Mt. Rockmore | Season 4 | Episode #403 | Bon Scott

0:00 [Dog clanking] [Dog clanking] Breaking down the best four songs. This, this, this is no-raw. Oh, check out the ripples on that gentleman. Oh, it's like somebody from a folder in a pond, that detail, they never expect commitment and they try so hard in the set. Plus, you're just so grateful afterwards. Got me nailed down to a tee. How you doing everybody? This is Mount Rockmore and welcome Bond's Disciples. Are those of you calling yourself Bond Heads today? We celebrate the end of a truly heartbreaking story.

0:41 But we do so celebrating the life of one of Rock's most influential and as yet unduplicated frontmen, the original singer for AC/DC that we know as Bond Scott. Are you ready to climb up the Rockmore with me? I am your host as we pay tribute to the four career defining songs of one of the greatest to hold a microphone with extremely tight jeans and rarely seen in a shirt. And lead a high voltage rock band through hours of writing, rehearsal and tours. All. While only locking up seven albums that Bond Scott recorded with AC/DC. Now, if you were so unlucky as to have missed season two episode 11 of Mount Rockmore, the AC/DC back in black Mount Rockmore.

1:29 That's right, the four career defining songs of that album. Or if you're snowed in now or weathered in whatever, I'm not exactly sure depending on what part of the country you're in, what's happening for you. But if the storms from this week have kind of gotten it in for you, then all you have to do is just ask your Alexa or Google device and check out some of that back in black Mount Rockmore or maybe like some of the other Mount Rockmore adventures, right? You can also go to realguyradio.com. Like for instance, we took to the old school metal of Metallica, but we didn't even do the black days. We did pre-black Metallica. Oh yeah, none of that post-black crap. Yet I say that with a very long and run out yet and Creed got the four track climb up Mount Rockmore as well.

2:16 Now, if you know, you know, the best Bond Scott AC/DC songs, Light in the sense of menace, found within the band's lyrics and music with a sense of humor and self-deprecation that made the singer so charismatic and beloved. I mean, there were times where people thought AC/DC met after Christ Devil comes that frankly, the Devil was Bond Scott. Because if you remember the highway to Hell album, the horns on it said, "He looked a little loose of furish." That's not a word, but I'm claiming it is such right here I'm out Rockmore, so trademarked back. And 45 years ago, we lost this Rock and Roll legend. February 19th, 1980.

2:56 Later in the show, we'll get into exactly how Rock and Roll Bond actually was, what he thought of his bandmates apparently and will dig into how he may have died. But because the Rock and Roll rumor mill is ripe with ideas, there might be multiple people saying multiple things about the way he died. But the circumstances of his death are still debated. Was it Extriciation, Alcohol poisoning, hypothermia? After a night of heavy drinking, they found Bond Scott passed out in the back seat of a car in London the next morning and not alive. Let's just put it that way. But rest assured, those lucky few Aussie greasers who saw Bond Scott's first ever performance with AC/DC in September of 1974 witnessed a Rock and Roll rebirth.

3:46 Its nerves comprehensively drowned, anesthetized, and powdered. According to AC/DC guitarist Angus Young, this was Bond's first performance. Quote, "Bond downed about two bottles of bourbon with dope coke speed and said, 'Right, I'm ready.' Recalling his chaotic tryout at the Pukara Hotel in Adelaide. There was this immediate transformation he was running around with his wife's knickers on, yelling at the audience. It was a magic moment. He said it made him feel young again." There was a lot to unpack in that statement from Angus Young. But I think the one thing that shocked me the most was that Bond Scott was married. He was running around with his wife's knickers on.

4:26 Little weird. I don't know why I thought he was just going to constantly be like this proverbial single guy, but no, he was married. Who married Bond Scott? A few weeks later, Bond was inducted as a full-time member of AC/DC ahead of his official debut at Rockdale's Masonic Hall on October 5th, 51 years ago. And with that, neither Bond's life nor Rock itself would ever be the same again. Now, I am fully aware that I am not able to satisfy every Bond's army member who bows before the dirty deeds crew, but I will try to do some Rockmore Justice with the paint palette at my disposal.

5:08 So with the skin tight shirts, ripped-in 'em jeans, tattoo and attitude, outwardly at least, of Brutus abandoned, Bond Scott epitomized the ragged rebellion at the root of the fun, dumb and dangerous to know, hard rock music that AC/DC pioneered in the '70s. Let's face it, Bond Scott's body, funny and chant worthy lyrics, AC/DC, found with that the formula that would carry them to the highest echelons of Rockstartum. Classics like it's a long way to the top if you want a rock and roll. TNT! Dirty deeds done, dirtch-yping-day, all! Paved the en-ramp for 1979's "High Way to Hell" and its multi-platinum international success.

