Lindsey Reviews: My Bon Scott - Irene Thornton with Simone Ubaldi

 

Lindsey Reviews: My Bon Scott -  Irene Thornton with Simone Ubaldi - 2014

“My Bon Scott” is a memoir written by Bon Scott’s ex-wife Irene Thornton. The book chronicles Irene’s time with Bon from their initial meeting till Bon’s tragic death in 1980.  By turns a chronicle of their love and Bon’s quest to make it big, it is an intimate portrait of the couple and Bon’s rise to fame.  The novel is filled with insight into their marriage and the factors which led to their subsequent divorce. Through Irene’s writing we learn of Bon’s determination to make it big as he manoeuvres his way through the Australian music scene to finally take the helm as the singer of AC/DC.  The book is a tribute to Bon and Irene recalls fondly their love and shared humour; Bon’s comical side and his quest to be a rock star.   But she also reveals a darker moments too: Bon’s frustration as he navigates his way through the path to rock stardom, the setbacks he encounters on his journey: his reckless side, his drinking, wild exploits  and  risk taking and the profound sadness at his death in 1980.

This was a brilliant biography of one of rock’s most charismatic performers. Although there are numerous biographies on the market, this is a very personal book told from the perspective of one closest to him. The writing effuses with real affection, respect and ultimately love of Bon Scott. Even after their split, the couple remained friends and the book is peppered with intimate letters which Bon wrote to Irene as he travelled the world and enjoyed his  success with AC/DC.   Irene comes across as a really warm individual and relays a different side to the legendary front man.  She tells of how their marriage was forfeited in his pursuit of stardom and how sometimes he felt the need to play up to his wildman rock star persona but the reader feels as if this was often to  the detriment of his personal life.

“It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock n roll.” and this book is a written testament to this.  Although it would appeal to AC/DC fans, nevertheless, it is an interesting, revealing and insightful depiction in to one of rock’s most charismatic performers, the infamous Ronald Belford Scott.