Original AC/DC frontman Dave Evans makes bold claim about legendary group
When Bon Scott passed away in 1980, it looked like AC/DC might be ready to call it a day. The singer was second to none, with a unique vocal tone and charming stage presence that made him, and subsequently the band, difficult to dislike. However, AC/DC found a fit replacement in Brian Johnson, someone with a similar charm but a completely different vocal tone. Since then, the constant debate about which of the two singers is better has reared its head once more.
The recent announcement that AC/DC would be going on tour in 2024, including two headline shows at Wembley Stadium, has only reignited that discussion. Naturally, Johnson’s voice started to weaken slightly; therefore, with his vocal ability already under the microscope, the classic Scott and Johnson debate reawakened. Now, in a recent interview, the band’s original lead singer, Dave Evans, has weighed in, and his opinion is bold, to say the least.
Evans, along with Malcolm and Angus Young, bassist Larry Van Kriedt and drummer Colin Burgess, founded AC/DC in 1973. Evans sang on the band’s original single, ‘Can I Sit Next To You, Girl’ along with the B-side ‘Rocking in the Parlour’. Evans’s time with the band was short-lived, as in 1974, he was replaced by Bon Scott, and the rest is history.
In a recent YouTube interview with José Luis Mata Sanchez, Evans was quick to respond when asked about his favourite AC/DC singer. “Well, first, Dave Evans is the best, of course. That’s me, okay? Of course. And most of my fans will tell you exactly that, too,” he controversially stated.
Evans even claimed many of his fans call him “maestro” in homage to his supposed musical excellence. Given the tone of the answer and the fact Evans went on to say something heartfelt about the band afterwards, it implies that he was half-joking with his response. However, it does beg the question, had he been given a bit more time with the band, how differently might things have panned out for them?
“If you’re an AC/DC fan, you must embrace the whole band, because, first of all, there was the five founding members, and I’m one of ‘em,” he said. He criticised those who compare Brian Johnson to Bon Scott, given that they have such different vocal ranges and represent different periods in the band. “If you’re biased against one or the other, then you’re not really an AC/DC fan,” he said, “If you’re a Bon Scott AC/DC fan or a Brian Johnson AC/DC fan, you’re a fan of part of the band.”
Next month, Johnson is set to perform live again as the band is set to embark on their world tour, which kicks off on May 17th in Germany. Johnson will no doubt deliver AC/DC songs on from every chapter of their career, including a series of classics that Scott helped create.
Watch Evans’ conversation with José Luis Mata Sanchez below.
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