AC/DC's Malcolm Young unable to continue due to illness.

[93EB_SXR6]

Hey guys,
I'm sure I'm not the only AC/DC fan on this forum that was devastated when they heard the news about Mal Young.

I picked up the guitar at age 15 after getting hooked on their Highway to Hell album. Although Angus Young is the more spoken about guitarist from the band, Malcolm's playing made a bigger impression on me. Without his tight, crunching riff work I doubt Angus would ever have been able to explore the guitar as he did in those "early days".

I'm not a fan of their albums with Brian Johnson but even so, Mal's solid rhythm tone was always there.

I've just put down the guitar long enough to write this post and then I'll be back to covering their material to pay my own personal respects to Mal. My finger tips are destroyed because I've been playing all day (not just acca dacca) but I'm not stopping until I've covered their entire Bon Scott-era discography.
I'm through High Voltage, T.N.T. and Highway to Hell... so it's time for some Dirty Deeds to get Done Dirt Cheap.

This one's for you Mal.

Cheers.

[xxx000]

What's wrong with him health wise?

Bon Scott was the man, impossible to replicate his sound or style

[GASWAGON]

Ye not good news but they have done very well already.....And how many shows can they do these days?

[Revolver]

Any links to an article or anything??

[Uncle_Ken]

Only good memories for me when I think of ACDC...hope he is OK. Last time I saw them live was in Sydney with Bon up front at a pub near the Tigers Club (yes I'm that old)
What a great band.
UK

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by Revolver

Any links to an article or anything??

Take your pick.....

https://www.google.com.au/search?sou....0.ZmeDpZsFDwM

[Revolver]

Well these guys have been on it now for 40 + years. There will be a point where these guys have to call it a day.

[burnz]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-1...-break/5396282

[mechanic]

Terrible terrible news. Seemed like they would all go on forever.
The best hard rock band by light years.
One of those blokes who did it his way for a long time, hope he makes a quick recovery.

[LG17]

The general consensus is that he has had a stroke and obviously lost dexterity in his hands. Apparently they played privately together recently with/for him.

[93EB_SXR6]

I understand every man has to call it quits some day but I just think it's a great shame AC/DC will be continuing without Malcolm. That doesn't seem respectful to me.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-1...-break/5396282

[Bearman]

My older brother is a major fan, has been since the early 70's when these records started appearing at home. I became hooked too!!

When he was 17 and I was 12 AC/DC were touring the country areas just before they made it big. They were playing in our town at the local hall. He was going with his girlfriend and he'd arranged for me to go as well along with the GF's sister who was my age.

My first rock concert and hot date!!! Woo Hoo!!!

My Mum put the kybosh on that.

Finally saw AC/DC on their last tour here. Loved it. My crazy Brother sees them every time they come out.

Get well Malcolm, rock on AC/DC.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by 93EB_SXR6

I understand every man has to call it quits some day but I just think it's a great shame AC/DC will be continuing without Malcolm. That doesn't seem respectful to me.

Why? they've been going for about 35 years since Bon Scott died.

Malcolm and Angus are the only two original members left, with about 10-12 others coming and going over the years.

[ford71V8]

They are not continuing without Malcolm.

[JC]

Originally Posted by ford71V8

They are not continuing without Malcolm.

Is there a press release or something to substantiate this? The abc article linked above suggests they will continue (though why they need to is beyond me)....

[93EB_SXR6]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Why? they've been going for about 35 years since Bon Scott died.

Malcolm and Angus are the only two original members left, with about 10-12 others coming and going over the years.

Well technically Bon wasn't an "original member" of the band, the only original members are Angus and Malcolm. Their original vocalist was Dave Evans.
They continued after Bon because Bon tragically died just after their music broke into the US market - at the peak of their fame. They still had plenty of material for another album and were "hungry".

From everything I've read, they don't really have material prepared for another album now... and they're at an age where they could all respectfully retire together rather than continuing without their founding member.

[MercurySilver]

sad news
let there be rock one of my all time favs

[ford71V8]

Originally Posted by JC

Is there a press release or something to substantiate this? The abc article linked above suggests they will continue (though why they need to is beyond me)....

One of many similar articles http://loudwire.com/acdc-official-st...uture-of-band/

As a long time fan everything I am reading suggests they are not interested in carrying without Malcolm, rather they are content to wait and see where things go.

This quote was also interesting to me...

“AC/DC is not just a band, they are a corporation. Their Black Ice tour grossed $441 million. Saying AC/DC will retire is like saying Coca Cola will retire. Not even death stopped Elvis Presley – he is a bigger business dead than he ever was alive. There is no such thing as retirement at this level."

