Bon: The Last Highway: The Untold Story of Bon Scott and AC/DC's Back in Black

I really respect this author for the time and energy he spent in gathering all this information. It truly shows how much empathy and respect he had for this legendary amazing man and many times this book made me cry because BON was on the way to recovery from his addictions and the false self he had created as a rock star with all the empty relationships and empty soul wrenching crap that many in show business deal with. If he had a person just one that he could have trusted enough to be his anchor through this he would have made it. Sadly, he seemed surrounded by many who were contributing to his demise.

This is not a biography.This is an exploration into Bon's time with AC/DC as it pertains to his isolation, alcoholism and his casting as a role that was not his personality. The author sets the stage for his death and why members of AC/DC and the record company would be players in the cover-up and the gutting of his apartment before his funeral.It is an excellent read.Hardcore AC/DC fans will not like all of the parts as it hits Brian Johnson hard and paints the Youngs as money grubbing, heartless frauds that didn't like Bon until they could cash in on his death. It may or may not be true but the fans won't like that aspect of the book.Bon fans will enjoy the glimpse into his life on the road and the uncovering of the man's dreams beyond AC/DC.The positives:Amazing interviews. Uncovering old girlfriends, people that were with him the night he died, friends that knew him in America when he was hitting new low points.Piecing together the timelines. Yes, there are multiple versions, of the night he died and who knew what when.The evidence of AC/DC's involvement of clearing out his apartment and with it all of the lyrics he'd written included those for bands that were not AC/DCThe alcoholism. This was not just a rock star partying. Bon was in deep and the picture is clear.The heroin. The official version of his death has never made sense. The heroin piece does. The evidence is overwhelming that it played a role in his death.The negatives:The author throws in snippets of interviews he did not do but those he found in other books. While this helps to show contradiction it is jarring to read when they are all over the place. For example, Angus didn't contribute to the book but is quoted constantly to show how the story changed. The book would have read better if that information was contained in one place instead of scattered throughout.The author uncovers a couple of girlfriends, but it is so clear he had many that he confided in. I would have loved to have seen more uncovered.None of the four key interviews surrounding the timeline of his death are from reputable sources. They were all on heroin or had something to gain from not telling the truth or covering up the true nature of his death.Too much time was spent on Bon writing lyrics for Back In Black. Once the author revealed Bon's apartment was cleared out by AC/DC the point is a non-issue. The horse's name, the Chartreuse eyes were enough evidence. The apartment was the smoking gun. The author went on and on too much. It just seemed like he wanted to destroy Brian and the Youngs when it wasn't necessary. The focus of the ending should have stayed fixed on his death not the lyrics.I loved reading this and I loved the perspective from voices we've never heard before on the topic of Bon.If you come expecting a salacious rock biography then don't bother. This is a whodunit and it is nearly perfect to read.Let There Be Rock

Based on my take after reading this, the book explicitly opines that, based on exhaustive research by the author, Bon wrote many of the lyrics to Back In Black (though likely edited by The Young brothers after Bon's passing). A theory the Young brothers steadfastly deny but millions of dollars and their reputations would be lost if they admit it.The book also theorizes that they secretly pay royalties to the Bon Scott estate.The book argues Bon likely died of a heroin overdose which the AC/DC corporation also steadfastly deny though none of the other band or crew were with him that night and panic by those with him to cover their own behinds helps the band's denial.The book seems to suggest AC/DC is more concerned with keeping a false legend they've cultivated over the years regarding Bon's life more than allowing the facts to be known.Had they admitted Bon actually wrote the lyrics to BIB, they feared their fan base would not accept Brian and the bands future would be in danger.I also feel the book suggests the Young brothers were seriously considering firing Bon due to his bad habits that escalated during the nonstop touring as they tried to breakout in America. It also suggests that in the last year Bon toured with AC/DC they increasingly kept him out of band business and censored his lyrics on the last couple of albums he was involved with to the point Bon was at times depressed and considering quitting if the next record (BIB) didn't sell well. But he was so well liked by people he met and his fans in general that the band management feared admitting he was actually becoming a liability as far as they were concerned and this would be detrimental to the future of AC/DC so they changed the narrative to suggest Bon and the Young brothers were tight buddies until the day he died. The book suggests Bon wanted help, a family life and a less rigorous touring schedule even though he never made any real money while he lived out of a suitcase for 3 plus years on a small weekly allowance. This was just about to change when he made a terrible choice to dabble with heroin while celebrating being finished with the lyrics to BIB and it cost him his life and fortune right when it was about to happen for him and the band.Many of the people approached for insight to these final years of Bon's life for this book seemed somewhat hesitant to speak openly for a variety of reasons it seems.Great read, highly recommended and props to Jesse Fink's efforts here..

