AC/DC exhibition heads for Scotland

• Vocalist Brian Johnson, left, and Angus Young

That is all set to change this autumn, however, when one of Scotland's leading arts venues plays host to the first official exhibition devoted to the celebrated rockers.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow - best known for star attractions such as Salvador Dali's painting of Christ of St John of the Cross - is bracing itself for an invasion of tens of thousands of AC/DC diehards after capturing the only European visit for a blockbuster exhibition which has been taking Australia by storm.

A prototype of the schoolboy uniform worn by lead guitarist Angus Young is expected to be the biggest draw for AC/DC's fans.

The exhibition highlights the band's origins in Scotland and charts their full 18-album career, after its Australian curators travelled the world to gather memorabilia and anecdotes from collectors, relatives, friends and former roadies, in the process "sorting out fact from fiction" about the iconic musicians.

Fans will be able to view a huge selection of rare memorabilia, including programmes, concert tickets, fan letters and costumes, as well as take in more than three hours of concert footage and interviews with band members.

Glasgow has been specially selected as the only European venue to host the exhibition thanks to the band's famous Scottish connections.

Among 450 exhibits will be the last leather jacket owned by the tragic former singer Bon Scott and his "Highway to Hell" sweatshirt, along with copies of papers signed when the families of Scott, and fellow band members Angus and Malcolm Young, left Scotland.

Tim Fisher, exhibition curator, said: "It is the first and only fully endorsed exhibition to bring to life the history, creativity and power of one of the world's greatest bands, and to link this history to the experience of their music.

"The exhibition was inspired by the band's own mantra - that they have only ever played "good, hard rock and roll" - and by their extraordinarily productive work ethic that includes more than 18 original albums and 60 substantial tours to every part of the world.

"We believe that AC/DC now command a level of respect that is as unprecedented as it has been hard won; and the exhibition pays due regard to this achievement."

George Redmond, chair of Glasgow Life, the trust that runs Kelvingrove, said: "We are delighted that the only European leg of the AC/DC exhibition world tour is at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum later this year."Kelvingrove has enjoyed a rich and varied exhibitions programme since it reopened in 2006, with blockbusters including The Glasgow Boys, Doctor Who, Kylie and Harry Benson all drawing huge numbers of people to the museum.

"Our policy has always been to try and engage new audiences with Kelvingrove wherever we can and AC/DC's enormous popularity and well-known links to Scotland will continue that tradition."

It is hoped the AC/DC exhibition will match the success of recent Kelvingrove exhibitions, such as the Kylie one, which attracted more than 160,000 fans, and the Doctor Who show, which saw 123,000 tickets sold.

Fans cherish Scots links

AC/DC's Scottish fans have long cherished the band's tartan heritage - which stretches as far back as 1946.

That was the year the band's tragic frontman, Bon Scott, was born in Kirriemuir, Angus.

He was only six when his family emigrated to Melbourne in 1952.

He formed his first band, The Spektors, 12 years later and performed in a number of other groups before replacing Dave Evans as lead singer of AC/DC in September 1974.

The rock and roll band had played their first gig in December 1973, with founder members Angus and Malcolm Young in the line-up. They had emigrated from their home city of Glasgow to Sydney in 1963.

After securing huge success in the band's early days, Scott choked to death on his own vomit in 1980, at the age of just 33.

Lyrical genius

BACK IN BLACK

Back in black, I hit the sack

I've been too long I'm glad to be back

Yes I'm let loose/ From the noose/ That's kept me hanging about

I keep looking at the sky

'Cause it's gettin' me high

Forget the hearse 'cause I'll never die

I got nine lives/ Cat's eyes

Usin' every one of them and running wild

HIGHWAY TO HELL

I'm on the highway to hell

No stop signs, speed limit Nobody's gonna slow me down

Like a wheel, gonna spin it Nobody's gonna mess me round

Hey Satan, paid my dues Playing in a rocking band

Hey Momma, look at me I'm on my way to the promised land

I'm on the highway to hell