5:52 And listen folks, with a resume like that. Eh, ain't no debate. You? My friends? Bond Scott? Does it have a play? So, let's get it out of the way. This song, so you're all clear, is not, is not about a game of cards. Despite what the official recorded lyrics might tell you. In fact, it's among the worst-kept secrets in rock music that this track isn't about an overly friendly house full of women that gave Bond Scott and his bandmates the clap. Kids, ask your parents or fire up the old Google machine and search it out for yourself.

6:34 In concert, the band frequently spells things out just a bit more clearly with some different lyrics than you're about to hear. But your play in on the Mount Rockmore of Bond Scott ACDC is the one and only. Well, we call it the Jack. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]

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19:06 [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Atlantic Records held off releasing "Dirty Beads" in the US until 1981. It released in Europe in 1976. I'm doing the math that seems like about five years earlier. Really bad at math. They also included this song on "Let There Be Rock" likely because they didn't want "Crab City in Blue" which is a similar song with a very overt-tored towards STDs with a very overt-tone towards STDs on their label so they needed another song.

20:06 Just think it's great that they had "Crab City in Blue" that now it is a big name for a band. So the short answer to the question on which ACDC album was "Problem Child". The song was originally released in the longer form on "Dirty Deeds Dunder Cheap" period end of list. On the way, did any of those other songs that you heard me talk about earlier? Are they making their way into the carving on Mount Rockmore? And what did one music-trademagazine call a bone-crunching gut-wrenching exercise in primal guitar rock? Oh, that'll be carved in all on the way on Mount Rockmore.

20:48 This is clearly not a metro-sexual moment in history. Crazy horse. Celebrated for his ferocity and battle, Crazy Horse was recognized among the Lakota Indians as a visionary leader. In 1876, the U.S. War Department ordered all Lakota onto reservation and Crazy Horse? He didn't say "Let's share." Let's hold hands and sing "Koombai YAH." He became a leader of the resistance. Furthermore, he wrote in a battle on an angry Steve, not some pansy automobile like a VW bug or a PT-foozer. Crazy Horse famously said "My lands are where my dead live buried."

21:28 A famous metro-sexual once said "My lands are where my prodigal loafers await purchase." If around today, Crazy Horse would kick that guy's ass. This has been Lee Camp for more funny crap. Check out LeeCamp.net and SharkBaby.com. Breaking down the best four songs. This, this, this is Mel-Raw. You are a Mally Pirate Hooker. Welcome back! Take a seat, take a shoes off, relax a little bit, pop up in a cold one. This is the Mount Rockmore podcast. We do here make you feel about this good.

22:08 -Russian. -Hmm, what? -Russian. That's nice, honey. That's my little girl. I've brought her up right then please check out our website, realguyradio.com. Follow us on Twitter and then give us a rating. Give us a review. One to five stars on iTunes. I'm Bauer and give us one star. If you only think AC/DC is capable of playing the same three chords in every song. Five stars. If you know it doesn't matter as long as the singer is screaming their heart out. Here's the thing about Bond Scott. Back in his day. Ladies, he was considered sexy. Oh, the ladies loving he was sexy enough for the girls. Yet tough enough for the bikers.

22:50 He was an icon of rock and roll life, roaring about sex, booze, and the rock and roll directly from the gutter. His piercing squeals and lock up your daughter's learicism, literally those words, often delivered with a lascivious smirk became the definitive blueprint of what a rock lead singer should look like, act like, feel like and sound like for the coming decades. Sadly, he also came to define rock and roll's most classic trajectory of addiction and tragedy. It was in tribute to Scott who died at age 33 from alcohol poisoning that in 1980 back in black released the same year he died became the second best selling album of all time.

23:38 Find only Michael Jackson's thriller. However, it's the title track from Bond Scott's final album with ACDC that has become a unifying anthem for rock and rollers all over the world. We talked about it earlier, the drawbacks of life on the road, a sense that he's flirting with the zaster which he always seemed to be. They were once again mentioned in Scott's lyrics, but this time the tone is almost fully defiant and celebratory. Number two on the Mount Rock more of ACDC starring Bond Scott is highway. (music) There is a loving feeling, season decodal lonely, and there's nothing leaving me, take out of the darkness of the spine, don't be reason, don't be right.

