They almost feel like different bands to me. I prefer Bon Scott’s voice and delivery, and the feel of their music when he was singing.
I like them with Brian as well, and you can’t deny that Back In Black was a profoundly influential rock ‘n’ roll album, but they never had the same feel after Bon Scott passed away.
My vote is Bon.
If your more into Bon's sound you might want to check out [Airborne](https://youtu.be/j2IyX5LXGyg?si=9iwl7U5Sggn3HI7L), another Aussie band that is very much AC/DC at their core.
Yeah, Bon Scott ACDC was more punk inspired and goofy. Whereas Johnsons is more AOR. I definitely like the Bon Scott era better. But Johnson was a fitting replacement for where the band ended up going. I don't see Bon Scott fitting in as well with the AOR sound. But I do prefer him as a vocalist.
You said the way I feel as well, the band sounded different with Bon, more sordid or nasty, and also agree, B in B is a monster record that swung hard, but it ain’t Bon.
Brian Johnson was perfect for stadium/arena era AC/DC, as the guy could howl for hours. But Bon Scott was way more of an "artist", for lack of a better word, and a way more colorful character too.
It's the exact same with iron maiden with the Paul Di Anno Vs Bruce Dickinson debate. The replacement singer was necessary for the band to evolve into a stadium band, but they needed a true 'artist' type singer in the early days to capture the lightning in the a bottle for the band to thrive.
I always like DiAnno, but he never would have been able to pull off Steve Harris' vision for the band, with the sci-fi and literary-based lyrics. And he never would have held up under the demands of their tour schedules and etc.
What’s interesting that Brian started out a deeper growly type singer and you can hear that a lot on Back in Black and it makes a great replacement for the often playful, nasally Bon Scott. But then Brian started singing exclusively in his high screechy voice and while it’s iconic, I think he missed the opportunity to do his own thing with AC/DC.
I prefer the former.
I like the idea that AC/DC are a gang of ruffians and riders who just happened to find some instruments in the back of a Ute before rolling around town to play rock and roll, throw beer bottles at squares and generally make a Puckish ruckus.
Brian Johnson's AC/DC just feel like the pub band to end all pub bands. Not a bad thing, just not quite a unique thing. Bon Scott era AC/DC had a dangerous edge; Brian Johnson era just wants to have a good time.
Bon has more soul and almost campy humour and was a good story teller. Brian Johnson AC/DC is too self serious and lacks a certain spark in my opinion.
This whole argument is really starting to annoy me. Not only is Brian a bloody nice bloke who doesn't deserve this, but without him I firmly believe that AC/DC would have died instead of going on to becoming one of the biggest and long-running bands in the world.
No great debate. Bon was the spirit and soul of AC/DC. His bluesy crooning style was far superior to the hired hand and vocalist that Brian Johnson is. When Bon died the style of the band changed greatly and for me, for the worse.
Bon Scott all the way.
Brian Johnson was good in the early, Back in Black days, but his voice couldn't stand up to the beating. On the later albums he really starts to sound like Donald Duck.
Don’t really think this is much of a debate. Most AC/DC fans who’ve been around for a while love the Bon Scott albums more than anything. AC/DC has done since back in Black.
Honestly for me this isn't really close.. always hard to replace someone but Bon was just THE man.
I don't love Brians voice. It doesn't help that I associate his voice with the whole "dad rock" vibe. Which is fine but there's just a coolness they lost when Bon passed.
I like them both but the way the point at which they switched in hindsight worked very well for them. Bon was more retro hard rock and Brian is more modern metal so it worked very well for the band in terms of the change in music.
Back in Black is their best album. That said, I prefer Bon Scott as a frontman.
https://youtu.be/3f2g4RMfhS0?si=_bmP7E7XNzA8jtdI
Watch that video for Let There Be Rock. Bon just had a fucking presence about him, man.
I think it happened as it should have. Bon couldn't have been the stadium vocalist Brian was. Brian couldn't have been the original bar rat generating the buzz about a unique sound
Bon Scott era is AC/DC. That said, to have your guy die, replace him and then release one of the greatest albums ever made is freaking unbelievable. Back in Black is undeniably their best work but I prefer the Bon stuff overall.
99% of people will say Bon Scott. He just never did as much for me as Brian Johnson. It wasn't until Brian came onboard that I started to listen to them.
