AC/DCLegendary rock singer Bon Scott, the singer and lyricist for AC/DC, Fraternity, and The Valentines, would have celebrated his 80th birthday this July.
However, he tragically passed away in 1980. That doesn’t mean that fans can’t celebrate the singer’s life and legacy, though. Today, the Bon Scott Estate and its exclusive licensing/merchandise partner, Perryscope Productions, have revealed that an events and merchandising plan is on the way to celebrate what would have been Scott’s birthday on 9 July 2026.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual Bonfest, the International Bon Scott Rock Festival. Scheduled for early May 2026 in Kirriemuir, Scotland, special guests at this year’s event include UK rockers Reef and former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade.
Meanwhile, in New York City, Scott’s 80th birthday will be commemorated at the third annual Bon’s Birthday Bash on Monday, 6 July. Guest vocalists appearing on the day include Corey Glover (Living Colour), Jimmy Kunes (Cactus, Humble Pie), Peter Shaw (Trans Siberian Orchestra), Tony Award-winner Lena Hall (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), and more.
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In Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is hosting a one-night-only theatrical screening of the concert film, Let There Be Rock: The Movie.
At home, the Bon Scott Estate has secured a deal with the ABC to have Bon Scott video footage posted to his official YouTube channel, following the national broadcaster’s 2023 episode of Australian Story about the singer.
The YouTube channel will also feature exclusive interviews with friends of Scott’s, as well as his peers and admirers. Stars interviewed about his impact include Rick Springfield, Fraternity’s Bruce Howe, Sammy Hagar, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, and more.
Fans will also be able to secure limited-edition collectibles and apparel in celebration of Bon Scott’s legacy, with signature collectible products coming from German studio specialist Neumann, The Perth Mint, exclusive artwork on tees and posters designed by Mental As Anything’s Reg Mombassa, and the third Bon Scott statue from Knucklebonz.
In terms of apparel, Dixxon Flannel Co. will unveil a limited-edition Bon Scott shirt, while the official Perryscope store and Australian-based Merch Jungle will sell an expansive, brand-new range of t-shirts inspired by the singer.
Head to the Bon Scott website for more information about the celebrations.
On the road, AC/DC continue to carry the torch of Bon Scott, with eleven songs on their current PWR UP tour pulling from the Bon era. Upon the band’s return to Australia last year, they brought Jailbreak back to the set for the first time in 34 years. Other Bon songs on the setlist include Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, High Voltage, T.N.T., Highway To Hell, Let There Be Rock, and many others.
Speaking on Bon’s impact, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich said, “Bon Scott was the coolest singer ever – the vocal delivery, the tongue-in-cheek double entendres and the magnetic personality. Those early AC/DC records – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock, Powerage, Highway To Hell – are just fucking timeless.”
Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine added, “Bon was one of my heroes. His pants didn’t fit, but for me he remains one of the bad-assed-est - if ‘bad-assed-est’ is a word! - frontmen that there has ever been.”
Last July, the City of Melville proposed the installation of a permanent statue in honour of Bon Scott. During its Ordinary Meeting of Council, members acknowledged the cultural significance of the iconic AC/DC singer, who not only spent some of his youth in the City of Melville but was buried at the Fremantle Cemetery, Palmyra, in 1980.
Plus, the local Canning Highway, packed with pubs such as Raffles and Leopold Hotel, was the physical inspiration for the classic tune Highway To Hell.
In 2020, the City of Melville hosted the popular Highway To Hell event, which saw 10 km of the Canning Highway—from Canning Bridge to Fremantle Traffic Bridge—transformed into a massive stage for AC/DC fans in honour of Bon Scott.
To achieve this, the City teamed up with Perth Festival, the City of Fremantle, and the Town of East Fremantle to present the Highway To Hell event.