24:40 And nothing that ever ever do, go and go for the time, my friends are gonna be there too. I'm gonna highway the hill, I'm gonna highway the hill, highway the hill. No stop signs, speed limit, nobody's gonna slow me down, let go we are gonna spin it, nobody's gonna mess me around.

25:30 Hey, Shyshaw, where my shoes, where my rock and band, hey my mom, love that lead, I'm not that way until the promise ends. I'm gonna highway the hill, highway the hill, highway the hill, highway the hill, no stop signs, let go.

26:14 (music) I'll wait a hell for you, I'll wait a hell for you, I'll wait a hell for you, I'll wait a hell for you, I'll wait a hell for you I'll wait until I know how it goes I'll wait until I know how it goes I'll wait until I know how it goes I'll wait until I know how it goes And I'm going down All the way All the way All the way Music trade magazine cashbox called that track a bone crunching, gut wrenching exercise in primal guitar rock with simple get effective riffing and ballsy vocals.

27:40 Third world said that growling vocals join a raunchy guitar assault for simple high voltage rock and roll abandon and the single highway to hell spent 45 weeks on the German singles chart peaked at number 30 and its 19th week on the chart and then Bonscott was found dead in the back of a friend's car just over six months after the song was released. Well, right now we are halfway through the Mount Rushmore of Bonscott songs with two songs yet to go, but first it is time for an official Bonscott today you learnt. Today you learnt after ACDC vocalist Bonscott died of alcohol poisoning, which some people still question, the band considered disbanding.

28:34 Its parents Bonscott's folks requested that they not disband so they went out hired Brian Johnson as their new frontman and made back in black which became the second best selling album of all time. Now Bonscott liked Malcolm and Angus Young the young brothers, but thought they were too inexperienced and too young to rock. The young brothers replied with saying Scott was too old to rock. Scott had to make everybody feel good and make it extremely comfortable. I'm bowling night for ACDC, but after one jam session with each other, it was obvious ACDC found its new lead singer.

29:15 Now apparently today you learnt that Bonscott found his fellow ACDC bandmates boring. Obviously, thought they were too inexperienced and too young to rock, but back in 1976 they wouldn't let him drink or let groupies on their tour bus. This according to YNT frontman Dave Mennon Kettie who just for a simple plug here, we have already done in season one YNT's Mount Rockmore. You can find that in season one as well. But Mennon Kettie, Dave Mennon Kettie talked about Scott's request saying quote, "The very first day we did a soundtrack together, Bons came back. He was like, 'What are you guys traveling in?' We showed him and he was like, 'Would you mind if I come with you?' He continued by saying that Scott was willing to sit on the floor of their van to get some excitement.' So Bonscott told them these guys are really boring, meaning his young brothers in ACDC.

30:03 They won't let me drink, they won't let any groupies on the bus. He figured he was going to have more fun with us, with YNT. And according to Dave Mennon Kettie, I'm absolutely certain that he did. Today you learnt that when Bonscott of ACDC first saw Brian Johnson, his eventual replacement performed, he told the boys in ACDC how great Brian Johnson was because he was on the floor kicking and screaming while he was performing. Little did Bonscott know that Brian was on the floor kicking and screaming because at that moment he was suffering from appendicitis. And lastly today you learned the national trust of Australia decreed Bonscott's grave important enough to be included on the list of classified heritage places in Australia.

30:56 And that was a Bonscott today you learnt. Well let's get ready for more carving, shall we? The next song carved into the mountainside proves, 'Size does matter.' It's a song about an obese Tasmanian woman, with whom Bonscott had a one night stand at the Freeway Gardens Motel in North Melbourne. Such a romantic night. In addition to pointing out the woman's size, the singer finds her to be one of the most talented lovers he's ever experienced. The song's first verse reveals her substantial physical measurements and that she weighs 19 stone or as that figures out it's 266 pounds.

31:38 On the live from the Atlantic Studios disc however, Bonscott describes the woman as quote a Tasmanian devil that she weighed 305 pounds. A measurement different from the 19 stone lyric. In 1998, speaking of OX magazine, Angus Young remembered that they'd been in Tasmanian after the show Bonscott said he was going to check out a few clubs. He said he'd got about a hundred yards down the street when he heard this yell, 'Hey Bons!' And he looked around and saw this leg and thought, 'Well, from what he said, there was this woman and a friend of hers. They were playing him with drinks and this one woman kept saying to him, 'This month I've slept with 28 famous people.' And Bons went, 'Oh yeah?' Anyway in the morning, he said he woke up pinned against the wall and he opened one eye and saw her lean over to her friend and whisper, '29.' There's very few people who go out and write a song about a big fat lady but Bonscott said it was worthy.

