It was challenging for the rest of AC/DC and the greater musical world to deal with Bon Scott’s loss. The band decided to seek for a replacement because they believed Scott would want them to continue, but they would not play one of his hits out of respect for him.
Scott has battled alcoholism and overindulgence his whole adult life. The singer’s body ultimately gave up on him one hedonistic evening when he passed unexpectedly from “acute alcohol poisoning.” Before a catastrophe ended his life tragically too soon at the age of 33, AC/DC appeared to have the world at their feet.
Bruce Howe, Scott’s former bandmate in Fraternity, gave some insight into the toxic lifestyle the singer maintained earlier this year. It’s interesting that he also said Scott had no structure to his day and was more hazardous when he wasn’t driving.
“That’s when he would start taking risks, doing wild things,” Howe said. “On days when he was bored, there was no future, there was only now. He didn’t give a bugger about whether he lived or died the next day. He’d try anything – magic mushrooms, marijuana, alcohol – and he would take risks on his motorbike.”
The frontman eventually learned he wasn’t immortal, and Scott had to confront the grave repercussions of his choices. One of the band’s most iconic songs, “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock’ N’ Roll),” by AC/DC, perfectly captures the risky way of life he led.
The song became longer over time, according to Mark Evans, the band’s former bassist. Additionally, Evans claimed that the band no longer performs the song.
“In time, it became iconic and associated with the band, but oddly enough the band doesn’t play it,” he explained. “It has become a lot bigger song in time than when it first came out.”
Furthermore, Angus Young told Rolling Stone the following:
‘It’s A Long Way To The Top’ really summed us up as a band. It was the audience that really allowed us to even get near a studio.”
Just over a month before Scott died, AC/DC gave the song one final performance at Hammersmith Odeon in 1979. It would be offensive to play “It’s A Long Way To The Top,” which is about the late singer’s attitude toward life in the fast lane, according to his replacement Brian Johnson.
Even though it’s a fan favorite and would definitely be a smash hit live, honoring Bon Scott comes before appeasing the crowd. Although it’s a little gesture, it demonstrates that the singer still occupies his former comrades’ minds.