Fans of a legendary Angus rocker may never get to see their hero’s story told on the silver screen.
But there is some good news for AC/DC fans as efforts to push the band to the top of the Christmas charts saw them on track for second spot.
Plans for a biopic of Ronald Belford “Bon” Scott, the band’s singer from 1974 until his death in 1980, have hit the buffers after US firm High Voltage Productions was told it could not use any of their music.
Graham Galloway of DD8 Music, organisers of Kirriemuir’s annual Bon Fest, said it was a shame fans might never see a celluloid version of Bon’s early years.
He said: “I think a film of Bon’s life would have amazing potential, but there is no way on earth the Youngs (songwriting brothers Angus and Malcolm) will licence any of AC/DC’s music to an unofficial biopic.
“And what would be the point of a film about Bon’s life without any music?”
A spokesman for High Voltage Productions said the film wanted to bring Bon back to life for a generation of people who only know AC/DC through the likes of the Iron Man film soundtrack, adverts and Brian Johnson, who took over as frontman after Bon’s death.
He added: “We have already shot a teaser trailer with Rob Liotti portraying Bon. It was historic as it was the first dramatic footage ever shot of Bon Scott’s character or of that which is AC/DC.”
Director JR Getches said: “The story of Bon Scott is a classical tragedy. He was a misfit who found his place in rock music and became immortal pursuing his dream. This is a story worth telling.”
Mr Galloway welcomed an upsurge in downloads for the band’s Highway to Hell, pushing them into second position in the chart on Wednesday behind X Factor winner Sam Bailey.
Jon and Tracy Morter began a social media campaign to get the song to the top festive spot. The cut-off point for official Christmas chart sales is midnight on Saturday.
The band is celebrating its 40th year, and campaigners are raising funds towards a statue of the singer who left the town for Australia with his family when he was six years old.
Mr Galloway said: “The fans are over the moon that in their 40th year the band might finally get their first number one.
“The fact that the campaign is totally grassroots and has been started and grown by fans, much like the statue project, means that everyone has got right behind it. If we could get a boost to the statue fund too, then that would be amazing.”
l There are still tickets left for DD8 Music’s fundraising Christmas party in Kirriemuir Town Hall at 7.30pm on Saturday.
Tickets are £10 and the event will have live music, a raffle, mince pies and mulled wine. Tickets are available from the Kirriemuir Art Gallery on Reform Street or on the door on the night.
Contact dd8music@hotmail.co.uk for more information or to donate raffle prizes. All funds raised will go towards the group’s community work.