32:34 In 2021, the woman the song was written about was identified by British Australian AC/DC biographer Jesse Fink as Rose Marie or stylized as Rose Marie Garcia. An Australian sex worker who saw Bonscott for some time before he went to England. Rose was indeed born in Lungkonston, Tasmania, lived in St. Kilda and died in Melbourne at the age of 22. Number three on the Mount Rushmore of Bonscott's AC/DC is a whole lot of Rose. One toe, your story about a woman unknown, I come to love him, she's the other show.

33:34 But I'm not exactly pretty, and exactly small. But I'm not exactly pretty, and I'm not exactly pretty, and I'm not exactly pretty. But I'm not exactly pretty, and I'm not exactly pretty, and I'm not exactly pretty.

34:16 But I'm not exactly pretty, and I'm not exactly pretty, and I'm not exactly pretty. But I'm not exactly pretty pretty, and I'm not exactly pretty pretty, and I'm not exactly pretty. Oh we won't do, we won't do know Oh if you would have made sense, I'd matter around the clock Oh if you would have made sense, I'd matter around the clock Oh if you would have made sense, I'd matter around the clock

36:03 Oh if you would have made sense, I'd matter around the clock Oh if you would have made sense, I'd matter around the clock Oh if you would have made sense, I'd matter around the clock Oh if you would have made sense, I'd matter around the clock Oh if you would have made sense, I'd matter around the clock

37:37 Oh if you would have made sense, I'd matter around the clock Oh Whole lot of Rosie is the eighth and final track on the band's fourth Australian album Let There Be Rock released in Australia in March 1977 and was written by Angus Malcolm Young and Bond Scott is also the eighth and final track on the international version of the album released in June the same year.

38:46 When you have all kinds of hits spanning seven albums, you're bound to have songs that did not make the Mount Rock more cut, so in memoriam we salute you big balls out on the wacky rock radio morning show planes, you're always, always, always, health for pleasure in our minds and then spayed out before you decaying in the dry desert winds are the likes of dirty deeds done, dirt cheap, TNT and the biblical let there be rock. Oh man, let's turn to face the mountains, because on the way the one song that could piss off your parents more than the distorted rock coming out of your boom box?

39:32 Oh yeah, that's next on Mount Rock more. The Minnesota activists are out in full force today to protest a new bill that would band marriage between people who don't love each other. Minnesota Governor Tim Bolland expressed his intention to sign the bill earlier this week, saying, quote, "I believe the definition of marriage is a union between two people who love each other." In addition to outlawing future loveless unions, the so-called "purity of marriage" act but also note why it estimated 53% of marriages in Minnesota. Loveless couples gathered at the state capital today to voice their opinion that all couples have a right to be married, not just those who can stand each other's company.

40:16 "Beth and I have been sitting silently in front of the TV set for 20 years. You can't tell me that's not marriage." Our feelings and cold dependence are just as strong as the happy couples love. Joining us now from St. Paul is on your news network, legal expert Olivia Walker. Hi, David. This is a real surprise since Minnesota has long been considered a real meccaful, loveless couples. Right, the state is full of bland suburbs and buffet restaurants serving endless piles of food, which loveless couples used to fill the void in their homes. Where is the support for this bill coming from? Well, the bill's supporters say for too long they've had to watch these people flaunt their lovelessness, bickering over which peanut butter to buy and grocery stores and violently brushing linoff with each other's jackets.

41:01 So, to them, these miserable couples offend the very idea of marriage. That's right. There have been reports from around the state of loveless couples suffering harassment, big evangelism. Olivia, what about the people who argue that loveless couples can still live together on happily? Not even. Their sexless unions aren't technically considered marriage. Well, marriage has legal implications as well. For instance, if one member of a loveless couple got sick, their spouse could no longer visit them in the hospital to berate them about how much that medical bill was going to cost. Well, Olivia, not so long ago, loveless couples felt they had to hide, but the crowds there today showed that many people are now comfortable with being openly indifferent to their spouses. That's right. As recently as the 1970s, loveless couples were sent to camps where it was believed they could be cured of their lovelessness by undergoing group therapy and sharing exercises.

