Scottish rock legend Bon Scott joined a “pantheon” of stars including Keith Richards, Bob Dylan — and Oor Wullie — at an Angus art exhibition.
Kirriemuir’s 10th annual celebration of Bon and AC/DC, Bonfest, kicked off in rebellious style with a host of bands on Friday night.
A permanent tribute to the former frontman, who died tragically in 1980 as the global phenomenon was just beginning, will be unveiled in his home town this afternoon.
And the rock icon has now been immortalised as a piece of pop art.
Artist Robert McSpadyen was approached to frame Bon in technicolour screen print, a format he has used to encapsulate the essence of stars such as Lee Marvin, Ava Gardner and Shirley MacLaine.
Mr McSpadyen, 43, is a member of Glasgow Print Studio and creates prints which reflect his own pop cultural and cinematic preoccupations and obsessions.
A selection of his work is now on display alongside Bon at the town’s Bank Street Gallery, and sales of Bon prints will support the work of DD8 Music, the music-driven youth project behind Bonfest.
“I work in screen printing, as that suits the style of the characters I like – brash and bold,” he said.
“I stick to working with the influences I have, and Bon fits in with that whole pantheon of rock and roll legends.
“Bon and the Young brothers (musicians Angus, Malcolm and producer George) were all from Scotland before they emigrated to Australia, and so were a big part of what you could call Scotland’s biggest band.
“It’s only fitting that there’s a statue getting unveiled here.”
Gallery owner Susie Clark said she is “delighted” to host a first-of-its-kind artwork.
“Robert is building a shrine to a deeply personal pantheon of the late 20th century’s sharpest icons,” she said.
The Bank Street Gallery exhibition runs until June 10.
This year’s Bonfest sees the evening gigs played in a big top on the town’s south side.
Last night’s headline band was the all-female quintet BACK:N:BLACK, supported by Reddog, and The Ruckus.
This followed a day of live music around the town’s pubs and a re-enactment of the AC/DC video Long Way to the Top by German band Bon: The AC/DC Show on the back of a vintage vehicle.
Today, the statue of Bon will be officially unveiled in Bellies Brae at 1pm by special guests Mark Evans, Mary Renshaw, Tony Currenti and Bob Richards.
BON The AC/DC Show is tonight’s featured act, supported by Ferus Cane and The Smokin’ Bugler Band.
Mark Evans played bass on four Bon-era albums and will give a talk and Q&A about his time in the band at 1pm tomorrow in Kirriemuir Town Hall.
Former AC/DC drummer Tony Currenti will play tomorrow night, performing the entirety of the High Voltage album with Pure/DC.
Mary Renshaw will also appear and discuss her book about Bon, entitled Live Wire.