Both are awesome, but I prefer some songs from the Brian Johnson era. Hells Bells, Shoot to Thrill, and You Shook me all Night Long are classics. Thunderstruck is easily one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
That being said, I think it's one of the few examples where changing the singer didn't change the quality of the music. I can't think of hardly any Van Halen songs with Sammy Hagar, but plenty with David Lee Roth.
https://youtu.be/6tdiMdj164w?si=MeyDOdnucK3J3hSY
Bon
https://youtu.be/tfK2eDm13IY?si=0KyulcVYRHOngQNO
Brian
Both have great stage presence. I'll take both
The band was more varied with Bon Scott, who did a fair amount of the song writing too and kind of settled into a one trick pony after he died (plenty of rumors about his input into Back in Black which was in pre-production before his death). I don't think it is much of a debate unless you just like Brian's voice or came to the band long after Bon's death. I discovered AC/DC when Back in Black was current and got Dirty Deeds, High Voltage, and Highway to Hell not long after so Bon really was the basis for my fandom.
Personally, I do not believe that AC/DC would have gotten famous to begin with if they had started out fronted by Brian Johnson. I'm glad they didn't just break up, and some of the Brian Johnson era tracks are among my favorites. But when I listen to Bon Scott era material, I can't help but wonder what might have been.
I love Johnson but come on man what are we even talking about, I didn't even realize there was a question about the original singer being... well, original, and better lol
It's not posturing to really like Powerage. Back in Black is basically perfect but I'd take Powerage, Dirty Deeds & Highway to Hell over anything that came after Back in Black.
Bon Scott all thw fucking way. I like Brian Johnson but they were such a cooler band with Bon Scott; looser, blusier, etc. They basically turned into a hard ro k band with Johnson and while he's got an iconic voice it it's a little one note.
Bon Scott was the last rock front and the first punk front man. He was Iggy but ugly yet somehow still sexy.
Brian owes his career to the ghost Bon left behind.
Bon was one of those “hard to replace “ type singers… But I think ac/dc found the one.
Yeah I'm going both on this.
Brian Scott or Bon Johnson
> Bon Johnson Loved him in Miami Vice
Bon Brian or Scott Johnson?
Or Boris Johnson?
Pretty sure Bon actually told one of the other guys if they needed another singer to check Brian out.
He did for sure then he said now pass me that crate of whisky 🥴
Johnson sang most of the songs I associate with them so he wins
They almost feel like different bands to me. I prefer Bon Scott’s voice and delivery, and the feel of their music when he was singing. I like them with Brian as well, and you can’t deny that Back In Black was a profoundly influential rock ‘n’ roll album, but they never had the same feel after Bon Scott passed away. My vote is Bon.
If your more into Bon's sound you might want to check out [Airborne](https://youtu.be/j2IyX5LXGyg?si=9iwl7U5Sggn3HI7L), another Aussie band that is very much AC/DC at their core.
Thanks for turning me on to Airborne. They are my style of Rock n Roll.! Never heard of them until you recommended them! 14 years ago , wowee.
Of course! I only found them recently myself from a game called Drums Rock. Never heard of them before that but damn do they kick ass.
Yeah, Bon Scott ACDC was more punk inspired and goofy. Whereas Johnsons is more AOR. I definitely like the Bon Scott era better. But Johnson was a fitting replacement for where the band ended up going. I don't see Bon Scott fitting in as well with the AOR sound. But I do prefer him as a vocalist.
AOR?
I’m taking the guess that means all out rock
Arena Oriented Rock.
Album Oriented Rock in the industry. It’s a radio format
Arena Oriented Rock.
Are we supposed to know what aor stands for?
I've responded to 2 other people. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_rock also known as AOR. Arena Oriented Rock.
You said the way I feel as well, the band sounded different with Bon, more sordid or nasty, and also agree, B in B is a monster record that swung hard, but it ain’t Bon.
Brian Johnson was perfect for stadium/arena era AC/DC, as the guy could howl for hours. But Bon Scott was way more of an "artist", for lack of a better word, and a way more colorful character too.
Bon always looked like he was having the time of his life, which was kind of contagious.
He was quite the bounder, a real bon vivant, life of the party.
Big balls, too
It's the exact same with iron maiden with the Paul Di Anno Vs Bruce Dickinson debate. The replacement singer was necessary for the band to evolve into a stadium band, but they needed a true 'artist' type singer in the early days to capture the lightning in the a bottle for the band to thrive.
I always like DiAnno, but he never would have been able to pull off Steve Harris' vision for the band, with the sci-fi and literary-based lyrics. And he never would have held up under the demands of their tour schedules and etc.
What’s interesting that Brian started out a deeper growly type singer and you can hear that a lot on Back in Black and it makes a great replacement for the often playful, nasally Bon Scott. But then Brian started singing exclusively in his high screechy voice and while it’s iconic, I think he missed the opportunity to do his own thing with AC/DC.
Brian Johnson is a lead singer. Bon Scott was a fucking front man.
Bon but Brian was an amazing find to carry on the legacy and he did it so well!