41:46 But even if the Minnesota law passes, loveless marriage activists will almost certainly try to bring this one before the Supreme Court. Right, and there it could face a lot of opposition, at least for the justices, a rumored to be in loveless marriages themselves. Yeah, well, thanks for the update, Olivia. And later in the hour, we'll talk to our economic sexist, Joshua Russell, who says a ban on loveless marriage could cripple the already flagging cruise ship industry. But first, Shyla Buff has decided to deal with Paramount to ruin another one of your childhood memories. Welcome back to Mount Rockmore. It's final carving time on the Mount Rockmore of Bond Scott.

42:26 First, we ask you to visit our website, realguyradio.com. You can hit up our shop, complete with Mount Rockmore t-shirts, sweat shirts and other gear. I'm in the process of trying to get us some tank tops so you can sport that sleeveless this spring and summer, or you happen to be in the south part of the US already. You might just want to get the tank tops on now. So it's pretty warm, like 80 degrees watching some softball games in Louisiana today. I'm Bauer. I know I was a nightmare to my parents. They would never admit it, but my electric guitar, which was usually out of tune, no doubt, and trying to keep up with the volume of my record player through my little mini app, man, I was a terror to them.

43:07 And I played it all through my kick-ass stereo system. Kids ask your parents about stereo system, so fill you in on that a little bit. And that was one song that could be worse for them to hear than the wailing of Bond, Scott and ACDC. And that is our final song being carved into Mount Rockmore. Why? One word. Bagpipes. Wait, is that... I'm asking the producers. Is that one word or two words? Is it bagpipes or bag thenpipes? We're sure? Okay, according to Wikipedia, it's one word. So either way, Bond Scott blaring away in the bagpipes at the top of that shitty racket as he does this song, served as a time-lone reminder of the years of hard work that go into becoming an overnight success in the music industry.

43:59 So get your pipes ready. Our last track on the Bond Scott Mount Rockmore is, it's a long way to the top. (heavy rock music) ♫ Runnin' on the highway ♫ Go into a shell ♫ Start with all the battleways ♫ Runnin' like a rose ♫ In and round ♫ In and round ♫ In and round ♫ In and round ♫ In and round ♫ In and round ♫ I tell ya first ♫ It's hard to let it loose ♫ It's a lonely ♫ To the top ♫ If you wanna rock and roll ♫ It's a lonely ♫ To the top ♫ If you wanna rock and roll ♫ It's easy to do in my nightstand ♫ Tryin' 'em when in a rock boat ♫ When it's a lonely ♫ To the top ♫ If you wanna rock and roll

45:32 (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) (heavy rock music) [ Tekken title ] From time until make you want to try maybe it's a lot so no degrees of light

47:03 do it now do it again do it again don't get tired under frame don't get too second hand that's how it goes pain again and again it's a lot of weight if you want to rock and roll it's a lot of weight to the top if you want to rock and roll if you want to be it's not a season screen you're out it's about that pain it's a lot of weight to the top if you want to rock and roll it's a lot of weight to the top if you want to rock and roll it's about that pain it's a lot of weight to the top if you want to rock and roll it's a lot of weight to the top if you want to rock and roll it's a lot of weight to the top if you want to rock and roll [Music]

48:36 [Music] God! Damnit! That's such a good song! And if you really want to know how long it is to that top let me tell you but better than let me tell you let me play it for you because back before Bon was in ACDC he was in a band called Fraternity not only did he sing in Fraternity but also apparently he played the recorder I had no idea but let's listen in this is before ACDC Bon Scott you will recognize the voice folks [Music] you can see this video on YouTube by the way Fraternity [Music] wait for the voice [Music] In 1970 Bon Scott moved to Adelaide and joined the progressive rock group progressive rock group fraternity but if you ever wanted to know

50:06 what playing in a progressive rock group did to you it made you join ACDC and then just crush it professionally he joined Fraternity who released the LP Live Stock and then also a second album called Flaming Gala before touring the UK in 1973 where they changed their name to Fang because apparently Fraternity wasn't cool enough man that's amazing alright that's it for this episode of Mount Rockmore the four career defining songs well I guess five if you put that one isn't with Bon Scott of Bon Scott I hate my picks think you could do better well just tweet me at Mount Rockmore and let me know I may need your help to co-host and join me for some stage diving right into upcoming Rockmore and if you knew that during the time Fraternity played support slots for bands like Status Quo and Jordy Jordy's frontman at that time was Brian Johnson who would eventually succeed Bon Scott as the lead singer of ACDC after his death so you're feeling that it was Bon Scott opening for Brian Johnson and if you knew that then just tell your fellow Bon heads that you subscribed to Mount Rockmore and we'll be right here for your 45th high school radio and road trip until next time on Bauer see ya

51:51 [Music] ♪ Rich fans, best ♪ (beatboxing)