“It don’t mean nothing”: When Bon Scott shot down the Sex Pistols and punk
AC/DC have long been seen as kindred spirits to punk. Although the Australian band is distinct in the context of their era and compared to other world-famous rock acts, their dedication to rebelling against the pretentious status quo and bringing rock back to its raw roots draws clear parallels with the punk genre, even if these similarities are purely coincidental.
This anarchic and refreshing character has seen the ‘Back in Black’ group become adored by those on the alternative side of rock when so many of their contemporaries are loathed by them. Whether it be Dave Grohl, Scott Ian, or Tom Morello, many prominent figures from this area – an environment greatly indebted to punk and its intrinsic campaign against established classic rock – celebrate them as a galvanising force that blew the old acts and new modes such as new wave away, confirming that muscular guitar music hadn’t gone anywhere.
AC/DC have even made a tangible impact on the proliferation of the punk genre and its offshoots, such as hardcore, directly through guitarists such as Minor Threat and Bad Religion’s Brian Baker. He cites the Young brothers as his “biggest influence”. He told Wall of Sound: “My right hand is the Young brothers. You know, my sense of economy is Malcolm, my soloing is just bad Angus.” Given the eminence of his two main bands and their continued impact on the evolution of the punk genre, it shows just how crucial AC/DC has been.
Despite the links between AC/DC and punk, the Australian outfit was never a fan of it when it emerged as a concerted cultural force in 1976. Despite their albums, High Voltage and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, arriving that year and nearly 12 months before the Sex Pistols’ genre highlight, Never Mind the Bollocks – not to mention the several stylistic similarities between the records – late frontman Bon Scott was dismissive of the band and its message, which typified the punk ethos.
In early January 1977, just a month into AC/DC’s 32-date A Giant Dose of Rock ‘N’ Roll tour across Australia, frontman Bon Scott sat down with a group of journalists to discuss the emerging punk craze. During the conversation, one bold journalist asked the slightly slurring Scott about the Sex Pistols and addressed the mistaken rumour that the punk band was modelling themselves after AC/DC.
Scott, in his typically playful form, claimed he didn’t “know ’em” with a big grin on his face. When asked how he viewed this new form of music, Scott quickly switched spirits, maintaining that his band were utterly different from Sex Pistols and punk. John Lydon’s group and the rest of their peers were “nothing,” he said. He felt it meant nothing and lacked any real substance.
“I see us as music; I see punk rock as nothing,” he said.
He added: “They’re making a statement you know, it don’t mean nothing, but they’re making a statement.”
Quantifying AC/DC, he stuck to the remit and reaffirmed the point his group had maintained since breaking out, that they were pure rock ‘n’ roll. There could be no similarities with punk, as his music had a heart and a clear motivation.
It wasn’t just Scott who hated Sex Pistols and punk, though. Recalling those years, Angus Young offered more insight into how AC/DC saw themselves as separate from the spiky-haired, pogoing groups. Outlining why he hated punk, he revealed that due to his limited education, the first time he had even heard the word ‘anarchy’ was when the Sex Pistols broke out, meaning they weren’t communicating anything to him.
Moreover, when punks would turn up at their shows and cause chaos, it would result in physical retribution from the band. They weren’t letting anyone get in their way of bringing a rocking good time to the masses, let alone grotty punks.
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