AC/DC is more than just a band; they’re a peerless institution who do what they do better than any other group ever has or ever will. And the sonic backbone of the organically simple yet instantly infectious, unforgettable, and mesmerizing groove that defines AC/DC was the rhythm guitar and riff-writing genius of Malcolm Young. Sadly, a debilitating illness robbed us of his brilliance over the past few years.
Then, tragically, on Saturday, November 18, 2017, Malcolm left us to go to a better place. So as a tribute to a true giant of a man whose riff-writing and playing genius were a huge influence on me and are indelibly etched on the history of hard rock, I’m going to share a few memories and also some of the favorite quotes I’ve gleaned while writing about Malcolm in Circus, Guitar World, and Marshall Law over the years.
My first introduction to the Rhythm & Bruise that was AC/DC occurred in spring 1976 when the band performed at Malvern Winter Gardens on their debut tour of England. The album cover artwork of High Voltage was reason enough…a guitarist dressed as a school boy who looked like a demented Tasmanian devil?! I wanted to see that! So I did…
Like the couple of hundred other lucky souls in the half-full venue, I was NOT disappointed. The band rocked, Bon ruled, Malcolm’s rhythm work was perfect, and Angus was a dervish. I left the venue that night knowing that I’d witnessed something truly special. I was 17 at the time, which meant Angus was 21.
About 18 months later, I got my second jolt of AC/DC, and it was just as electrifying. This time it was on the Let There Be Rock UK tour, and the venue was Leeds Polytechnic as I was a student in that northern city back then. As AC/DC had yet to “explode,” the venue offered free tickets to anyone who would help load gear in and out. So not only did I get to see the gig for free, but I was also an AC/DC roadie for the day. How was it? It ruled, of course!! Duh…the guys in the band were exactly how you’d wish they’d be, and the show was stellar.
Fast-forward a good decade or so later to the mid ’90s. At that time I was living on Long Island, New York, and working for Marshall Amplification and also as an associate editor for Guitar World. My “specialty” as a journalist? Doing guitar lessons with great rock guitarists for the magazine and also working with them on columns. Simply put, I got to sit with players I admired, had them show me exactly how they played their trademark riffs, licks, and tricks…and I got paid for it! Best gig on the planet.
One of the many amazing axemen I got to work with was Angus Young — I did two lessons and also eight columns with him. Once again, it ruled. He was funny, amiable, and humble — a great trio of traits. So as promised earlier, here’s a handful of Malcolm-centric quotes:
ANGUS: “If someone shows you one of our riffs and it’s hard to play…then they’re doing it wrong!”
ANGUS: “Mal’s a way better guitar player than me. The only reason he doesn’t play lead is because it would interfere with his drinking!”
ANGUS: “What gauge strings does my brother use? The heaviest bleedin’ ones available…that’s what!”
AC/DC GUITAR TECH: “Malcolm’s tone? It’s a magical combination of his hands, his guitar, his Marshalls, his cabs…and don’t forget to add in the sound of the air itself actually distorting because he hits so hard and plays so loud!”
Yes, thanks to heavy strings, high action, hard picking, and high-volume amps that aren’t anywhere as over-driven as most people think — plus his hands, heart, and soul — Malcolm Young has gifted us with some of the most memorable riffs and untouchable performances in the history of rock. His songs are allegedly “easy to play” but, IMHO, devilishly hard to play right!
I want to close this (which is being typed as the brilliance that is the Powerage CD rocks my world) with one more fast-forward to Friday, June 11, 2010. On this memorable day, I was with 93,000+ British rock fans at the Download Festival in Donington, England. The headliner that day? AC/DC. As luck would have it, a great friend of mine, Adam Day (of Slash fame), was serving as Malcolm’s guitar tech. So I got a private behind-the-scenes tour of the gargantuan stage set and Young brothers’ guitar rigs. Being the huge Malcolm fan I am, as soon as I saw THE instantly recognizable, legendary Gretsch axe that spawned some of the finest riffs to ever grace this planet, I sheepishly asked if I could hold it for a second. When I did, I handled it as if it was made of the most fragile glass known to man, despite the fact that it is the very definition of “road worn.” (Thanks, Adam. This was a major “bucket list” item ticked!)
Sweetwater’s thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt condolences are with Angus, the Young family, and Malcolm’s loved ones and friends. Of course, we extend our condolences to the countless AC/DC fans all over the world who are as deeply saddened as we are. Hell’s bells are quiet today, but HARD ROCK HEAVEN’S BELLS are ringing loudly, welcoming one of their finest.
R.I.P. Mr. Young, and thank you.