The UK’s biggest collector of AC/DC memorabilia has promised fans will be left Thunderstruck after donating rare items to a Kirriemuir exhibition.
This year marks the 10th anniversary Bonfest, a celebration of the baker’s son who emigrated with his Angus family to Australia before becoming the lead singer of rock giants AC/DC, and the Angus town will witness the unveiling of a sculpture commemorating the frontman following a £50,000 campaign which enjoyed global support.
Collector Neil McDonald has contributed to an extended exhibition at Kirriemuir’s Gateway to the Glens Museum in the town square for the 10th year running.
He has a life-long collection of albums, posters, rare cassettes and even a Christmas card from former lead singer Bon Scott.
This year he has decided to mark the milestone anniversary by delivering many items of memorabilia which have never been displayed before in Kirriemuir.
Mr McDonald, who is originally from Glasgow, said: “We are all set for Bonfest 2016.
“I am delighted to be back again in Kirriemuir exhibiting at the Gateway To The Glens Museum.
“I have already delivered many items of memorabilia from my collection to the museum which are now on display.
“Amongst the items being exhibited this year are two Reel to Reel Tapes from Atlantic Studios, USA for the album Powerage and a metal printing plate for the cover of the Powerage LP from Germany.
“Also, there are promotional shop displays for the Heavy Metal series of singles released in the UK in 1980 and a cardboard Cash Register counter display for the single Moneytalks from the USA.
“These are only a small number of the new items which have never been displayed before in Kirriemuir.
“I will, of course, be at the museum over the Bonfest weekend to chat to visitors about the exhibition.
“As you are aware, this is the 10th anniversary of Bonfest, a great achievement for the organisers at DD8 Music.
“It is terrific that the Bon Scott statue will be getting unveiled at this years event and we are all very excited about it.
“It is all lining up to be a superb weekend.”
Mr McDonald has been a fan of the Forfar-born rocker since the 1970s and was keen his collection go on show in Scott’s home town.
The first time he met Scott he was standing outside the Glasgow Apollo in 1978 before a concert.
He was carrying the last tour programme when Scott drew up in a car, and he asked him to sign it, which he did.
Mr McDonald asked if he would take it inside and get the other guys to sign it as well.
Scott asked him to come inside and ask them himself and he ended up meeting the band and they all signed his programme.
He met Bon Scott three times before he died.
Mr McDonald said: “I’ll never forget the day he died because it was on my birthday.”
Bon Scott was born Ronald Belford Scott in Forfar in 1946 and lived in Kirriemuir until 1952, when his family moved to Australia.
Once there he became part of one of music’s biggest success stories after joining Glasgow-born brothers Angus and Malcolm Young in their band, AC/DC.
Scott died in London in 1980, aged just 33.
