Bon: The Last Highway

by Jesse Fink

"A fascinating read. You won't be able to put it down once you get started."
- Chris Jericho, Talk is Jericho (Westwood One)

"Fink is one of, if not the foremost authority on all things AC/DC… [ The Last Highway] reads as a cross between an Agatha Christie–like novel and CSI–influenced approach to dissecting the physical evidence and outstanding questions related to the public story revolving around Bon’s death. I cannot recommend this book enough. Whether you love AC/DC, just like them or are just interested in rock ’n’ roll in general this is an amazing story."
- Metal Geezers

" The Last Highway by Jesse Fink is one of the most impressive biographies I've ever read. It is an absolute masterpiece that features more sources and research than most college textbooks. I was floored by the amount of effort and research that Jesse poured into this project.
"In the case of Bon Scott, both his tragic death and (potentially) his greatest lyrical work have been totally distorted for the sake of the legends that surround AC/DC. Jesse's book is one long re-examination of those legends, and he makes mince-meat out of most of the band's official stories... his work here is profoundly impressive."
- Play That Rock’n’Roll

"After being made aware of the previous poor attempts to tell Bon's story, I decided to read The Last Highway. Fink's book deserves 10 out of 10 for effort in gathering all the information possible.... Theory Two [about how Bon died] could not be any closer to the truth. I know, because I was there."
- Joe Fury, Bon Scott's friend who went to the hospital in London when Bon was declared dead-on-arrival

Books of the Year - Planet Rock (UK)
Books of the Year - Herald Sun (Australia)
Books of the Year - Loud Online (Australia)
Books of the Year - All Music Books (USA)
Books of the Year - InQuire, University of Kent (UK)

Praise for The Last Highway by Jesse

"A fascinating portrait of a troubled man with a serious alcohol addiction... the literary equivalent of a road movie." - Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times
"One of 2017's most essential rock reads." - al.com (Alabama)
"Over the years Bon Scott has become an untouchable rock god; but this book digs deeper. It's something that hasn't really been done before... it's a whole new look on the troubled frontman and a fine biography." - Jyrki "Spider" Hamalainen, Vive Le Rock (UK)
"After being made aware of the previous poor attempts to tell Bon's story, I decided to read The Last Highway. Fink's book deserves 10 out of 10 for effort in gathering all the information possible.... Theory Two [about how Bon died] could not be any closer to the truth. I know, because I was there." - Joe Fury, Bon Scott's friend who went to the hospital in London to identify Bon's body
"Hand-on-heart clarity and the haze of memory merge here to do justice to what is both a celebratory and cautionary tale... you will learn much on this road trip. You already know the soundtrack."- RTE (Republic of Ireland)
"Jesse Fink is a very courageous writer... a fact-rich, exciting book that reads in places like a crime story. Investigative journalism at its best." - Metal Glory (Germany)
"Just like the object of his desire (it is his second book on AC/DC), Fink is prone to perfectionism. He meticulously dedicates himself to the last three years in the life of Ronald Belford Scott ... Fink's book is a real gift for the fans of the tragically and much too early deceased singer." - Classic Rock (Germany)
"Of the 20-plus books written about AC/DC, this one comes closest to the truth about how former singer Bon Scott died and his uncredited legacy as a songwriter... not just for fans, this is equal parts cautionary tale and meticulously researched document." - Courier Mail (Australia)
"Fink's book meticulously explores the man and the many myths about Scott's life and death, and his hell of a ride in between." - Herald Sun (Australia)
"A literary masterpiece." - Soundanalyse (Germany)
"One of the most important publications on AC/DC... Fink has become something of an AC/DC detective and shines light on parts of the AC/DC story which have always been dimly lit. Music fans around the world have been waiting for this book - and it does not disappoint." - Denis Gray, Australian Rock Show
"I read this book in seven hours, with a 20-minute break for dinner, and put it down almost breathless at the non-biased, staggering research. The Last Highway is probably one of the best books I've ever read - on anything! And I read a lot. This book goes up to 11! Extremely well done. A magnificent book." - Paul Chapman, guitarist, UFO
"Crossing continents and tracking key figures down, Fink's work is impressive; his book is exhaustively investigative and engrossing." - Exclaim
"Painstakingly researched." - Dangerous Minds
"Phenom...

