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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Backstage on the way to the top

Australian Love Stories online
 

‘By the way he carried himself, you really thought that Bon Scott was immortal’, AC/DC lead guitarist Angus Young recalled in a 1998 interview with Guitar World.

Bon Scott & Angus Young, Atlanta, Georgia
Bon Scott & Angus Young, Atlanta, Georgia, 1978 (printed 2010) Rennie Ellis. © Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive. www.RennieEllis.com.au

When he joined AC/DC in 1974, Bon Scott wanted to play drums, but the band needed a vocalist. ‘He had no airs and graces about him, probably because he was a drummer at heart’, Angus Young remembered of his close friend, lead singer and frontman. Photographer Rennie Ellis took this relaxed portrait of the pair backstage at Symphony Hall in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on AC/DC’s 1978 international tour. With the band climbing the charts and courting international stardom, Scott told Ellis that he could see no end to the rollicking adventure. Only two years later, Scott’s hard-partying lifestyle caught up with him – officially he died of ‘acute alcohol poisoning’ – and the world lost one of the most talented and adored rock musicians of all time.

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Mirka and Philippe - 9 Collins Street
Mirka and Philippe - 9 Collins Street
Mirka and Philippe - 9 Collins Street
Mirka and Philippe - 9 Collins Street

Melbourne’s iconic culture-shapers

Booklet commemorating the life of Rose Grainger, 1922 reproduced by Percy Grainger
Booklet commemorating the life of Rose Grainger, 1922 reproduced by Percy Grainger
Booklet commemorating the life of Rose Grainger, 1922 reproduced by Percy Grainger
Booklet commemorating the life of Rose Grainger, 1922 reproduced by Percy Grainger

Dearest Mummy

Robert Klippel
Robert Klippel
Robert Klippel
Robert Klippel

The long game

Artist kisses subject, 2014 Sophia Hewson. Private collection. © Sophia Hewson. Photo: © AGNSW
Artist kisses subject, 2014 Sophia Hewson. Private collection. © Sophia Hewson. Photo: © AGNSW
Artist kisses subject, 2014 Sophia Hewson. Private collection. © Sophia Hewson. Photo: © AGNSW
Artist kisses subject, 2014 Sophia Hewson. Private collection. © Sophia Hewson. Photo: © AGNSW

Erotic-platonic

Sir Douglas Mawson
Sir Douglas Mawson
Sir Douglas Mawson
Sir Douglas Mawson

Warm heart of mine

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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