CLINTON WALKER – Highway to Hell
“Bon Scott was possibly the most likeable rogue ever to walk the earth, and Clinton Walker paints a vivid picture of not just the man but also the machinations of being in a rock band,” raved Who Weekly when Highway to Hell was first published in Australia. Since then, Walker’s book has established itself as a classic of rock writing. It offers the definitive account of AC/DC’s rise to fame, covering the years in which the racy lyrics and charismatic stage presence of singer Bon Scott, together with the formidable crosscut riffing of guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young, defined a new and highly influential brand of rock’n’roll.
Drawing on many first-person interviews and featuring a gallery of rare photos, Clinton Walker traces AC/DC’s career through the life of their original front man, from the Scottish roots he shared with the Youngs to small-time gigs to recording studios and international success—right up to Scott’s shocking death in 1980, just as the band were beginning to get the worldwide recognition for which they’d worked so tirelessly. For this revised edition, Clinton Walker has taken a fresh look at the circumstances surrounding Scott’s death, and reveals details that have come to light in recent years. The result underlines Highway to Hell’s status as the authoritative version of the life—and untimely death—of one of rock’s greatest characters.
“A compulsory read . . . Great stories about Bon’s reckless spirit, about the Young brothers, about what being on the road is really all about.”—Metal Hammer
“A well-written and thoroughly researched biography . . . sensitive but unsentimental.”—Q
“What makes Walker’s book much more than another well-written saga of a larrikin rock’n’roll singer is that he realizes the music doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it both shapes and reflects popular culture…. Aside from the historical overview, perceptive insights, and wonderful anecdotes, there are fabulous photos and illustrations.”—Sydney Morning Herald
“A timely and acclaimed biography.”—Billboard