50 years ago this month, AC/DC played their first concert with Bon Scott. Here’s Angus in 1997 talking about this first gig.

50 years ago this  month, AC/DC played their first concert with Bon Scott. Here’s Angus in 1997 talking about this first gig.

In 1997, Angus Young, the iconic guitarist and co-founder of AC/DC, reflected on the band’s early days, including their first concert with Bon Scott, the charismatic frontman who would go on to become a legendary figure in rock music. Speaking candidly about the experience, Angus recounted the momentous gig that marked the beginning of a partnership that would ultimately change the face of rock ‘n’ roll.

It was 1974, and AC/DC was still a fledgling band based in Sydney, Australia. The band had already formed a reputation for its raw energy and electrifying performances, but they were still searching for the right frontman to complement their sound. Bon Scott, who had previously fronted a band called Fraternity, came into the picture when their original lead singer, Dave Evans, was let go. Scott, with his distinctive voice, unruly charisma, and rebellious attitude, was a perfect fit.

The first gig with Bon Scott as AC/DC’s frontman was at a club in Sydney, and Angus remembers it as a defining moment in the band’s evolution. “It was a little pub gig, but for us, it was huge,” he recalled. The room was small, and the crowd was intimate, yet there was an undeniable electricity in the air. Angus noted that the energy between the band and Bon was instantaneous. “The chemistry was there right from the start,” he said. “Bon was such a natural performer. It was like he was born to do it.”

Despite the fact that it was their first performance together, the synergy between Scott and the band was unmistakable. Bon’s stage presence was magnetic, his voice a perfect complement to the explosive guitar riffs and thunderous drums that powered AC/DC’s music. The crowd was immediately captivated by Bon’s antics, his swagger, and his unapologetic rock ‘n’ roll persona. For the band, it felt like everything clicked into place. “From that night on, it was clear to us that Bon was the right guy,” Angus explained. “He had that fire, that personality that matched our sound.”

However, the gig was not without its challenges. Angus and the rest of the band were still finding their way with Bon, figuring out the best way to integrate his vocals with their aggressive, high-energy music. There were no massive crowds or elaborate stage setups at that point—just a small, sweaty club with a few dozen people, most of whom were there to drink and have a good time rather than see a band that would one day become legendary. But that didn’t matter to AC/DC. They poured everything they had into the performance, and it was a preview of the raw energy and passion that would soon become their trademark.

Angus also reflected on the influence of Bon Scott on the band’s songwriting and overall direction. “Bon brought a whole new dynamic to the band,” Angus said. “He had this way of writing lyrics that were rebellious, fun, and full of life. That spirit infused everything we did.” It was clear that Bon’s presence had injected a fresh fire into AC/DC’s music, and it was a major turning point in the band’s career. It was on that stage in 1974 that the foundation for AC/DC’s rise to rock superstardom was laid.

By the time of Angus’s interview in 1997, AC/DC had become one of the biggest and most influential rock bands in the world. Yet, when looking back at the early days, Angus still spoke with reverence and nostalgia for that first gig with Bon Scott, acknowledging that it was the start of something monumental. “We knew we had something special right from the start,” Angus concluded, reflecting on how the band’s chemistry with Bon Scott ignited their journey to global fame.