The past couple of days, I've been in an AC/DC mood.
I've listened to all the band's U.S. releases in order — "High Voltage," "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," "Let There Be Rock," "Powerage," "Highway to Hell," "Back in Black," "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)," "Flick of the Switch," "Fly on the Wall," "Who Made Who," "Blow Up Your Video," "The Razor's Edge," "Ballbreaker," "Stiff Upper Lip," "Black Ice" and the band's recent rare-cut, retrospective box set "Backtracks."
I even bought a new AC/DC T-shirt a couple of weeks ago.
I bring this up because today, Feb. 19, marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Bon Scott, the band's original singer.
Scott, born Ronald Belford Scott, who appears on the albums from "High Voltage" to "Highway to Hell," died after a night of binge drinking. While he officially died choking on his own vomit, the coroner has been quoted saying, "He drank himself to death."
He apparently was celebrating "Highway" hitting No. 17 on the Billboard 200.
AC/DC means a lot to me. My first band played "Sin City" and "Highway to Hell." And the first time I was able see the band live was in 1985 for the "Fly on the Wall" tour.
I remember everything about that show from the opening guitar riffs of "Fly on the Wall" to the closing cannon-blasting anthem "For Those About to Rock."
I remember the cannons rising from the sides of the stage. I remember the 3-ton bell lowering from the rafters of the Kansas Coliseum.
The last time I saw the band was at the E Center in 2001, and when that bell dropped and when the cannons rose, I felt like I was 17 again.
I still can't believe it's been three decades since Scott died.
My favorite Scott-fronted AC/DC album is "Powerage." I like the rawness of the songs. I like the overall down-and-out feel of the album and I still, to this day, can't get enough of the back-alley bass interlude in "Sin City."
For the record, my favorite AC/DC album with Scott's replacement, and current singer, Brian Johnson is "Flick of the Switch."
I like "Flick" because, again, of the rawness of the production. The band decided to get back to the down-and-dirty, in-the-face mix after coming off the No. 1-charting "For Those About to Rock" which was released a year and half earlier.
I think I can speak for most AC/DC fans when I say I like both lead singers. To me it doesn't matter if a Scott song or a Johnson song comes on the radio. I always, without fail, crank the volume and sing along.
Here's to you, Bon. You are still missed.
Here's to you, Brian. We're glad you joined the band and helped keep it alive.
e-mail: scott@desnews.com