Criticizing AC/DC for sticking to their signature sound is like complaining that Lewis Hamilton drives too fast—it’s what they were made to do. Their brand of no-frills, hard-hitting rock is unmatched, and more importantly, no one else is really trying to replicate it. While bands like Airbourne made attempts to capture their essence, AC/DC’s raw power and unwavering style remain one of a kind.
So why would they change? Their sound is timeless, anthemic, and deeply rooted in rock’s primal energy. AC/DC’s influences seem simple—Chuck Berry, loud amps, and a relentless groove. But beneath their straight-ahead sound lies a deeper well of inspiration, including a key figure who helped shape Bon Scott into the legendary frontman he became.
Scott wasn’t AC/DC’s first singer, but he was the one who defined their sound. The band had already displayed resilience long before his tragic passing, first by replacing original frontman Dave Evans, a move that Malcolm and Angus Young had no regrets about. In a 2003 interview, Malcolm bluntly dismissed Evans as “a schmuck” who took too much credit for the band’s early success. “Every time we come back to tour Australia, Dave gets himself in the papers saying he was the star,” he said. “He lasted one single.”
When Scott first joined, even his own vocal ability was questioned. The interviewer pointed out that Scott wasn’t the most technically proficient singer, a fact the Young brothers fully embraced. In response, Malcolm highlighted one of Scott’s biggest influences: Alex Harvey. “Bon was an original,” he said. “There was another guy out of England, Alex Harvey, who was quite clever with his phrasing and words. I think Bon picked up a few things from him. Alex never really had a singing voice—he did more of a talking type of thing—but he would tear it up onstage.”
Angus added, “Bon, you felt his charisma. You could see him coming from a mile away. He was originally a drummer, and when he first joined up with Mal and me, he said, ‘Ahh, I just want to play drums.’ And we went, ‘No, no, no. You’re singing.’”
Harvey, the leader of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, had a theatrical, larger-than-life approach that blended storytelling with an almost spoken-word delivery. His stage presence was electrifying, and his knack for infusing rock with humor, grit, and personality left a lasting mark on Scott. Though Scott brought his own wild energy and charm to AC/DC, Harvey’s influence can be felt in his phrasing, swagger, and ability to command an audience.
AC/DC never needed to reinvent themselves. As the famous Bruce Lee quote goes, “I do not fear the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” AC/DC perfected their craft with an unwavering commitment to their sound, and Bon Scott, shaped by icons like Harvey, became the ultimate frontman to bring their vision to life.
