If you're any sort of AC/DC fan at all I'm sure you'll know that Bon Scott was the first singer in the band. Before Brian Johnson who sings for them now. He's also the guy who most fans would most identify with, I think, although that is not to detract from Brian Johnson's efforts to front the band which are excellent also.Clinton Walker who is the writer of this book is an Australian music journalist who has been writing since the late seventies. He has done a remarkable job in this history of AC/DC by achieving an enjoyable read with obvious skill in extracting information from what appears to be the VERY close-knit world of AC/DC.
Bon Scott died in London in February 1980 and this work covers AC/DC up until that time. Bon appears to have been loved by everyone who knew him. He also appears to have been a bit of a mystery too. Even after reading this one is still left with missing gaps in his story..mostly down to the whole band being slightly disfunctional owing to age differences (Bon was really a lot older than his peers...Angus Young was 17 when he started playing for AC/DC!) plus the fact that Bon was always disappearing to do his own thing often turning up only minutes before the gigs were due to start! This book certainly changed my perception of the band..I assumed they would always have been very close and very one tight unit. The reality was certainly a different case!
Although a little dry at times, perhaps owing to the fact that Mr Walker is Australian and naturally a lot of the references are to Australian culture which will be alien to the average English reader, the book is definitely worth reading for a valuable insight into the hard life of a band constantly "on the road".
"It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll!!"
Review by Mark Woods, 2008. LordBeanpod@GMail.com
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