Bon Scott’s Final TV Appearance with AC/DC

In February 1980, AC/DC faced a pivotal and tragic moment. As they geared up for a new album, the band was struck by devastating news – Bon Scott, their lead vocalist, was discovered lifeless in his Renault 5 near his South London residence on February 19th, 1980. Although various speculations circulated about the cause of his death, none were confirmed.

Before his untimely demise, Bon Scott participated in what would be his final live performance with AC/DC on January 27th, 1980, in Southampton, U.K. At that time, the band had gained significant popularity in the United States with their album Highway to Hell, produced by Mutt Lange, which had climbed the Billboard Top 200 charts. Following the Southampton gig, AC/DC, with Bon Scott, made a memorable appearance on Top of the Pops on February 7th, miming the song “Touch Too Much.”

The band went to Madrid a few days later to play live on the Spanish TV music show Aplauso. They gave an impressive performance of “Beating Around the Bush,” a tune whose opening riff is evocative of Fleetwood Mac’s 1969 hit song “Oh Well.”

An Introduction on TV Aplauso

When introducing AC/DC and Bon Scott’s farewell performance, the show’s host said the following words:

“Today on TV Aplauso, we welcome a new group to Spain: AC/DC. Hailing from Australia, they are regarded as one of the finest rock bands of the previous generation, steering clear of New Wave or Punk influences. With a massive fan base in England, today marks AC/DC’s first time in Spain!”