what this comes down to is a great read about bon scott, a lot of what is said is hearsay by former girlfriends and others that where close to bon in the late 1970s especially when they where touring the us between 1977 and 1979, reads like this are more for entertainment as you cant call anything you read in this book a fact as the book is a compilation of people who where close to bons opinions and there stories regarding his life, i admit i always figured bon would have done a solo record had he not passed away in 1980, my guess is bon would have wanted to do a solo record by 1982/83 and the youngs would probably have kicked him out of the band for that like they kicked there second recording & touring drummer ( simon wright 1983-1989) out in early 1990 for recording the drum tracks for dios lock up the wolves record, the only suprise was who would have thought bon would have wanted to do a southern rock sounding record???? anyway again lots of great stories here if that is your thing!!!!

Jesse Fink’s book biography mainly covers the last 3 years of his life, when AC/DC had conquered Australia, were making an impact in the U.K., but were struggling to make inroads into the USA.As per usual with AC/DC there is no cooperation from the band themselves, so most of the accounts come from former associates and Bon’s exes. This is no fawning biography of Bon. Much of it relates to Bon’s lifestyle, namely the huge amount of booze and narcotics that ultimately destroyed him.Bon was worried about his future with AC/DC. The Young brothers have no qualms about getting rid of people when it suits them and whilst there is little doubt that Bon’s drinking was affecting his performance in the last couple of years. However you only need to look at their track record to see how ruthless they are. Former bass player Mark Evans, drummer Phil Rudd and most heartless of all the ditching of Brian Johnson who was dropped after 35 years, on the same day as his doctor told him that to continue performing live would risk permanent deafness. Unbelievable.That fateful night when Bon Scott died after passing out in a car after a night’s heavy drinking gets too much attention. At the end of the day, Bon was not murdered and did not commit suicide. He died in the car after choking on his own vomit.But the most interesting part of this book is whether or not Bon wrote some of the lyrics for Back in Black. The Young brothers naturally deny it. Brian also denies it ( but he has to do what he is told). One of Bon’s girlfriends state that the lines from You Shook Me All Night Long was about her. Granted she is not particularly reliable. But the most telling thing is that the Bon Scott estate receives royalties for Back in Black .Considering the Young’s shut Brian Johnson out of the songwriting process from The Razors Edge onwards, so they didn’t need to share the royalties, the fact that they agreed for this to happen can only mean Bon had a hand in the lyrics.This book does not make easy reading and raises more questions than answers. However it is essential reading for any Bon Scott fan

Not sure what the purpose of this book was. A chance for a bunch of groupie has beens from the USA to relive their glory days perhaps? Or otherwise a chance for the author to make Bon Scott out to be some kind of very wronged but basically innocent and nieve good guy and to also have a go at the Young's and ACDC. He certainly does the latter. As for the rest, well if you get off reading about bimbos who all claim and believe Bon Scott was going to marry them basically to get inside their knickers then fine. If you believe Bon Scott also was a wronged guy who was led off the straight and narrow by bad influences fine. If like me you believe like an awful lot of 70's musos he burned then crashed and paid fatally for his alcohol and drug abuse this will feel a pointless read. He was no angel, he abused drugs and booze and he lived hard and paid for it ultimately and that's it. It has nothing to do with ACDC or the Youngs who are slated most unfairly. He made that choice. No more to be said.