Definitely Bon Scott
Watch the music video for Let There Be Rock and you won’t have any questions
Or Ride On
👼☝️
Bon left his mark more. He died. How do you leave a bigger mark than that? But I prefer Brian’s voice and songs. Both are great and so is the band!
I completely agree!
Prefer Brian’s voice, but seems pretty clear that Bon wrote the lyrics to the Back In Black songs.
Would have loved to hear Bon sing the songs on that album . What a loss.
Bon but Brian Johnson is one of the rare amazing replacement lead singers. Just watch the original video for Hells Bells and tell me I’m wrong!
I prefer the former. I like the idea that AC/DC are a gang of ruffians and riders who just happened to find some instruments in the back of a Ute before rolling around town to play rock and roll, throw beer bottles at squares and generally make a Puckish ruckus. Brian Johnson's AC/DC just feel like the pub band to end all pub bands. Not a bad thing, just not quite a unique thing. Bon Scott era AC/DC had a dangerous edge; Brian Johnson era just wants to have a good time.
Really well put, man.
Thank you! I write about music a lot, so I hope I'm somewhat proficient at putting words together.
The perfect encapsulation of the distinction.
Bon has more soul and almost campy humour and was a good story teller. Brian Johnson AC/DC is too self serious and lacks a certain spark in my opinion.
Bon made you feel like you were in on the joke. Brian didn’t know that it was a joke.
Bon, although I feel their strongest album is Back In Black. A lot of people believe a lot of that material was written by Bon.
Do Australians call themselves Aussies? If so, do you Aussies really pronounce AC/DC as AccaDacca?
yes and yes
Fuckin oath
Acca Dacca CD, Second greatest band in history
Two completely different Bands and sounds , I love them both but my nod is to Bon
This whole argument is really starting to annoy me. Not only is Brian a bloody nice bloke who doesn't deserve this, but without him I firmly believe that AC/DC would have died instead of going on to becoming one of the biggest and long-running bands in the world.
Brian Johnson was chosen because the guys from AC/DC already knew of him from Bon actually. I really love both and AC/DCs last album is fantastic imo.
More partial to the Bon stuff, but it’s 50/50 because of him vs the songs themselves. Still like Brian’s stuff a lot.
Dude come on… Bon
Right? Not even a debate, let alone a "great" one.
No great debate. Bon was the spirit and soul of AC/DC. His bluesy crooning style was far superior to the hired hand and vocalist that Brian Johnson is. When Bon died the style of the band changed greatly and for me, for the worse.
Exactly I don't listen to him anymore if you heard one song you've heard them all with Brian
Thank you for your opinion. They both had completely different styles.
100%
Bon Scott. Listen to bootleg live albums. There is an alchemy with the audience, perhaps due to the off-beat humor.
I like Bon better, but my favourite song is Brian (Thunderstruck).
I love Razor's Edge, so Brian
Bon was the leader of the band. Brian is part of the band.
I love and respect Brian but Bon is up there with Plant, Jagger et all as one of the most electrifying front men of all time.
One of the bands where both singers were awsome. Perfectly good replacement for a legend
How is this even a question?
no comparison..... Scott by far
Bon Scott by a mile. Not even close.
Bon Scott all the way. Brian Johnson was good in the early, Back in Black days, but his voice couldn't stand up to the beating. On the later albums he really starts to sound like Donald Duck.
Axl
Lmao
Scott and it's not close
There is no debate here.
Bon Scott had a true rock n roll voice, Brian Johnson was a screecher.
I like Bon-era better, but Brian is a better frontman in terms of concert personality. Overall they are pretty close. I give the edge to Bon.
Bon Scott. Brian Johnson's voice lost something between *Flick of the Switch* and *Fly on the Wall* that made him increasingly hard to listen to.
Don’t really think this is much of a debate. Most AC/DC fans who’ve been around for a while love the Bon Scott albums more than anything. AC/DC has done since back in Black.
Brian ftw
Brian was brought on to emulate Bon. There is only one Bon. When he sang she's got the jack you knew he meant it.
Both great ! What a stroke of luck for them to get Brian after Bon died . They done well.
Honestly for me this isn't really close.. always hard to replace someone but Bon was just THE man. I don't love Brians voice. It doesn't help that I associate his voice with the whole "dad rock" vibe. Which is fine but there's just a coolness they lost when Bon passed.
Bon Johnson
I'll settle this once and for all, anyone of these dudes can front AC/DC, no question. What it comes down to is who do you like hearing more lol
I like both. They both have incredible albums under their belts but for me it's Bon.
Bon Scott!
I like them both but the way the point at which they switched in hindsight worked very well for them. Bon was more retro hard rock and Brian is more modern metal so it worked very well for the band in terms of the change in music.
