A new sculpture of Kirriemuir rock legend Bon Scott has been unveiled by his son in Melbourne’s fittingly named AC/DC Lane.
The memorial is the third such tribute to the late singer with statues already standing in Perth, Australia, and Scott’s home town in Angus.
The latest sculpture is the work of artist Mike Makatron whose murals are popular attractions along the city street where the new Scott tribute resides.
Graham Galloway from DD8 Music, which organises the annual BonFest in Kirriemuir, said it was clear evidence that the singer is still loved around the globe.
“Our statue in Kirriemuir brings fans to the town from all over the world 365 days a year,” he said.
“We’ve recently had people coming from Moscow and there was a bus which pulled up at the statue from Brittany in France.
“A man got off with a set of bagpipes and started playing ‘It’s A Long Way to the Top’ and it turned out that visiting the statue in Kirriemuir was his 50th birthday treat.
“That just shows the love there is for Bon and I’m sure the popularity of the Melbourne sculpture will be no different.”
While the band came together in Sydney, Melbourne boasts a number of connections to the line-up.
Drummer Phil Rudd and bassist Mark Evans were both born in the city and Scott lived there during a couple of periods during his life — first as a child, then as a young working musician.
AC/DC filmed the video for It’s A Long Way to the Top in Melbourne, cementing the ties.
The sculpture, which has been a year in the making, is the brainchild of Cherry Bar owner James Young.
It shows Bon Scott breaking through the brick wall of AC/DC lane.
The singer’s son, Dave Stevens, said he was thrilled with the sculpture.
“It looks like him,” he said.
“It’s a classic rock pose.
“It’s like when you think of Bon Scott, that’s the look.”
Artist Mike Makatron said: “It’s an honour to add a permanent 3D element that pays tribute to a great Australian rock n’ roll band and its lead singer, Bon Scott, but also to music in general.”
Scott grew up in Kirriemuir, where father Charles worked in the family bakery in Bank Street.
In 1952, when he was six, the family emigrated to Australia.
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 after a night out in London in 1980.