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Pop Culture, Autobiography, Audiobook

504 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2017

About the author

Jesse Fink was born in London in 1973. He is the author of six books including The Eagle in the Mirror, Pure Narco, Bon: The Last Highway and The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC. Visit his official website at jessefinkbooks.com

Reviews

[Johnny Hirschfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times it reads like a true crime novel with conspiracy theories thrown in (since the author is forced to fill in many blanks based on conflicting as well as missing opinions). I felt like I learned a lot about Bon Scott as a person and I guess the Young brothers as well. I would highly recommend for anyone who loves the early Bon era AC/DC. In the end it’s a shame that no one got him into rehab and it’s a shame that no one really invested effort to investigate what happened that day. If the author was there - I bet he would have made sure all questions were answered before the inquest was completed.
One thing is for sure - I will never listen to the You Shook Me All Night Long the same way again.

[Nick Cavuoto · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm only about a quarter of the way through but I have to say that I am not loving this book. It's not especially well written. It tends to be redundant and seems to try a little too hard to push it's conspiracy theories. It feels just too desperate to paint the Youngs and their handlers in a bad, mafia-esque light. I'm not quite buying it. Most damning of all though is that I don't get a very clear picture of just who Bon Scott was. He was obviously a conflicted man, but you don't convey internal conflict by presenting contradictory information from multiple sources. It all just feels too incoherent a portrait. It's too bad, he was a great entertainer with a wry sense of humor and I really did want to know him better.

[Tom Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bon The Last Highway,” by Jesse Fink is a highly entertaining trip back in time to the halcyon days of the late 70’s when Bon Scott, the lead singer and his band AC/DC, were blazing a trail across the USA trying to crack it. It’s a warts and all portrayal of a lovable but flawed character which turns into a mystery novel after his untimely death in London in Feb 1980 due to alcohol poisoning and maybe something else. After conflicting accounts Jesse Fink decides to piece together exactly what went down on that fateful final night. It’s very well written and extensively researched, a riveting read.
Gass Wild

[Stephen Malo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa

There's a strong urge to now throw away everything I've ever read about the death of Bon, and his life in general. This new book by Jesse Fink opens new theories to Bob's life and tragic death. I now feel for Bon in a way I've never felt before. He was a great guy, but had demons. He wasn't as beloved by the band as I had always assumed. So much secrecy....

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough look at Bon Scott during AC/DC's first tour of the United States through the end of Bon Scott's life. I enjoyed this book, For whatever reason, I expected a complete biography of Bon Scott's life and music. That is not what this book is. The book is split pretty evenly into halves. The first half details every tour AC/DC had in the US with Bon Scott prior to his death. Included in this are quotes from friends Bon met on the road, bands who shared the bill with AC/DC and girlfriends of Bon. This helps paint a good picture of Bon and his long struggle and rise to fame.

The second half of the book acts almost as a rock urban legend or rock conspiracy theory book, with the author providing extremely detailed information on two different theories of what happened on the day of Bon's death, as well as the authors suggestion that Bon wrote some or all of "Back in Black".

While the book is different I cannot fault the content. The author does a great job setting the scene of what late 70's rock and radio were like. He edits his interviews well. It would have been easy to point a lot of blame at other members of AC/DC for letting a newly famous, known addict keep whatever company he likes weeks before the scheduled recording of an album, but the author allows you to infer those opinions for yourself. He also provides details and reminders that rehabilitation and narcotics/alcoholics anonymous were not as prevalent then as they are now, and Bon's behavior was seen as typical rock star behavior

I would call this book the definitive source on Bon Scott's death and an interesting read if you have your doubts that Brian Johnson wrote "Back in Black" or want to know more about Bon Scott. My only criticism is that the book does not talk much about the albums or music. I would suggest buying this in combination with Martin Popoffs "AC/DC: Album by Album", if you want a picture of what the music was like and its influence.

I also want to thank the author for writing about the July 15, 1978 AC/DC gig in Fresno CA opening for Aerosmith. My parents attended, and have told me about the time Angus Young mooned the crowd and the crowd threw thrash at them. My Mom has never been able to like AC/DC because of this incident. Local radio stations have dismissed the concert as a myth for years so I appreciate having a concrete reference of its occurrence.

