Are you an AC/DC fan like me? Ever wanted some AC/DC memorabilia? It has just been revealed that the buyer of a letter written by late AC/DC singer Bon Scott in 1978 that was auctioned off earlier this year was my home country. Australia's McGowan Government which is in Western Australia (i'm from the east side) bought the hand written piece for $14,000 and it will be displayed in the State Library in Perth for the next three weeks.
Bon wrote the three-page letter in 1978 to his girlfriend Valerie while AC/DC was touring the U.S., he mentions a number of disturbing issues including drug use, money troubles and drummer Phil Rudd's fragile mental state after he suffered a mental breakdown while on the road. It apparently was that bad that he even said he was looking at checking into a sanitarium for a month!
Bon Scott died in 1980 after a heavy night of drinking in London. He was 33.
"Hi Valerie, Well as you can see Bon's in Down Town Pittsburgh [sic] today. I've just come over from the west coast where I spent a couple of days in L.A. doing Midnight Special. I went to see Doug's new band the other night playing a place called La Cantino El Paso which is down Long Beach & boy he had me in stitches. He's playing really well & singing like a bird. Don't know if he told you but I rang him a few weeks ago to see if he would fill in for Phillip for a while as Phil had a bit of a nervous breakdown & had to spend a lot of time with a shrink. It was really bad but luckily he got over it quickly enough not to upset the band. We had to treat him with kid gloves for a bit but he's ok now. It's a pity, but I won't be down your way for at least two or three months. The rest of this stage of the tour is around Pennsylvania [sic] & N.Y. state but being out of sight don't mean out of mind. I know I'm pretty slack when it comes to letters & phone calls but I'm always traveling or drunk or hungover or...or...today I'm shaking so much I can hardly write but I have been meaning to write you for weeks so today I'm doing it. I had to stop making phone calls when I got too much in the red with the money situation. I'm already about $130 into this weeks wages but about two weeks ago I owed the band about $70 on pay day & that's crazy. But being crazy is about the only way to keep my sanity if you know what I mean. We've worked so much since I saw you last that it's all one hell of a blur. Must have been across the country & up & down it a million times & I'm beginning [sic] to feel & look just a little haggard. I'd love to check myself in to a sanitarium for a month but after this tour it's straight to Europe & England for a month & then back here for the winter-end of the year so the next time you see me it might be in a geriatric ward. My hair looks like a busby but I'm just going to let it go on growing & be a hippy again for a while. I know I'm making it sound that life's hard at the moment but I'm not complaining cause there's always good times & we're selling lots of records & making people happy so it can't be all that bad. I'm going to go home to Mum's at the end of the year & spend a month on the beach before tearing into it all again. Oh we finished our live album a few weeks ago in New York. I had to re-record about five concerts cause the vocals were not as good sound wise as the[y] had to be from all the microphone [sic] spill from the guitars & things. I was alright (ahem) it sounds great & it'll look good hanging on the Xmas trees. I don't know when it'll be out but I'll try & get you a special copy. They might put some out in red vinyl although I prefer them in platinum myself. Gotta go baby. I just got the half hour call & I have to phone New York. I'd love to hear from you before I leave the States. Say hi to the family for me...& how was Mum...Tell her hello from The Bon. / Love you Valerie / Bon X."
I personally find the letter a bit sad, especially considering I love their music so much. I guess that's the price of fame.