AC/DC: Bon Scott or Brian Johnson

[Shane]

Some purists I know knock me for thinking that Brian Johnson is a better frontman than Bon Scott was, but it's how I feel. When Bon passed, they needed to find someone that contained that same fire, and with Johnson, I think they surpassed it. The guy screams his heart out, and flat out rocks harder than Bon Scott.

My question is, who do you prefer: Bon Scott or Brian Johnson?

 

[rm71]

Being a Perth boy, Bon Scott. Although Brian Johnson isn't shabby either.

 

[TonyH]

I agree with Brian Johnson. Bon brought them up, Brian made them legends.

 

[jkh]

I vote Brian Johnson because my first exposure to AC/DC was the Razor's Edge, so Brian Johnson's vocals will always define AC/DC for me; that and he has done a larger quantity of albums. However, the purist in me really wanted to vote Bon because dammit he was the original.

 

[Left Coast DJ]

Both... been listening to AC/DC since I was a kid. Saw them on the Razor's Edge tour at Long Beach Arena.

 

[smoothjim]

One was a rapier slicing you up, the other's a broadsword crushing down upside your skull.
Same but different, Shrill sleekness vs Power. I like how they figured out how to tailor their sound around the two.

My nickel goes to Bon Scott.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaGG3jSYFC8&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

 

[soapbox]

I've got a number of AC/DC albums -- but Back in Black is, without a doubt, the hammer of the gods. They've gotten a little weaker in the last decade, but while Bon Scott carried the band to stardom, Brian Johnson made them "number one with a bullet..."

 

[ClubmanRob]

The few AC DC songs I like were sung by Bon Scott. I guess that means he's better.

 

[Mysterion]

Funny, this exact question was on my mind the other day (which speaks volumes in itself) albeit framed differently: Dirty Deeds or Back in Black? For me, it's Dirty Deeds. And could Brian Johnson ever pull off this cover of The Foundation's Build Me Up, Buttercup? (Bon Scott closeup at 1:11.)

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ-45XG7n4k[/YOUTUBE]

 

[SmoovD]

For me, it has to be Bon. The songs were better and Bon's insane presence put AC/DC over the top. More bagpipes in hard rock, please.

 

[Sullybob]

I've got a number of AC/DC albums -- but Back in Black is, without a doubt, the hammer of the gods. They've gotten a little weaker in the last decade, but while Bon Scott carried the band to stardom, Brian Johnson made them "number one with a bullet..."

I wore that tape out. A couple of times.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXaZmY52gHM[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Rughi]

Doesn't really matter, in the end.
Neither one of them is the one who drops the pants in that band.

Roger

 

[Sullybob]

Doesn't really matter, in the end.
Neither one of them is the one who drops the pants in that band.

Roger

It must be Angus!

 

[TSWebster]

Brian Johnson for me.

Personally Bon's style just never really meshed for me. But everyone else I know is the opposite, they love Bon Scott.

 

[Rughi]

It must be Angus!

That's what I'm talking about

AC/DC has at least two of the greatest moments in rock;

Higway to Hell - When the song is building to the chorus, it's that great, great moment right after Bon finishes with "All of my friends are gonna be there, too." The song builds and builds and rocks - and then the chorus hits.

You Shook Me All Night Long - This has one of the most iconic solo entries in rock, and let's face it, the excitement builds, gets a rollicking good time underway and then calms a bit so that Brian Johnson can start the verse.

Either one of these, the frontman at a show could just point the mic to the crowd and these moments would be a great, great time. But Angus, well...never, ever underestimate the scrawny old man in the schoolboy outfit.

Roger

 

[FLTiger]

Where's the Jim Breuer option?

 

[Bushranger]

One was a rapier slicing you up, the other's a broadsword crushing down upside your skull.
Same but different, Shrill sleekness vs Power. I like how they figured out how to tailor their sound around the two.

My nickel goes to Bon Scott.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaGG3jSYFC8&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

Perfect. don't over look the lyric contribution too. Phase one and two complete, phase three still going. Their first singer was not very good imo. Bon Scott is my fave, (not bad for the band's former chauffeur) but i enjoy their third and current singer too.

 

[crankymoose]

damm that's a tough choice both were/are great in there own individual styles

 

[M. McCord]

I grew up listening to both, but at least when Bon Scott sang you could understand the lyrics. You ever try deciphering "Thunderstruck" with a lyric sheet? Not taking anything away from Johnson, the fella has a set of lungs on him, but Scott for me.

 

[TimmyBoston]

Where's the Jim Breuer option?