Bon Scott Birthday Merchandise Released to Honor the AC/DC Icon
The estate of late AC/DC singer Bon Scott has announced an ambitious slate of events and commemorative releases to honor what would have been the iconic frontman’s 80th birthday on July 9. The announcement arrives on the anniversary of Scott’s death in 1980, underscoring both the passage of time and the enduring cultural weight of his legacy.
Described by the estate as a “robust event and merchandising plan,” the initiative spans music, art, fashion, and archival storytelling. Among the highlights is a collaboration with German studio specialist Neumann, alongside collectible silver and gold bullion bars bearing Scott’s name and likeness, produced by the Perth Mint. A new visual tribute from celebrated Australian artist and Mental As Anything frontman Reg Mombassa is also planned, as well as a fresh Bon Scott figurine from Knucklebonz.
Collectibles, Culture, and the Powerage Era
The Knucklebonz figure draws inspiration from AC/DC’s 1978 Powerage tour, continuing the company’s series of Scott collectibles that previously honored the Highway To Hell era of 1979 and 1976’s It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ’N’ Roll). The focus on Powerage—often cited by fans as one of the band’s rawest and most uncompromising records—signals a deliberate nod to Scott at his most feral and fully formed.
Elsewhere, Dixxon Flannel Co is set to release a limited-edition Bon Scott shirt in “Heritage” tartan, while Copa Football Jerseys will unveil a special “Bon 80” football shirt. Additional anniversary merchandise will be made available through the official Bon Scott online store, broadening the celebration beyond traditional music memorabilia and into lifestyle and fashion spaces.
In tandem with the physical releases, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation has supplied archival Bon Scott video material for his official YouTube channel. The channel will also premiere a series of newly recorded interviews with musicians and fans whose lives were shaped by Scott’s presence, including Rick Springfield, Bruce Howe of Scott’s pre-AC/DC band Fraternity, Sammy Hagar, and Scott Ian.
Voices from the Rock ’n’ Roll Brotherhood
“I was a Bon Scott fan,” says Hagar. “I mean, when I first heard his voice, I said, as a singer this guy’s cool. I like the way he sings, he’s giving it all. He was always on the edge of his voice cracking. Just one more step and he would lose it. You know? It’s like a car driver on the edge in a race and just, almost lose it at every turn. And that’s how you win a race.
“So, I really liked that about him. Finally, in ’76 or ’77, shortly after the Montrose thing, I was on a show with AC/DC, a little 2,000-seat theatre or something, and I was opening and I was really excited about that. He was really animated. And I watched the whole show. I just loved him. I loved his demeanour. Bon was the kind of person that every guy in rock and roll loves. He’s just the coolest guy.”
“Bon’s attitude, demeanour, and frontman swagger gave him the Everyman persona that the world loved him for,” says Rob Halford. “His voice, look, and on-stage character drew us all in—there’s an unmatched uniqueness that solidifies Bon’s legendary status in rock ’n’ roll.”
“Bon Scott was the coolest singer ever—the vocal delivery, the tongue-in-cheek double entendres, and the magnetic personality,” adds Lars Ulrich. “Those early AC/DC records—Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock, Powerage, Highway To Hell—are just fucking timeless.”
“Watching all those early videos like Jailbreak and stuff, it’s the best,” says Josh Homme. “I mean, AC/DC have got to be in my top one and a half favourite bands of all time. Bon Scott could sing about rock ’n’ roll, which is a hard thing to do and take seriously.”
The anniversary celebrations will culminate with Bonfest—the International Bon Scott Rock Festival—in Kirriemuir, Scotland, from May 1–3, followed by the third annual Bon’s Birthday Bash in New York City on July 6. Yet the significance of the moment stretches beyond dates and destinations. Four decades after his passing, Scott remains less a historical figure than a living force—his voice still blasting from car stereos, his grin frozen in mid-taunt, his songs continuing to define what unapologetic rock ’n’ roll sounds like. At 80, Bon Scott is not being remembered so much as he is still being lived with, loud and undiminished.
