Who’s a Better AC/DC Singer, Bon Scott or Brian Johnson? Here’s What Rock Musicians Had to Say

When a singer is replaced in an established rock band – due to tragedy or by a decision to part ways – the results are usually either lackluster or not as commercially successful. But AC/DC proved to be one of the few exceptions. Just as it seemed that the hard rockin’ band was on the verge of a massive global breakthrough entering the ’80s – on the strength of such late ’70s classics as “Highway to Hell,” “Powerage,” and “Let There Be Rock” – tragedy struck.

On February 19, 1980, AC/DC singer Bon Scott died at the age of 33 – possibly putting an abrupt end to the band. However, they opted to soldier on and happened to find the perfect replacement in Brian Johnson. And just five months after Scott’s passing, the band – which also featured guitarists Angus Young and Malcolm Young, bassist Cliff Williams, and drummer Phil Rudd – issued one of rock’s all-time greatest albums, the Mutt Lange-produced “Back in Black.”

As a result, it’s become difficult for some to determine who their preferred AC/DC vocalist was – Bon or Brian. Luckily, quite a few renowned names of the rock world were willing to explore this topic in my 2020 book, “A Rockin’ Rollin’ Man: Bon Scott Remembered,” and share their thoughts and theories…

Phil Anselmo

“Different vocalists, different feels a bit. They both have great attitude and different voices. The visionaries in AC/DC would be the Young brothers. The fact that they picked Brian Johnson, I’m thinking they were really thinking ahead… or either they just lucked out – because they’re both great in their own right.”

Sebastian Bach

“AC/DC didn’t try to clone the singer that they had before – like some bands make the mistake of trying to hire a guy that clones or impersonates the dude before. And there are a lot of examples of that. But AC/DC did not do that, because I don’t think it’s possible to clone Bon Scott. I don’t think anybody is capable of impersonating Bon Scott. But Brian Johnson had a completely different style and sound. So, there really was no comparison, because they’re so different.”

Chuck Billy

“They’re night and day. And I think especially lyric-wise for sure, I totally see the difference. But, something about Brian’s technique and his style of vocals – because he’s unique – really made him fit in there with a unique band. I think if they had someone ordinary, I don’t know if it would be the same AC/DC – they had to have that unique thing as the lead person out there. And I think Brian Johnson was that guy.”

Whitfield Crane

“Well, Bon’s ‘my guy’ – for sure. They originally had the other singer, Dave Evans. Dave Evans was more like a T. Rex-type glam guy. But Bon was meant for that band. He was a street guy. And then Brian, you’ve got to tip your hat and say, ‘Fuckin’ A.’ When Bon died, they went and asked Bon’s mom if it would be cool to go on, and she said, ‘Please, go do it.’ What an extraordinary test to pass – to fill Bon’s shoes, and then make ‘Back in Black’. It’s an incredible feat. I’ve never met Brian, but he seems like the nicest guy – I hope his hearing gets better [in reference to when Brian had to leave AC/DC in 2016 after experiencing hearing problems]. Brian did fantastic. ‘For Those About to Rock’ is fuckin’ awesome – what a song. ‘Hells Bells’…fuck.”

Jesse Hughes

“I really believe in my heart that it is an unfair thing to try and compare Brian Johnson. There’s no following in Bon’s footsteps, there’s no ‘doing an excellent Bon Scott.’ The band needed to continue, and they found the person who – in my opinion – would interfere the least with the memory. So, I think Brian Johnson is aware of this, and Brian Johnson does an incredible thing, because he has to know that the weight of the comparisons with Bon, there is never going to be any avoiding it. But he managed to do a pretty good Bon Scott. I don’t think anyone’s going to deny that.”

Doug Pinnick

“Two different singers. I have much respect for both. I think Brian is a rock singer, and Bon was a soul singer. Both held their weight. I think Bon wrote the best lyrics. The lyrics changed when he died, but they’re still in the same genre. But there’s something about the stories that Bon told that made you believe it. I thought [Axl Rose] did a great job. I’m not an Axl Rose fan at all, but I think he did a great job… especially since he showed up and did it.” [Laughs]

Steve Souza

“Nothing against Brian – I like the AC/DC stuff with Brian, but I don’t go to it. If I’m in my car and I’m listening to AC/DC, it’s not Brian Johnson era stuff – it’s Bon Scott era stuff. It’s my preference – nothing against it. I mean, come on – ‘TNT.’ As soon as anybody hears that, they start singing ‘TNT!’ When I play that, the whole fuckin’ crowd is going ‘TNT!’ Everybody loves it – little kids know that song, y’know?”

Devin Townsend

“They’re both great. I just preferred Bon Scott. And I didn’t dislike Brian Johnson – it wasn’t like how I felt about Van Halen when Sammy Hagar was in there, where I was like, ‘Oh… I don’t like this as much.’ I did like Brian Johnson, and I did think that he had a cool voice. It’s just it was a different feeling that came out of the speakers. Bon Scott was like, in the room with me – in a sense. And Brian Johnson, it was maybe to do with production or the time in which it became popular, but I was more separated from it. And there was a real sense of intimacy with those old AC/DC records, that I just think were fantastic. Some of my favorites, actually – Powerage and all that. I love all that stuff.”

Simon Wright

“They’re kind of the same… but they’re not. And they’re both great, without a doubt. But I think Bon had more of a ‘street thing’ going on. He had that tongue-in-cheek, double entendre kind of thing going on with his lyrics – which was great. Then Brian came in, and he put a whole other spin on things, with songs like ‘Hells Bells’ and ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ and stuff like that. And I think that helped with the American market for the band because it’s about bells and girls and stuff… and obviously ‘Back in Black,’ which is killer. So, I think Brian has done a fantastic job taking over for Bon. But they’re both really good singers. I don’t think one is better than the other – to be honest.”