[Crystal Harkness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from a goodreads giveaway and I’m glad I did. I knew there had been many books written about AC/DC and all its members, but I feel that I might not have had the opportunity to read (or find out about) this book if it wasn’t for good reads and it’s giveaways.

It is an enjoyable book and a great look into the life of Bon Scott. There are many interviews with Bon’s lovers and friends in the book that tell a personal story about Bon’s life. I also enjoyed seeing the photos included in the book. This book is definitely worth a read.

[John Dunbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily the best book I have ever read about Bon Scott. The meticulous research virtually shines out on every page. Fink humanised Bon in a way no other author has come close to. Most writers seem content to reinforce the stereotypical image of Bon, but here we see a more rounded human portrait, rather than the usual rocker caricature that normally gets churned out on a regular basis. For fans this is essential reading, but there's plenty here for those with a casual interest in the band. Highly recommended read

[Geoff Sheehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book a great read. There are a couple of conclusions drawn, or at least put up as possibilities.
One of which I have felt for some time as likely. Put it this way, I love the Bon era albums plus Back in Black yet felt disappointed in the subsequent albums until the Youngs took over full control of the songs.
The other, while I personally would prefer it not be true, I leave the book with the feeling that it could be true. Or, is likely to be true.
This book should find a spot on the book shelves of all AC/DC, Bon Scott or just Aussie Pub Rock fans.

[Tommy Schenker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rewriting this review because I read the book again and liked it way better the 2nd time. The first time I was a little disappointed because it wasn't what I was expecting. It seemed like it focused way too much on his drinking, his death and the Back In Black album. Knowing what to expect made me enjoy this book a lot more the 2nd time. I for sure wouldn't make it the only Bon Scott book you read but there is some interesting stuff here. And the theory that Bon wrote most of the lyrics to Back In Black is quite compelling.

[Andy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authorised version of Bons death back on that night in February 1980 was 'alcoholic poisoning' and 'misadventure' but this informative and fantastic book gives differing accounts and facts by people associated with him around that time. It delves into the last 32 months of his career with AC/DC and paints a picture of a man succumbing to alcohol and slowly to drugs due to the pressure of long and arduous tours.

Loved every bit of this book! Very recommended!

[Deanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........Very disappointed in this book. I'm a quarter of the way in and just can't bear to read another page. As a die-hard Bon Scott fan, I was hoping to learn more about Bon's last few years and his contributions to Back in Black. Unfortunately, this is a poorly written bashing of everyone around Bon and little to do with the man himself.

[BMR, LCSW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesse Fink, who wrote the great book about AC/DC architects The Youngs, has delved even deeper into the AC/DC story and examined the back story of Back in Black. As opposed to a tribute to Bon Scott, turns out the album was probably written by but uncredited to Bon.

Fink makes the case from previously unseen and undiscovered evidence, interviews with major players in Bon's life during his last 3 years, and exhaustive research. The definitive story may never come out, but this is a pretty good estimate of it.

Recommended for the fans, especially those who were previously unaware of the controversy, rumors, and company line.

[James Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that I couldn't put down!! It showcases the fact that Bonn Scott was not only a great front man but also a great rock lyricists!! It also gives a lot of detail about late 70s hard rock in America and elsewhere and also some other interesting details into Bonn's life.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well made book. It gives a clear insight into the life of Bon Scott and recalls many different stories from people involved in his life. I enjoyed seeing the photos that were included in the book as well. If you are a fan of AC/DC you should definitely check this book out.

[Duncan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesse sure knows his AC/DC.

He makes a convincing case as to Bon's authorship of a significant amount of the Back in Black lyrics.