[mechanic]

Maybe those of us lucky enough to be of a similar age really got the best from the group, can it get better or is it a wise move now for them to say that's it we're folding the band up and retire gracefully.
3 Things stick in my mind about ACDC
Swanson St
Donnington
Thunderstruck in the helicopter gunship video.

[jpd80]

AC/DC have performed without Malcolm in the past, there was a short time where his nephew stood in for him
when he was ill but, not too many noticed the change, apparently the nephew looks a lot like him and plays good too..

[93EB_SXR6]

As a guitarist, I feel quite sad for Malcolm if he has lost dexterity in his hands and the ability to play.
There have been a few times when injury/illness has held me back from playing music. Probably most memorable was when I was 18 and one of my fingers was nearly severed by a friend in a work accident. It took at least three months before that finger was able to touch a guitar string without agony... waiting that long was bad enough, so I can't imagine never being able to play at 100% again.

[ILLaViTaR]

A G and E chords will never be the same.

[93EB_SXR6]

It is foolish to deny yourself inspiration from any source. AC/DC's music is as basic as it comes but they were incredibly influential to the bands that followed them. That is why Malcolm Young is a legendary guitarist.

So what if there are millions of 16 year old kids out there that are more technically proficient...

[zilo]

Condolences to him on his health.

But never been a fan of ACDC, and a mate of mine was the drummers brother in the 70's.

[superyob]

AC/DC = best band ever! Only topped by Elvis Presley...

[neptune blue]

I guy I used to play with in a band auditioned to be the drummer for AC DC when they were starting out
He was a quiet guy, non smoker or drinker but a hell of a musician

He walks into the audition and the young brothers and Dave Evans were drinking smoking and carrying on a bit

Anyway he plays a few numbers with them packs up his kit and leaves
He gets a phone call a day or so later and they offer him the gig

He declines because he didn't think they would amount to much !

A few years later I'm in a different band with a different drummer - this guy auditions for the Angles and gets the gig. He declines because his wife won't let him go on the road !

[nuthin' fancy]

Originally Posted by ford71V8

They are not continuing without Malcolm.

Oh yes they are. Recording in Vancouver in May and a tour later in the year, one concert for each of their 40 years together.

I saw AC/DC when I was 11 playing at Corio Village shopping centre in Geelong. I got Bon Scott's autograph afterwards too.

[linkwilliam]

its sad, but at there age it was inevitable
im just glad none of them are dead

[ford71V8]

Originally Posted by nuthin' fancy

Oh yes they are. Recording in Vancouver in May and a tour later in the year, one concert for each of their 40 years together.

I saw AC/DC when I was 11 playing at Corio Village shopping centre in Geelong. I got Bon Scott's autograph afterwards too.

We shall see.
I could see them doing some recording but I don't believe the 40 show tour will be confirmed any time soon.

“I wouldn’t like to say anything either way about the future,” Johnson said of the band’s plans beyond May.
“I’m not ruling anything out. One of the boys has a debilitating illness, but I don’t want to say too much about it. He is very proud and private, a wonderful chap. We’ve been pals for 35 years and I look up to him very much.”
Johnson also discussed the band’s plans to celebrate their 40th anniversary with 40 concerts in 40 venues.
“That would be a wonderful way to say bye bye,” Johnson said.
“We would love to do it. But it’s all up in the air at the moment.”


Speculation suggested the band had a pact not to work together if one member was not present.
The statement suggests they will record without Malcolm, and in the past he has been briefly replaced on tour by another family member.

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment...-1226887125225


Not sure how I feel about the band carrying on without Malcolm, he is the man behind all those famous chord progressions, an incredibly solid rhythm player that has been fairly under-rated in music chat circles. The band would just not be quite the same with someone else unless it was a clear temporary arrangement.
I can't imagine the band would prefer to end their touring careers with a replacement either, but rather they held on to the memories of their last shows with him.
I remember Malcolm being ill at other periods and unfortunately I recall it being tied in with alcohol problems, I have a strong feeling he's been having a hard time for a while the poor dude. Would love nothing more than to hear some positive news about this and maybe even those tour dates.
There was some whispers around Adelaide with all the recent Rolling Stones chaos that AC/DC had meant to be locking in an Adelaide oval date for the near future.

So did you managed to keep Bon's autograph after all these years?

[Maka]

I hope they keep going even if theres a stand in, the Sweet still rock!

cheers, Maka