According to The Sydney Morning Herald, AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young has dementia and is being treated in a nursing home in Sydney, Australia. The facility is believed to be Lulworth House in Elizabeth Bay, where Australian politician Neville Wran was housed until his death in April this year.
A Young family connection told the newspaper: “If you were in the room with [Malcolm Young] and walked out, then came back in one minute later, he wouldn’t remember who you are. He has a complete loss of short-term memory. His wife, Linda, has put him in full-time care.”
AC/DC‘s former manager Michael Browning told AAP: “I have friends that are still involved, and they keep me posted, so I have known for a little while.
“I think [Young‘s illness] came on very suddenly.”
He added: “It’s shocking. It’s terrible. Sadly for AC/DC, they’re losing their creator, their mentor. He’s the genius behind the band.”
Young, 61, reportedly suffered a stroke last year and did not participate in the recording sessions for AC/DC‘s new studio album, “Rock Or Bust”, an 11-song collection set to arrive on December 2. It has since been announced that Malcolm will not be returning to the group due to ill health. His replacement is Angus and Malcolm Young‘s nephew Stevie Young. Stevie played on the new CD, which was recorded at the Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with producer Brendan O’Brien and mixer Mike Fraser.
Stevie Young played with AC/DC once before during a 1988 tour, while Malcolm stepped out to deal with his dependency on alcohol.
Legend has it that Stevie resembled his uncle closely enough that many fans reportedly didn’t even know Malcolm had left the tour.
“We miss Malcolm, obviously,” AC/DC singer Brian Johnson told TeamRock Radio this past July. “He’s a fighter. He’s in hospital, but he’s a fighter. We’ve got our fingers crossed that he’ll get strong again.
“Stevie, Malcolm‘s nephew, was magnificent, but when you’re recording with this thing hanging over you and your work mate isn’t well, it’s difficult. But I’m sure he was rooting for us. He’s such a strong man. He’s a small guy, but he’s very strong. He’s proud and he’s very private, so we can’t say too much.”
Just one day after it was announced that a new AC/DC song called “Play Ball” will be part of Turner Sports‘ marketing campaign for the Major League Baseball post-season, a preview of the track can be heard on promos already appearing online. The full song is expected to be heard starting September 27.
Meanwhile, the band will film a music video for a yet-to-be-disclosed song from “Rock Or Bust” on October 4 in London, England. Fans can enter for a chance to appear in the clip by filling out the form at sweeps.acdc.com. Winners will be contacted by October 2.
“Rock Or Bust” is the first all-new AC/DC album since 2008’s “Black Ice”.
AC/DC will embark on a world tour to both promote “Rock Or Bust” and celebrate the band’s 40th anniversary, although details are yet to be confirmed.
Source: Blabbermouth