[Steven McKay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read but flawed.
I actually made a fair amount of notations throughout the book as I was reading, but there's no need to go into them all - essentially, the author thinks Bon Scott wrote most of the lyrics on the Back In Black album, particularly those for "You Shook Me All Night Long". To back this up he offers testimony from certain people who claim lines like "American thighs" and "sightless eyes" (which was originally "Chartreuse eyes" in Bon's lyrics) were about a specific girlfriend of Bon's. However, the author also includes comments from people who say Bon wrote those lyrics before he'd ever even BEEN to America, which is before he met the woman it's supposedly about! And then he also includes testimony from other guys who say Bon had NO lyrics written for Back in Black and was struggling to come up with any for it - including a producer who wasn't happy about that fact. So...which is it? Did Bon write the song or not? Ultimately this book does nothing but muddy the waters even further.
For my part, I believe many of AC/DC's lyrics were actually written by the Youngs - we know they wrote some before Bon even joined the band so it's not hard to believe. And then Bon added his magic to those and made them more special.
So, if you read this as a biography of Bon then it's a good read, and I certainly enjoyed it in that respect. But as a whole, it's pretty disjointed in terms of whether Bon wrote anything for BiB. On top of that, the author clearly doesn't have any time for the Youngs but again, although he tries to portray Malcolm in particular as hating Bon and being some kind of monster, he also includes comments from people who say Malcolm was nice to them and, in fact, Bon's addictions were a huge problem, so much so that you get the impression Malcolm MUST have appreciated Bon or he would have bowed to major record company pressure and sacked him years earlier!
Overall, I enjoyed the book despite its obvious flaws and biases. There's also no concluding chapter to pull all the strings together and wrap things up. So...AC/DC fan? Yeah, buy this, but don't expect anything earth shaking or revelatory.

[Matthew Ancarrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesse Fink’s BON: THE LAST HIGHWAY investigates the questions still lingering about Bon Scott’s mysterious death and the questions still in the air in the making of BACK IN BLACK after this many years.
Interesting book to read shortly after the death of rhythm guitarist/band taskmaster Malcolm Young.

Highly recommended for fans of AC/DC, rock n’ roll, tragedy, and investigative journalism. Fink is the authority on uncovering all the facts AC/DC / the Youngs would rather leave lost in years and years of contradiction.

EDIT: Fink also (through interviews with buddies from tour, former lovers, and fellow musicians on the road) illustrates an oft-overlooked or forgotten part of Bon Scott’s legacy: a deeply insecure yet ambitious talent on the cusp of his breakthrough who fell victim to the loneliness and demons of the rock n’ roll image he macabrely and accidentally personified.
And that’s the great tragedy of Bon Scott, that his story is so often overlooked by the bizarre circumstances of his death.

“Inconsistencies have been around for years, but all most music or celebrity journalists seem to care for is asking Angus where he got the idea for his schoolboy outfit or how AC/DC got their name or how many records they’ve sold and isn’t it great they continued on bravely without Bon.
These inconsistencies should be noticed.
Instead the world laps up the heroic narrative: two grieving brothers and a greenhorn with a Geordie accent and next-to-no experience in lyric writing who against all odds managed to write one of the biggest selling albums of all time in a matter of weeks after the death of the single greatest life-force in the band: Ronald Belford Scott.”

[JIm · Rating 5 out of 5]

IF you are a Fan of AC/DC and a fan of Bon Scott in particular, you must give this a read. I must caution you however, you must do so with an open mind. Without going into any detail it will smash most of what you know about everyone to be true. If exposing a myth bothers you, don't read it, but if you want to know as much of the truth as you possible can get, Read this not once, but twice. This isn't so much a biography as it is a research project. Mr Fink goes into great detail and expends no small effort not only to give you the facts as best as he can provide, but to let you in on how he collected those facts. While it may upset some, It is clear to me there was no agenda other than to find the unvarnished truth. Read it carefully and with detail in mind. The story is complex and after 40+ years sorting out the details and separating myth from fact Mr Fink throws a great deal of information at you. However, it is exactly because of this that I can't imagine you will find a more complete detailed driven book on the subject anywhere. It is one of my favorite books I've read for this very reason. I discovered that everything I thought about Bon Scott and AC/DC was pretty much bunk and while this might unsettle some, it gave me a new appreciation for Bon Scott not just as a musical personality but as a person, complete was some of the most powerful demons a man could ever fight.

[Sharon Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm, VERY interesting investigation by author Jesse Fink, about the last days and death of Bon Scott (who to me will always be the REAL singer of AC/DC), and also whether or not the album Back In Black had a lot of lyrics written - but not credited - by Bon (possibly courtesy of a notebook which mysteriously went missing after his death, in which Bon wrote a lot of thoughts, lyrics and ideas).

