Every band has a distinct way of handling difficult circumstances, but AC/DC used their greatest tragedy to their advantage. They had difficult choices, but they weren’t by themselves—many organizations have had to replace an important member. In other instances, the issue was less serious and only entailed one member going off to pursue a profession on their own. On other occasions, when the situation is more dire, bands may not locate a fantastic musician to play with them for years. In any case, these choices can be tough; the latter is considerably more so because of its delicate nature.
Indeed, bands find themselves in the most difficult situation when a decision is made in response to a traumatic event in real life. Some bands, like Led Zeppelin, have stepped away, while others, like Linkin Park, have persisted. Groups like Blind Melon have even encountered situations where they try to move on but it doesn’t go as planned. Perhaps they dealt with it more quickly than ever before or since, but AC/DC found themselves in the same situation as all of these other acts. Many would even argue that they didn’t miss a beat.
Five months before to the release of Back in Black, Bon Scott, the original vocalist for AC/DC, passed away.
The band had to make their hardest decision yet.
When AC/DC first formed in the early 1970s, they immediately set about making recordings. In 1975, their first two albums were released exclusively in Australasia, which meant that only Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the nearby island markets could purchase them. Then came their first international release in 1976, which was called High Voltage, the same name as their debut album. The next three years would see the arrival of four more records. Hit songs like “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “T.N.T.” and “Highway to Hell” helped them become well-known very fast.
Unfortunately, Highway to Hell (1979) would be the final album with lead singer Bon Scott.
The band had no plans to slow down because things were going so well, and they planned to release another record in 1980 to follow up their 1979 one. Sadly, Highway to Hell (1979) would be the last album to include lead singer Bon Scott. Scott chose to take a break as they gathered for additional in-studio work. On February 19, 1980, he was discovered unconscious after a night out and was declared dead when he arrived at the hospital. Acute alcohol poisoning was listed as the cause of death in the official report, but the coroner referred to it as “death by misadventure.”
Despite all of these intentions for a new record, AC/DC was left to deal with the aftermath of this tragic event. It wasn’t easy to fill Scott’s place because he is regarded as one of the best rock and roll vocalists of all time. Anything less than his distinctive voice would have been viewed as a step down. The band was aware that a poor choice may ruin their career because their reputation was on the line. Letting rid of what they had created simply didn’t seem like an option. Rather, they would have to make a decision that would forever alter the path of rock & roll history.
Their greatest success resulted from AC/DC’s decision to stay together, even in the face of conspiracy.
The group decided to continue, but they needed to recruit a lead singer to take Scott’s place. His voice had to be able to sing their well-known songs, and he had to have the same enthusiasm to match their onstage persona. Soon afterward, they learned about singer Brian Johnson. They brought him in for an audition and decided he was the ideal candidate to support the band going forward.
Five months after Bon Scott’s passing, on July 25, 1980, they issued Back in Black, having gotten to work right away. Even though Johnson’s voice was a little different than Scott’s, it blended in nicely. Johnson immediately won over fans, and the band entered a new period with hits including “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Hells Bells,” and the title track. The album peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 upon its first release. But the most significant aspect of its legacy is that it has sold over 50 million copies worldwide and is 27 times platinum in the US.
An image of the five AC/DC members performing in black and white. One person is holding a guitar on the far left, followed by another with a microphone, the drummer, and two further guitar players.
Related: Why, Forty-Five Years Later, Conspiracy Theories Still Affect AC/DC’s “Back In Black”
Despite being one of the best bands ever, AC/DC has been the subject of a conspiracy theory since 1980, and singer Brian Johnson is prepared to put an end to it.
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Naturally, a number of critics have expressed their thoughts over the years, given that the album is among the best-selling records of all time. Many people think the CD was assembled too hastily to fit the time it took the band to track down Johnson and release the song. Scott left these songs in his notebook, and the band basically stole them, according to the primary conspiracy theory. The members, however, strongly refute this charge; Johnson even claims in his book that these songs were written by him using a pen.
Bon Scott’s Legacy Is Honored by AC/DC Enduring Now
The Best Hits Proceed
Since deciding to proceed with Brian Johnson as their main singer, AC/DC has released 11 new albums, such as Black Ice (2008), which showed that the band could continue to provide excellent performances decades into their career. Additionally, they have been able to keep traveling, and 2025 will be another chapter in their legendary history when they perform in front of their devoted fans at some of the largest stadiums in the globe.
