Statue of AC/DC frontman Bon Scott to be erected in Kirriemuir
Members of Angus Council’s development standards committee gave the green light this week for the monument in Scott’s hometown of Kirriemuir, Angus.
The singer spent his early years in the town before emigrating with his family to Australia. There, a meeting with Glasgow brothers Angus and Malcolm Young led him to become part of the rock band.
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Hide AdHe died in 1980 at the age of 33 and is already recognised in Kirriemuir by a memorial stone just off the town square.
The £50,000 new statue, at Bellies Brae, near the town centre, is due to be unveiled at the annual “Bonfest” celebration in the town at the end of April.
Council planners received more than 70 letters of support for the statue, by Ayrshire-based sculptor and AC/ DC fan John McKenna.
The musician will be depicted wearing a sleeveless denim jacket and tight trousers, clutching a set of bagpipes - the instrument he played on the group’s song It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll).
Brechin councillor Mairi Evans, who is on the development standards committee, said today: “Very rarely do I get so excited about a planning permission coming through, but I maybe I should have declared an interest in this as a massive fan of AC/DC.
“I was lucky enough to see them twice last year and they have a fan base like no other band or artist in the world. I think this will be an absolutely huge boost for Kirrie and the whole of Angus, and hopefully we can all reap the tourism spin- off benefits.”
Graham Galloway of community group DD8 Music, which is behind the statue plan, said they hoped that the draw of the Bon Scott memorial would help Kirriemuir “emulate and surpass” communities such as Ballyshannon in Ireland, where an annual festival honouring charismatic guitarist the late Rory Gallagher brings in over £1.1 million a year to the local economy.