Fink has spent a lot of time and effort sourcing information, people, and meticulously recording evidence (and hearsay) - a lot which contradicts itself courtesy of the drug addled memories of former close friends, lovers, and junkie acquaintances, on something that happened 43 years ago.

I found it a rather fascinating read/listen.

[Lindy D'mellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book which was well researched. I like that the author presented all that he was able to find on Bon’s tragic death and without making a judgement allowed the reader to decide. As someone who although still at high school in the 70’s in Australia was well aware of AC/DC and always preferring Bon as their lead singer this book gave a great insight into their road to being one of the best rock and roll bands in the world. A good read.

[Lisa Moyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super interesting, but included so much detail, it made for a long book. But I really liked it - have always been fascinated by Bon Scott so was great to learn so much about him.

[Marc Diepstraten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bon Scott - iconic. Even more so since time gone by. The first front man / vocalist who blew me away. Rock 'n Roll personified, one of a kind. It is an immense sad tale how he ended up, alone and abandoned on the brink of massive success, succumbed by his own demons. There are endless questions What if, or If only surrounding his life. He deserved better. The rest of AC/DC don't come out looking too well, and that has been repeated in other books as well. Relentless ambition which crushed anything in the way or outside the Young family. Without Bon there would not be this AC/DC, or the monumental success which transpired after his death. I think Fink is very near the core of truth, although the real story is lost in drunken stupor along the way. It is easy blaming anyone, ultimately Bon did do this to himself, however if he had some true friends instead of the drunken junkies hanging on, it may have turned out so very different. All these so called friends out there should really shut up, you left him to die. All this nonsense about different times; if people were dying left and right from abuse, maybe some should have stepped in.
There is no doubt in my mind that the vast majority of lyrics on Back in Black are of Bon. His unique style is all over that record. His best work I do think is on Powerage, that still is an incredible record.

The book is unvarnished and at times painful and sad to read, however it is honest, leaving conclusions up to the reader, since the truth is lost forever. Most witnesses are dead now. For AC/DC fans, especially the early years this is mandatory reading.

I'll put on some Powerage and raise my glass to the best rock 'n rolling vocalist and frontman that I have seen, Bon Scott. Never forgotten!

[Joe Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bon: The Last Highway" by Jesse Fink is one of the most impressive biographies I've ever read. It is an absolute masterpiece that features more sources and research than most college textbooks. I was floored by the amount of effort and research that Jesse poured into this project.

AC/DC is currently one of the most beloved and successful groups of all time, and an important tool to keep their status as such is 'legend'. Musical mythology plays a tremendous role in the careers of most of AC/DC's peers. In some cases, that sort of thing is fairly innocuous. In fact, it's often a source of a great deal of fun for the fans.

In other cases, however, serious problems can quickly arise. In the case of Bon Scott, both his tragic death and (potentially) his greatest lyrical work have been totally distorted for the sake of the legends that surround AC/DC. Jesse's book in one long re-examination of those legends, and he makes mince-meat out of most of the band's official stories.

The first three sections of the book tell an incredibly detailed story of the struggles Bon Scott and AC/DC faced in their early days, all the while highlighting facts and tidbits that come into play later. In the fourth section of the book, Jesse explores the myths around Bon Scott's death, of which there were many. The band said they were told it was "death by misadventure". Ozzy Osbourne said it was actually hypothermia. But upon revisiting the firsthand records of the day, and speaking extensively with the people closest to Bon in those years, Jesse discovers there is more to the story.
The ugly reality of heroin dependency was something that surrounded Bon's social circle, and Jesse explores this a possible cause for Bon's death from every conceivable angle. Unfortunately, when discussing the 30 year memories with people who were junkies back during that time, getting an accurate understanding of a timeline of events becomes virtually impossible. I imagine this must have been incredibly frustrating for Jesse, as the contradictory accounts and hazy memories from each of these people are quite frustrating for the reader. What is also frustrating is the contradictory accounts and (apparently) hazy memories from the rest of the band, who often seem as shady and unreliable as Bon's drug-addled social group.

