AC/DC’s “Back In Black”: For Bon Scott, or by Bon Scott?

Is there thievery and a cover-up behind the classic rock masterpiece?

Phil Rossi
4 min readJan 12, 2021

The collaboration between Bon Scott and AC/DC on their epic album, Back In Black, remains an intriguing riddle. Still unclear and unsolved to this day. How much did Bon Scott inspire this iconic, heavy metal monster? Not from the grave, but before it — as a rock and roll songwriter.

Is there thievery and a cover-up surrounding one of classic rock’s greatest albums? 40 years later, Back In Black still enjoys hefty sales and generous radio time, with no indication of slowing down.

Outside of its enormous impact and accolades, AC/DC marketed the album as a tribute to Bon Scott. AC/DC’s memorial to their former frontman may tug the heartstrings of the masses, but questions remain over Bon Scott’s artistic contribution to Back In Black.

The “Highway To Hell” Gets Paved With Platinum:

After years of touring, promotion, and limited airplay, AC/DC released their platinum-selling album, Highway To Hell. The record took off, catapulting the band to rock stardom. The boys arrived — in the money and bonafide stars.

In the fall of 1979, AC/DC began the groundwork for the follow-up album to Highway To Hell, untitled at…

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