Bon Scott's Memorial

Statement of Significance

Bon Scott’s memorial at Fremantle Cemetery, consisting of a resting plaque and memorial bench seat; and his remains; has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: The place is associated with the Fremantle-raised Ronald Belford (Bon) Scott, lead singer of the highly influential and popular band AC/DC from 1974 to 1980. The place is valued by the community of Bon Scott fans as a place of remembrance. The place is known to fans across the world, and is visited via the internet by those who can not visit in person, making it a focal point for a community who may never meet each other but who are linked by common values. The place has contributed to the international recognition of Fremantle and Fremantle Cemetery and was the basis of a major motion picture.

Physical Description

memorial is located in the Garden of Remembrance, in the North-west corner of the cemetery and consists of a ‘resting plaque’ and a bench seat. To find the memorial, enter at the “Cortege Entrance” of the cemetery off Carrington St. Turn left immediately, walk North across the grass until you reach a path running East-west between a small gate on Carrington Street and General Lawn A. The rose garden, immediately north of, and running parallel to this path features Bon’s resting plaque. The bench seat is at the Eastern end of the rose garden. The resting plaque is nested in the garden bed and is referred to as frontage GN3 No.10. It is a replacement for the original and it reads: RONALD (BON) SCOTT PASSED AWAY FEBURARY 19TH, 1980 AGE 33 LOVED SON OF ISA AND CHICK BROTHER OF DEREK GRAEME AND VALARIE CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS HE WILL AWLAYS STAY LOVED AND REMEMBERED EVERY DAY The plaque is surrounded by ephemeral tributes, such as (on the day of the site visit) flowers, notes and a compact disc. The curb has been graffitied in paint, chalk, texta and what appears to be glitter-glue. For example: “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose! BON LIVES” “Love your work Bon, RIP” “RIP Bon, RIP Rock n Roll” “RIDE ON” It is the policy of the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board to keep the grounds tidy, and therefore items are routinely removed from all areas of the cemetery, including Bon Scott’s memorial. Occasionally graffiti is removed also (Bullock, 2004). The concrete bench at the end of the garden bed was installed in May 1982 (Bullock, 2004). It has a plaque which reads: IN LOVING MEMORY OF BON SCOTT LEAD SINGER OF THE ROCK GROUP AC/DC THIS SEAT WAS DONATED BY HIS FAMILY Both plaques (on the bench seat and in the garden) have been stolen numerous times and are replaced at cost to the family (Bullock, 2004). The West Australian reported the resting plaque stolen in 1988 for what appears to be the first time. Isa Scott was quoted as saying “It would not be the same if we had to buy another one” (West Australian, 1998:1). Rumours abound that Bon’s ashes were stolen along with the plaque, however the cemetery maintains this is not the case (Bullock, 2004). The memorial is part of the “Founders and Felons” heritage trail which opened in 2003. The trail commences at the Cortege Entrance (see map) and features a decorative mosaic piece, emblazoned with a lightning bolt – the trademark of the AC/DC logo

History

Assessment 2005 Construction: 1980 (original resting plaque) 1982 (bench seat and plaque) 4. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Bon Scott was the lead singer of the highly influential band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in London in 1980. Bon was born in Scotland in 1946 and moved to Australia with his family aged six, arriving in Melbourne. Shortly afterwards the family moved to Perth. He attended North Fremantle Primary and John Curtin Senior High School and had an interest in music from an early age. He played drums in the Fremantle Pipe Band until he was 17. He then joined the Valentines and moved to Melbourne and when they broke up he joined Fraternity which was later renamed Fang. In 1974 he joined the newly formed AC/DC and the band gained success in the late 1970s, filling a void in the pop oriented Australian music scene of the time. AC/DC had an unwavering commitment to no-frills hard rock, and Bon was regarded as an excellent ‘all round’ performer. He also lived excessively and in February 1980, Bon died in a car outside a friend’s apartment in London, following a huge drinking session. His body was returned to Perth and his family held a private service at Fremantle Cemetery, after which his ashes were interred at the cemetery and a plaque installed in the Garden of Remembrance. A bench seat with a plaque was installed two years later. The site has since become a site of pilgrimage for AC/DC fans from across the world, and in 2003 Bon’s memorial was included in the ‘Founders and Felons’ heritage trail. The memorial, and the fans’ pilgrimages to it, was also the subject of a major motion picture in 2004. The cemetery receives many queries about the memorial and the number of visitations rise sharply around anniversary dates and when the American ships are in port. In 2005 a memorial service was held in the cemetery to mark the 25th anniversary of Bon’s death. Hundreds of people attended and the Coastal Pipe and Drum band played a medley of AC/DC songs.

Uses

Creation Date

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