That said, Jesse delivers the clearest possible timeline of the circumstances surrounding Bon's death, which was apparently something that both local law enforcement and AC/DC itself had little interest doing.

The final section of the book explores that long-standing fan theory that Bon Scott wrote some (or most) of the lyrics found on their landmark 1980 record, "Back in Black". The groundwork that Jesse laid out in the earlier sections pays off tremendously when he displays all of the wildly contradictory statements about Bon's involvement on that project from the band itself. I found Jesse's presentation of this evidence to be especially convincing.

There are two kinds of rock bios. One is something like 2012's "Mick" by Christopher Andersen, which prints every salacious rumor the author could find, while playing loose with the facts. These books are meant to lionize (or scandalize) the subject, and they can be quite fun, but they usually aren't reality. Jesse Fink's books are of the other variety. "Bon the Last Highway" is an in-depth research project meant to uncover the reality of what *actually* happened to one of rock's greatest frontmen. While it revels in all the excesses of Bon's life, it also deals with both the darker side of that lifestyle, and the frustration one feels when certain, important knowledge is simply no longer accessible.

Ultimately, the best was I can describe my feelings for "Bon: The Last Highway" is "impressed". Jesse's work here is profoundly impressive. So if you are a rock fan who values truth and reality over legend and myth, get this book ASAP. I will definitely be reading Jesse's first AC/DC book, "The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC", and I see he has a new book coming about insane world of cocaine-trafficking, which I expect will be an exhilarating read!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always had a feeling that Bon Scott, the legendary first singer of AC/DC, had something to do in writing their landmark album “Back in Black”. Jesse Fink’s book, “Bon: The Last Highway” not only delves into that topic, but also explores Bon’s “death by misadventure” in February of 1980.
Jesse has taken great care to interview Bon’s friends girlfriends, and business associates to provide the most in-depth look at the music legend and, more importantly, the man. It presents the picture that looks behind the videos, live shows, and marketing that shows paints a vivid picture of an extremely talented lyricist who who write about what he knew best; sex, drugs, rock n’ roll, and booze. Bon had a knack for tongue in cheek lyrics that we just as important as Angus and Malcolm Young’s guitar riffs.
Those that dispute Jesse’s theory that Bon didn’t dabble in and ultimately die from heroin have a very narrow and naive view of the entertainment industry. Bon was, of course, an alcoholic, but he was also known to explore other means of escape - coke, hash, and heroin. Working for awhile in the entertainment business, you see it everywhere. There’s the persona management and marketing want to see, and then there’s the truth - and that’s where the glitter fades. Jesse does an excellent job outlining how Bon ultimately may have met his end on the cold February night.
Most interesting to me was Bon’s reputed involvement in writing much of - if not all of - the lyrics to the landmark “Back in Black” album. Think of it - your charismatic singer and lyricist dies just after saying he finished the lyrics to the the band’s next album. The story from Marketing is that Bon’s lyrics were not used, and the band started from scratch with a singer who never wrote anything of merit, ever. It makes for a good cover story, but 40 years after the fact, the quality of the lyrics has DRASTICALLY diminished on every album since. It’s obvious the Youngs used Bon’s lyrics - the double entendres, the phrasing, the roguish younger in cheek wordplay — it’s all there, a notch up from the previous year’s “Highway to Hell.” Not only that, but Jesse speaks to Bon’s associates and girlfriends who confirm they saw the lyrics prior to Bon’s demise. Songs like “You Shook Me All Night Long” we’re in the works since 1976z these people have nothing to gain by coming toward. And their stories have been consistent decade after decade. The Young’s story about “Back in Black”’s creation changes every few years from “We used a little of what [Bon] wrote” to Bon having nothing to do with it. At the time it was in the band’s best interest to rebrand and forge ahead with fingers crossed. They had no idea “Back in Black” was going to be so huge, so when it exploded, the Youngs doubled down on the writing credits to give credence to their new singer/lyricist, Brian Johnson. Time has shown Brian had little to nothing in the writing of that album. He did, however, deliver a stellar vocal performance that did Bon’s lyrics justice.
Those that believe the Young marketing machine’s stance that the lyrics are all Young/Young/Johnson can think whatever they want; but with the very solid evidence Jesse lays out on the book and others coming forward year after year, it’s looking more and more obvious Bon was never credited for his lyrical magic on one of the best selling albums of all time.
Read the book — You’ll love it!

