Legendary AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has been announced as the headliner for BonFest 2017 —Kirriemuir’s annual celebration of the band’s enigmatic front man Bon Scott.
Rudd’s drumming was the backbone to all but three of the band’s 18 studio albums which have sold in hundreds of millions across the globe.
After a 10th anniversary BonFest earlier this year which saw the unveiling of a £50,000 statue of the local baker’s son, event organisers say they are thrilled to sign up the musician, who is turning his life back around after well-publicised personal problems which led to him serving an eight-month home detention in New Zealand.
Bonfest will take place over the weekend of April 28 to 30 next year and as well as evening concerts the festival will see three full days of free live gigs in local venues.
AC/DC fans from across the globe flock to Kirrie and BonFest organiser Graham Galloway said being able to bring Rudd to Angus was a coup for the start of the festival’s second decade.
After Angus and Malcolm Young, the Glasgow brothers who formed the band after their family emigrated Down Under — where Scott’s similar route from Scotland would lead to the meeting which changed the face of rock — Phil Rudd has the longest history of any other musician with AC/DC.
Mr Galloway said: “The veteran musician has appeared on all but three of AC/DC’s 18 studio albums, which have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide, and his drums are as much a part of the band’s sound as the Young brother’s guitars.
“We are thrilled to be able to announce Phil Rudd as our main headliner for Bonfest 2017.
“Phil’s drumming has been the backbone of the AC/DC sound for 40 years, and he was a close personal friend of Bon’s too.
“Phil will be joining an incredible line up of bands next year, and we can’t wait to see him on our main stage,” he added.
During 2014 Phil recorded and released his first debut album, Head Job, with Kiwi musicians Allan Badger and Geoffrey Martin .
The release of Head Job only took place in Australia and New Zealand after international promotion plans were scuppered when Rudd was convicted of drugs charges, with Chris Slade stepping in as the drummer on AC/DC’s 2015 Rock or Bust world tour.
Mr Galloway added: “Phil will be playing songs from Head Job and will hopefully be performing a few AC/DC classics as well.
“Phil joins Stinger on the main stage on the Friday night, Live/Wire, Screaming Eagles and Solar Sons on Saturday and AC/DC UK, Hayseed Dixie and Dave Arcari on Sunday.”
