott's death beyond the basic facts: he died on 19 February 1980 after a night out in London with Alistair Kinnear. No details about the location, time, or immediate aftermath are given. The band's response—briefly considering disbanding before recruiting Brian Johnson and releasing *Back in Black* five months later—is the only documented consequence.
Reader's Guide
The timeline of Bon Scott's death is brief in the source: on 19 February 1980, Scott died after a night out in London with former musician and alleged drug dealer Alistair Kinnear. No further details about the events of that night, the cause of death, or the location are provided. Following his death, AC/DC briefly considered disbanding but instead recruited vocalist Brian Johnson from the British glam rock band Geordie. The band released *Back in Black* only five months later, which served as a tribute to Scott and became the second-best-selling album of all time. Scott's death ended his tenure as AC/DC's lead vocalist and lyricist, a role he had held since replacing Dave Evans in 1974.
Did You Know?
- Bon Scott died on 19 February 1980 after a night out in London with former musician and alleged drug dealer Alistair Kinnear.
- AC/DC briefly considered disbanding after Scott's death but instead recruited Brian Johnson from the British glam rock band Geordie.
- AC/DC's tribute album *Back in Black* was released only five months after Scott's death and is currently the second-best-selling album of all time.
- Scott's final album with AC/DC, *Highway to Hell* (1979), reached the top 20 in the United States and was the band's commercial breakthrough.
- Scott was ranked number one in *Classic Rock*'s July 2004 list of the '100 Greatest Frontmen of All Time.'
More in Tours & Live History
Elsewhere in the AC-DC universe
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