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read a book once that posited a theory that the Azore Islands were the mountaintops of the lost continent of Atlantis. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not. Point being, by cherry-picking sources, you can support just about any theory.

Jesse Fink’s Bon: The Last Highway pushes two conspiracy theories: The first being (I think) that something regarding Bon Scott’s death was covered up; and second that Bon wrote most, if not all, of the lyrics for the Back in Black album.

In supporting his theories, Fink spoke with a lot of what seem to be hangers-on and sources who did not want to be identified. He took vague statements such as “sure Bon was around heroin” and “those lyrics sure sound like Bon’s writing” (I’m paraphrasing) and turned that into 400 pages of Crime TV tabloid speculation.

Fink has an obvious axe to grind with the Youngs and as far as I can determine, believes they acted to cover up the “mysterious” circumstances of Bon’s death then completely cut him out of any credit for Back in Black.
The fact is, he died tragically. Why would the AC/DC camp - at any point - come out and say, “Our singer died, *probably* from a mixture of drugs and alcohol.” Why issue as fact something that’s speculation? And if - as Fink says - the Youngs are motivated purely by money, why not put Bon’s face and name all over BiB for that posthumous cash grab?

I’m mad I spent money on this book, tbh. The only reason I’m giving it two stars rather than one is some of the biographical information was interesting. Know what you’re in for if you decide to read it.

[Jerry Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big fan of AC/DC, in particular the Bon Scott years. When Bon was around the band seemed to strike the perfect balance of rock and roll/heavy metal and blues rock with the emphasis on the latter. There is no doubt that in the world of Rock, Bon's early demise was not only a tragedy for those that knew and loved him (as well as the man himself of course) but it also deprived the band of, in my opinion, their best frontman and vocalist. I love some of Brian's songs, but his voice was never as good and as a live performer, the lyrics he rasped out in his later years were not decipherable to be honest.

I have tremendous admiration for authors. I sometimes think I would like to write a book but I have neither the patience, skillset or application to do so. Therefore I need to state up front that this book seems to be well researched and is easy to read and I'm glad I worked though it. However, I have to say that it pulls at many of the strings of things I greatly dislike so it was not for me.

I hate conspiracy theory thinking and I fear that this book goes down that path too much for my liking. I haven't read JF's other work on AC/DC, namely: "The Youngs" but it seems as though he has something of an axe to grind with the titular brothers of that particular book. In particular he seems pretty contemptuous of both Youngs, in particular Malcolm who he tabs as the leader of the band in many ways. There may well be good reasons for this but it tends to slant the narrative in my opinion, in a way that seems to imply that the Youngs, and latterly Brian Johnson, are essentially lying about many things, in particular whether Scott's lyrics appear on the famous album "Back in Black".

Whether or not Bon contributed to "Back in Black" is an interesting question, although one that really only exercises fans of the band I'm sure. His death, similarly, has become an event that generates its share of controversy, as is probably the case with all deaths of well known people that are anything short of clear cut. However, I became somewhat frustrated that this book seemed to become what was essentially a conspiracy theory built on what I would consider to be somewhat flimsy evidence.

I am a skeptic in the sense that I want to believe as many true things, and as few false things as possible and I want to build an epistemological basis to ensure, as far as possible, that I am doing so. So I try to adhere an evidence based belief system based on the laws of logic as we understand them. I am no expert here and always learning but this book seems to commit a number of logical fallacies that become increasingly annoying.

The most egregious of these is one common to such lines of argument. Namely, a shifting of the burden of proof. If one is going to claim that Bon was killed by more than alcohol (and there is myriad evidence of his prodigious drinking from numerous witnesses over the years), it is not enough to claim that he was also a regular heroin user when the evidence for that is far more flimsy and contradictory from those same witnesses. It is not enough to state that he was around people taking heroin, we can't prove he WASN'T taking heroin (shifting the burden of proof) and that some people say they never saw him taking it but assume he was because others around him were. This doesn't rise to the level of convincing evidence for me.

