Judas Priest's Rob Halford shares heartfelt 80th birthday tribute to Bon Scott
A fitting tribute to the great man
Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford has shared a heartfelt tribute to Bon Scott on what would have been the AC/DC’s legend’s 80th birthday today (9th July).
The Metal God personally knew Bon Scott from the time Judas Priest supported AC/DC in Europe way back in 1979, and he previously described Bon as a man with “no ego” whose magnetism onstage was unparalleled.
To mark 80 years since Bon Scott’s birth, his official social media channels have shared video tributes from an array of rock stars including Planet Rock’s very own Joe Elliott, Ian Hill, Mike McCready and Justin Hawkins.
Perhaps the greatest tribute comes from Rob Halford, who tells the camera: “As we remember what would have been Bon Scott’s 80th birthday, we celebrate far more than a rock singer. We celebrate a free spirit that could never be contained.
“Bon had a rare gift - he made people feel alive.
“His voice carried mischief, humour, grit and honesty. He sang with the conviction of someone who had lived every word, and that authenticity continues to resonate across generations.
“Though his time with us was far too short, his impact was extraordinary. The songs he helped create remain anthems of freedom, resilience and joy. They remind us to laugh loud, live fully and never lose our sense of adventure.
“80 years after his birth, Bon’s presence is still felt in every crowd of AC/DC fans around the world singing along. Every musician inspired by his fearless style and fan who finds a piece of themselves in his music.
“Happy birthday, Bon!”
AC/DC have also marked Bon Scott’s birthday by sharing a photo of Bon with his arm around Angus Young, and the simple caption ‘Bon Scott, 9 July 1946’.
The 50 Greatest Rock Singers of All Time:
50) Beth Hart
49) Sebastian Bach
Bands a member of: Skid Row, Madam X, Damnocracy, solo artist
48) Elvis Presley
47) Mike Patton
Bands a member of: Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, Tomahawk, Dead Cross, Peeping Tom, Lovage, Kaada/Patton, Hemophiliac, Nevermen
46) Layne Staley
Bands a member of: Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Class of '99
45) Sammy Hagar
Bands a member of: Van Halen, Montrose, Sammy Hagar & the Waboritas, Chickenfoot, Sammy Hagar and the Circle, Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve, Planet Us.
44) Chester Bennington
Bands a member of: Linkin Park, Dead by Sunrise, Grey Daze, Kings of Chaos, Stone Temple Pilots
43) Jon Anderson
Bands a member of: Yes, The Warriors, Mabel Greer's Toyshop, ,Jon and Vangelis, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman
42) Bruce Springsteen
41) David Draiman
Bands a member of: Disturbed
40) James Hetfield
Bands a member of: Metallica
39) Dave Grohl
Bands a member of: Foo Fighters (vocals, guitar); Nirvana, Them Crooked Vultures, Scream, Mondo Generator (drummer and backing vocals); Sound City Players, (vocals, guitar and drums); Probot (lead guitar, drums, bass)
38) Geddy Lee
Bands a member of: Rush, The Big Dirty Band (bass only).
37) Steve Marriott
Bands a member of: Small Faces, Humble Pie, solo artist
36) David Bowie
35) Shane Greenhall
Bands a member of: Those Damn Crows
34) Danny Vaughn
Bands a member of: Tyketto, Waysted, Vaughn, Snake Oil & Harmony, solo
33) Mick Jagger
Bands a member of: The Rolling Stones, From the Inside, The Illegal Eagles, Burning Kingdom
32) Lemmy
Bands a member of: Motörhead, Hawkwind, The Rockin' Vickers, Opal Butterfly, The Damned, The Head Cat, Sam Gopal
31) Jay Buchanan
Bands a member of: Rival Sons
30) Geoff Tate
Bands a member of: Queensrÿche, Operation: Mindcrime, Sweet Oblivion, solo artist
29) Eddie Vedder
Bands a member of: Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog, Hovercraft, Bad Radio
28) Janis Joplin
Bands a member of: A solo artist who also performed with Big Brother and the Holding Company
27) Phil Lynott
Bands a member of: Thin Lizzy, Grand Slam, The Greedies, Skid Row
26) Stevie Nicks
Bands a member of: Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham Nicks and an esteemed solo artist
25) Brian Johnson
Bands a member of: AC/DC, Geordie
24) Glenn Hughes
Bands a member of: Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze, Black Country Communion, The Dead Daisies, Finders Keepers, Hughes/Thrall, Phenomena, Hughes Turner Project, Michael Men Project, Kings of Chaos, California Breed, solo artist.
23) Brent Smith
Bands a member of: Shinedown, Smith & Myers
22) Roger Daltrey
Bands a member of: The Who
21) Floor Jansen
Bands a member of: Nightwish, Northward
20) Meat Loaf
19) Axl Rose
Bands a member of: Guns N' Roses, Hollywood Rose, L.A. Guns
18) Steven Tyler
Bands a member of: Aerosmith, Chain Reaction
17) Noddy Holder
Bands a member of: Slade
16) Steve Perry
Bands a member of: Journey, solo artist
15) Rob Halford
Bands a member of: Judas Priest, Halford, Fight, 2wo
14) Ozzy Osbourne
Bands a member of: Black Sabbath, solo artist
13) Danny Bowes
Bands a member of: Thunder, Terraplane, Nuthin' Fancy, Bowes & Morley
12) Lzzy Hale
Bands a member of: Halestorm, Skid Row (temporary singer)
11) Bon Scott
Bands a member of: AC/DC, Fraternity, The Valentines, The Spektors
10) Chris Cornell
Bands a member of: Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog, solo artist
9) Ian Gillan
Bands a member of: Deep Purple, Gillan, Black Sabbath, The Javelins, Episode Six, Ian Gillan Band, Gillan & Glover, WhoCares
8) Ann Wilson
Bands a member of: Heart, solo artist
7) David Coverdale
Bands a member of: Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Coverdale-Page
6) Bruce Dickinson
Bands a member of: Iron Maiden, Samson, solo artist
5) Myles Kennedy
Bands a member of: Alter Bridge, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Kings of Chaos, solo artist
4) Paul Rodgers
Bands a member of: Free, Bad Company, The Firm, The Law, Queen + Paul Rodgers, solo artist
3) Robert Plant
Bands a member of: Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Band of Joy, The Honeydrippers, various solo bands
2) Ronnie James Dio
Bands a member of: Dio, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, Rainbow, Elf, Ronnie & The Red Caps, Ronnie Dio & The Prophets, The Electric Elves, The Elves
1) Freddie Mercury
Bands a member of: Queen, Ibex Sour, Milk Sea