Bon Scott’s death was most predictable. And unfortunately people die in that way frequently.I don’t understand the author’s desperate race to find a reason. Can he not accept Bon is gone and the unfortunate way he passed?There were some useful parts about Bon’s life and personality but relying on accounts from junkie musicians and colleagues that hardly knew Bon at all clearly isn’t helpful.It’s a particularly negative book which goes on to berate the current AC/DC singer and concerts. Let’s be honest…in the unlikely event that Bon didn’t die of drink or drugs, would he still be able to headline arenas and perform a 2 hour show? He’d be an old 76!I was pleased when I finished it as raking up the past in this manner is somehow grubby. RIP Bon (AC/DC 1.0).

I would have given it a 3.5 but had to chose between 3 and 4 so gave it a generous 4 as I have enjoyed reading it. My knowledge of Bon Scott was based on his myth and public persona. Also I am bit young to remember him actually being alive. This book effectively paints a multi dimensional portrait of a troubled but talented and ultimately complicated character. I havent read any other in depth books on Bon Scott but it seems that the author has taken the time to find and talk to people who were close to Bon towards the time of his death, which sheds light on his experience when AC/DC were moving very much towards super stardom but not quite there.I felt the book was too long for the subject matter and the dearth of objective evidence related to Bon's death. Its always tragic when people who die prematurely from drink or drugs, perhaps even more so when they are talented like this and able to offer something to the world. However, i am not sure what the writer is trying to do here. Bon Scott drank too much. That much is pretty much undisputed. Bon Scott took drugs on occassions, that much is pretty much undisputed. The author seems to be trying to get to the bottom of something that I feel isn't important. Whether Bon Scott died of alcohol poisoning or there were drugs involved seems a little moot 40 years on. It would surely only be relevant if Bon hadn't orchestrated this destiny himself. The book gets confusing and the author tries to find evidence within the contradictory stories of people who were mostly drink and drug casualties themselves and certainly unreliable witnesses in the passing of time. The author also often tries to propose 'this must have happened, because it makes the most sense' forgetting that the players on the scene were addicts of one sort or another.An interesting read. Sad that Bon Scott never found the peace he was looking for.

This book is incredible. I managed to read it on holiday within a week. I could not put it down. I love music biogs, especially about my favourite rock bands. AC/DC being one of them and Bon Scott being my favourite singer. The detail that Jesse Fink the author has gone to is mind blowing. I watched an Australian TV show interview with Jesse, talking about this book (find it on youtube) and from the interview you can feel the passion and the need to have told this story about Bon and that is what made me go and buy the book.The story itself starts in 1977 when AC/DC arrive in the States for the first time to play a small club in Texas. From there the band grind away playing show after show trying to get recognition and this is where Jesse Fink excels. He tracks down friends of Bon who he got to know, like the Texan Roy Allen ( a guy we could all relate to) and ex girlfriends in Silver Smith, Pattee Bishop and Holly X. All giving us incredible stories of their time with Bon.As AC/DC become better known in the States the pressure of being in an up and coming band start to take their toll on him and it becomes the highway to hell (excuse the pun) for Bon. The story leading up to the night of Bon's death is amazingly written, again you can see the passion and detail that Jesse Fink has put into this book. This where you can not put the book down as you read the unfortunate story unfold.The last part of the book goes into great detail about who wrote the lyrics for Back in black. From Bon dying in Feb 1980 to the albums release in July you get to read evidence which points directly to bon as the lyric writer for the songs on that album. To me personally, Bon's lyrics are on Back in black. It is that obvious. From For those about to rock onwards there is a huge dip in song writing and lyrics....Jesse Fink has to me written one of the best biographies i have ever read. It is a story that had to be told. Read it and play Whole lotta Rosie ..LOUD!!