World of rock salutes legend
The world’s greatest rhythm guitarist and unassuming rock mastermind, AC/DC founder Malcolm Young (right) has died at age 64 after losing his battle with dementia. A natural-born musician who conjured many of the signature riffs that made AC/DC a global rock force had fought dementia for several years.
THE world’s greatest rhythm guitarist and unassuming rock mastermind, AC/DC founder Malcolm Young, has died at age 64.
A natural-born musician who conjured many of the signature riffs that made AC/DC a global rock force, he had fought dementia for several years.
His brother Angus paid tribute to the bond the pair shared in steering AC/DC from their first gig in Sydney on New Year’s Eve in 1973 to some of the world’s biggest stadium stages.
“As his brother it is hard to express in words what he has meant to me during my life; the bond we had was unique and very special,” Angus posted. “Malcolm, job well done.”
Young passed peacefully surrounded by his family, having battled dementia for several years after its early onset forced him to relearn his riffs during the band’s Black Ice tour. His last performance was in 2010 in Bilbao, Spain.
Young was a renowned perfectionist and uncompromising strategist who took the hard decisions needed to propel AC/DC from the unforgiving Australia pub circuit to international success.
Malcolm is survived by his wife Linda, children Cara and Ross, son-in-law Josh, three grandchildren, sister and brother.