Former AC/DC Bassist On HALL OF FAME Snub: It Is 'Unacceptable'

Despite having been snubbed by the organizers of the Rock And Roll Of Fame, ex-AC/DC bassist Mark Evans claims that he is excited that his former band is being inducted.

"I am absolutely thrilled for the band to finally make it into the Hall of Fame," Mark told Australia's Undercover News. "It is something the band really deserves. I was really quite chuffed when I heard."

When he first heard the band was to be inducted Evans didn't think he'd be included but then his name was announced. "I knew it was happening for a while," he said. "I knew from about mid last year that this was coming and I was assuming that it would be the current line-up and Bon [Scott]. Then word started coming back to me that I was going to be nominated also. I thought that was good and I'd wait and see how it all comes out."

Once he got the news that he was going to be nominated, "I was just blown out" Evans said. "I was really, really happy about the whole thing. To having that turn around has become a bigger surprise than making it in. I was very disappointed about it. I went through a situation where people would come up to me and congratulate me and I had to bite my tongue because at that stage I knew the whole thing had been retracted. As much as I am fairly immune to embarrassment I have been put in a very uncomfortable situation."

Although Mark claims that he would have had no problem with not having been nominated at all, he finds the Hall of Fame's decision to nominate him and then retract the nomination unacceptable.

"When you consider the last 20 years, what immediately comes to mind —'Thunderstruck' maybe? 'Who Made Who'?' he said. "At the end of the day had they come around and said the current line-up of the band as well of Bon would be inducted, I would have just gone, 'Oh well, missed out.' I would have taken it on the chin. That's just part of life. But to be mentioned you are inducted and have it splashed all over the world and then have it retracted, that to me is unacceptable."

So what does Mark regret about not being in AC/DC anymore? "I don't have any real regrets," he said. "What I am now with my family and what I am doing musically since I left the band, I have had a very good and full life. I think if I was one of those unfortunate beings who didn't want to get on with things and kept on looking back I think I'd have a problem. With my lifestyle and what I am doing I am very, very satisfied with what I am doing and what I am. My regrets are probably not being able to play with the band. I loved playing with that band and I do regret losing a couple of friendships out of it. Bon is exclusive of this because that was out of anyone's control. I had a very good friendship with both Phil [Rudd] and Malcolm [Young] and unfortunately those friendships have gone by the board now. We had a lot of great times, did some great things but I had a couple of great friendships there. My one regret is losing those friendships."

In related news, a ticket for the one-off AC/DC concert at Roseland Ballroom in New York City on March 11 was recently sold for $3,500 on Ebay.com. Another pair of tickets is currently for sale at this location.