“I can’t fill that bill”: the singers who rejected AC/DC
The chance to join one of the world’s premier hard rock outfits sounds like a childhood fantasy or the plot of a cheesy 1990s coming-of-age film. However, in the case of AC/DC, it seems as though the Australian rockers had a pretty difficult time trying to convince anybody to join their ranks after frontman Bon Scott passed away in 1980. Although, by that point, the band had established themselves as titans of hard rock, that reputation brought with it some difficulties in recruitment.
Upon listening to AC/DC’s biggest hits, it is difficult to imagine anybody but Scott delivering the vocals. In actuality, though, Bon Scott was not the band’s original vocalist. It was Dave Evans who had first taken the role of lead singer with the band, although he did not last very long within the band, quickly becoming frustrated with the economic difficulties which arise when you are a member of a rock band. Although he might not have been the band’s original vocalist, Bon Scott was certainly the defining vocalist of AC/DC.
After performing on a variety of the group’s biggest tracks, Scott passed away in 1980 of alcohol poisoning in London. This left AC/DC with the unenviable task of having to either disband or find a replacement singer. For a while, the band did consider throwing in the towel, though they quickly realised that Scott would have wanted the group to continue in his honour. Thus began the process of finding somebody who could hold a candle to the unique vocals of Bon Scott.
While in the early stages of recruitment, the band considered some pretty off-the-wall choices. Initially, the group considered taking on Noddy Holder, of Slade fame. However, Holder quickly refused, remarking that “my loyalty was to Slade”, despite the band having largely fallen from relevance by 1980. In a similar vein, the band set their sights on sweating lunatic Iggy Pop, who recalled, “I listened to their record. I thought I can’t fill that bill. I wasn’t like, ugh, I don’t like them. It was quite well made. They do careful work. But I’m not what they needed.”
After facing rejection by two legends of rock and roll, AC/DC began to pursue people from further afield. Namely, the group approached the Maltese singer Marc Storace, of the group Krokus. Storace was asked to join the ranks of the Aussie rockers by the CEO of a Birmingham-based company who had created a light show for Krokus and presumably had some connections with AC/DC.
Despite the attractive offer, Storace refused the chance to join the band. The Maltese singer told the Italian publication Linea Rock, “The thing about AC/DC is it’s not realistic to think that way when you think why I decided that way. And I wouldn’t change a minute,” adding, “I’m happy. I have a loving wife. I have two beautiful children. They’re intelligent. They’re doing their own thing. I have my own house. I’m an ambassador for Peugeot. It’s great to be alive.”
Despite the repeated rejections, all’s well that ends well, and AC/DC eventually landed on Brian Johnson to take the mantle. Johnson proved to be a natural fit for the band and continues to be a vital member of the hard rock outfit to this day.