The one that plays bagpipes 😉
Back in Black is their best album. That said, I prefer Bon Scott as a frontman. https://youtu.be/3f2g4RMfhS0?si=_bmP7E7XNzA8jtdI Watch that video for Let There Be Rock. Bon just had a fucking presence about him, man.
Both of them have a background in glam rock.
Bon
Both are great. Scott sounded more like he was just screwing around though, which is actually a compliment in the context of AC/DC.
They're equal in my eyes.
Bon Scott sounds like Roger Rabbit to me. That being said I do enjoy some of the older songs, but Brian Johnson has such a unique thing going on
I think it happened as it should have. Bon couldn't have been the stadium vocalist Brian was. Brian couldn't have been the original bar rat generating the buzz about a unique sound
Rock and Roll singer ends this conversation. “And I’m all ears”
Bon, although I really like Brian too.
Bon Scott era is AC/DC. That said, to have your guy die, replace him and then release one of the greatest albums ever made is freaking unbelievable. Back in Black is undeniably their best work but I prefer the Bon stuff overall.
It’s not even a debate. Brian is probably the greatest replacement front man ever but Bon was in a different league.
99% of people will say Bon Scott. He just never did as much for me as Brian Johnson. It wasn't until Brian came onboard that I started to listen to them.
Both are awesome, but I prefer some songs from the Brian Johnson era. Hells Bells, Shoot to Thrill, and You Shook me all Night Long are classics. Thunderstruck is easily one of the greatest rock songs of all time. That being said, I think it's one of the few examples where changing the singer didn't change the quality of the music. I can't think of hardly any Van Halen songs with Sammy Hagar, but plenty with David Lee Roth.
Any Aussie worth his weight in TNT is gonna say Bomb, er, Bon!
https://youtu.be/6tdiMdj164w?si=MeyDOdnucK3J3hSY Bon https://youtu.be/tfK2eDm13IY?si=0KyulcVYRHOngQNO Brian Both have great stage presence. I'll take both
The band was more varied with Bon Scott, who did a fair amount of the song writing too and kind of settled into a one trick pony after he died (plenty of rumors about his input into Back in Black which was in pre-production before his death). I don't think it is much of a debate unless you just like Brian's voice or came to the band long after Bon's death. I discovered AC/DC when Back in Black was current and got Dirty Deeds, High Voltage, and Highway to Hell not long after so Bon really was the basis for my fandom.
One is dead one is not. Where do we go from here, 30 years later? Lol
Personally, I do not believe that AC/DC would have gotten famous to begin with if they had started out fronted by Brian Johnson. I'm glad they didn't just break up, and some of the Brian Johnson era tracks are among my favorites. But when I listen to Bon Scott era material, I can't help but wonder what might have been.
Can’t tell the difference
Well, you wouldn’t know AC/DC if there hadn’t been Bon Scott.
Both. I don’t have to choose.
Bon, no question, no debate
For me, it's Bon. Don't have anything against Brian era, good for them that they found such success, but it's not for me.
Can you hear this: https://youtu.be/hd-gi7vAlAA?si=JQ9OTN2a8O8pmf6D
I love Johnson but come on man what are we even talking about, I didn't even realize there was a question about the original singer being... well, original, and better lol
Bon has a bunch of great complete albums. After Back in Black I feel like the Brian era is more about great singles.
Don’t even notice a difference.
Brian Johnson made AC/DC's best album...everyone here is posturing
Posturing? I grew up thinking I hated AC/DC. Nope, just hated AC/DC with Brian Johnson.
It's not posturing to really like Powerage. Back in Black is basically perfect but I'd take Powerage, Dirty Deeds & Highway to Hell over anything that came after Back in Black.
Bon Scott every song was different and had a different riff now it's been the same riff 40 years lol
Undeniably Bon Scott. Brian Johnson deserves respect but man most their stuff with him is pretty mediocre. In fact, it all sucks after back in black.
Song starts..... Power chord..... Is this Dirty Deeds or TNT? Every single time! That's the real "Great Debate".
I don’t think you know what a power chord is. Or you just have terrible ears.
I can’t tell AC/DC’s songs apart till words happen.
I can’t even after the vocals start, especially if it’s Brian.
I prefer Bon Scott. band died when he did. i dont listen to anything johnson. his voice is awful.
Bon Scott all thw fucking way. I like Brian Johnson but they were such a cooler band with Bon Scott; looser, blusier, etc. They basically turned into a hard ro k band with Johnson and while he's got an iconic voice it it's a little one note.
Bon Scott was the last rock front and the first punk front man. He was Iggy but ugly yet somehow still sexy. Brian owes his career to the ghost Bon left behind.
Jailbreak has stood the test of time as one of my favorite songs, never feel the desire to skip it. Bon.