I find conspiracy thinking tiresome. I get that this is not a conspiracy theory book per se. However, it seems to me that the cases that are pushed here lack convincing evidence. Most of it is speculation and hearsay. At one point JF actually writes in the text that "Occam's Razor doesn't apply here". The Hell in doesn't. It seems to me that, especially with Bon's death, there is a school of thought that there must be more to Bon's death than the suggestion he had alcohol poisoning/choked on his own vomit which is something we know happens with regularity. It seems somewhat mundane and even sordid that such an accomplished rock front man should die in this way. Therefore, there is a need to seek a more complex and sensational theory.

This happened with the JFK assassination. Could such a consequential president be felled by a lone gunman? Yes he could, and he was. However it is far more entertaining to think about CIA plots, Secret Service plots, grassy knoll shooters, missing bag lady, hospital conspiracy to substitute one body for another etc. etc.

I do think there is reasonably strong circumstantial evidence that some of Bon's lyrics made their way onto Black in Black but no convincing evidence or proof. No notes in Bon's hand that read "knocking me out with those american thighs". Of course not, the theorists will cry, those are in the notebooks the Youngs stole. Again, this is speculation and assertion, not backed up with enough evidence. It's fun to speculate, but ultimately fruitless and doesn't prove the case.

Was Bon's death foul play or a cover up? I am unconvinced. I think he died from his own excess, choking on his own vomit and/or alcohol poisoning. Was there heroin overdose there too? Unconvinced. If you think the autopsy was shoddy or a cover up I need more evidence than "it didn't take very long" which is essentially the argument here I feel. People die of alcohol related vomit aspiration often and as sordid and messy as that demise may be, it happens. I don't think the case for him dying elsewhere, moved in and out of the flat, not left in the car overnight etc are proven. it's clear that leaving him in the car on a cold night was a heartless thing to do, with tragic consequences, but we know how he lived and JF is right when he says Bon got away with such behavior many times before, just not this time.

It is telling, in my view, that JK concludes his book with a couple of the most likely theories of what happened. This, in my view, illustrates the point that there isn't enough evidence to conclude that the more complex one, with more assumptions and unknowns is something we should consider until we have more, and better, evidence. I would have preferred the book stick to what I felt was it's line that there was more skulduggery and subterfuge afoot in this event and nail that to the proverbial mast.

Ultimately we are presented with a series of theories, lacking convincing evidence and a picture of Scott the man, derived from conflicting accounts from his friends, hangers on and acquaintances. He was certainly an alcoholic/he definitely wasn't an alcoholic. He definitely took heroin regularly/I never saw him take heroin/he didn't take heroin. He was a great, fun loving party animal/he was a mean drunk and depressed with touring. I think these all paint a picture of either a complex man or just someone nobody really knew as well as they thought. Maybe both. His death is sad and tragic. I don't think we need all this speculation to be honest but as with all these things, speculation is a fun activity. I just don't think we should give it too much space, especially when the evidence is, in my estimation, thin.

[Paula Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a massive AC/DC fan I was intrigued to know what actually happened to Bon on that fateful night back in February 1980. While there are some interesting accounts from a variety of people, they are often very conflicting and don’t really correlate which doesn’t actually confirm anything.

I had a sense that the author didn’t have anything positive to say about the other band members, possibly because they weren’t obliging in giving interviews, or maybe that’s my own confirmation bias because I think they were, and still are a great band.

It’s quite detailed and you can tell a lot of effort has gone into researching the life of Bon Scott but it didn’t actually give me a true impression of what he was like due to the many differing opinions of him. Sometimes it verged on becoming a whodunnit rather than the person who was once AC/DC’s frontman.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesse Fink is an incredibly gifted writer who did a fantastic job telling Bon's story. While Bon struggled with the darkness of addiction, Jesse clearly showed that he was a good, intelligent, kind, funny and immensely talented person despite his demons. I have no doubt Bon would be very happy that his true story was finally told in such an engaging and entertaining manner by such a phenomenal writer and biographer. Kudos, Jesse!

[David Trunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent investigative work by Fink the book takes you on a ride with Bon Scott and the early years of AC/DC do yourself a favor and read this one.

[Jason · Rating 1 out of 5]

400 pages of people reminiscing about Bon drinking and doing drugs. The book spans 2 years.

Spoiler:

Bon ends up dead.