The Orstrahyun
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
RIP AC/DC: 1973 - 2014
<tbody>
</tbody> By Darryl Mason
AC/DC are ending their 41 year career on a terribly sad note.
Plans were underway for a new studio album, their first since 2008's monumental Black Ice, and a '40th Anniversary' world tour, 40 huge shows across the globe.
About 3 weeks ago, founding member, rhythm guitarist, co-producer and co-songwriter Malcolm Young had a stroke, which left a blood clot on his brain.
When AC/DC reunited at the start of April to begin a month of rehearsals, in the lead-up to new album recording sessions, Malcolm discovered he couldn't play. At least, he couldn't play like he used to play.
Nothing has been officially confirmed, as of this writing, but friends and family members have been discussing what happened to Malcolm for the past couple of weeks. The blood clot, resulting from the stroke, is believed to be why Malcolm couldn't keep working.
Although friends have described Malcolm's condition as serious, it doesn't mean he won't recover. People do get better after strokes, and people do recover lost skills.
But friends and family of band members believe the decision was made last week to call it quits.
Media in Australia have gone ballistic today on rumours of The End Of AC/DC, and it appears the news got out ahead of a planned official announcement from the band and management.
Right now, that announcement is expected Tuesday, April 16, and a press conference has been scheduled.
AC/DC won't continue playing and recording without Malcolm. It can't be done.
While Angus Young is the more famous, and more recognisable, AC/DC is most definitely Malcolm Young's band, he started AC/DC, under the guidance of big brother George Young (ex-Easybeats, and co-producer) and encouraged his younger brother Angus to join him, and take on the world.
Malcolm Young has been the quiet motivator and boss of the band for four decades, co-writing nearly all of AC/DC's classics, and making sure nothing happened to harm or damage the band's reputation, or disappoint the fans who've stuck by them for decades.
His passion for the band and its music, and integrity, were so intense, back in the 1970s he used to have fistfights with his younger brother, Angus, in the studio, when disagreements about a sound or riff couldn't be resolved. Proper punch-ups, teeth were lost, blood was drawn.
So that's it. AC/DC are coming to an end.
But what a career. AC/DC set out to conquer the world, and they did it, multiple times. Even the death of singer Bon Scott barely slowed them down, and only slightly delayed recording sessions for Back In Black.
Back In Black is still one of the biggest-selling albums in rock history, and AC/DC have easily sold more than 180 million albums, and probably half as many singles and DVDs and videos and special edition packages. They've influenced pretty much every hard rock, heavy rock and heavy metal band that has followed in their wake, including Nirvana, Metallica, you name them, they probably grew up loving AC/DC. And AC/DC are still in the record books for one of the biggest live audiences in rock history, playing to more than 1.6 million people in Moscow, in 1991. They were invited to play by the youth of Russia, who grew up on AC/DC bootlegs, after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The band have been written off by critics, numerous times, but they stuck to their guns and beliefs and never compromised their sound. They were rarely, almost never, tempted by the musical fades that came and went over the decades. They dabbled in glam rock at the start of their career, but that barely lasted through the recording sessions of their debut album. Their fans wanted rock n roll, heavy rock, they could rely on, and that's what AC/DC delivered, across more than 14 albums, and numerous live-in-concert releases.
Malcolm Young never gave up on his belief that 1950s and 1960s rock n roll was rarely bettered, and he used the riffs and rhythms of black blues players as the basis for AC/DC's sound. He's also cited The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards as a key influence, and talks about that influence in the below interview.
The secret to Malcolm's playing, as Guitar Magazine explained, was open chords with the amps turned down, not up, and mics shoved right up close to capture all the details. He didn't churn out huge rock riffs through blasting amplifiers, his playing, and magic, is much more subtle than that, despite the rawness of the early studio albums.
I still reckon AC/DC's 2008 album Black Ice was amongst the best they made, right up their with Back In Back and Highway To Hell (their last album with Bon Scott), it's absolutely killer, and filled with excellent playing, classic AC/DC songs about rock n roll and some of Brian Johnson's better vocal performances. It's also pretty much a live-in-the-studio album, with minimal overdubs, just like they did it back in the Alberts Studio days in the mid-1970s.
Malcolm's work on Black Ice, in particular, is superb, not just the detail of his playing, but also his songwriting with brother Angus. They worked on the writing of the Black Ice songs for five years, and gave themselves the time to get it right. They nailed every single one, and Black Ice became the 2nd highest selling album of 2008.
Rock N Roll Dream, from Black Ice, is everything AC/DC was about. They wanted the rock n' roll dream, they got it, then they lived it.
"And it could be the very last time..."
Malcolm Young and his family have now returned to Australia. Everyone is hoping he makes a recovery, but close friends are saying the situation is not looking good, right now. Things may change. We can hope they change, and Malcolm recovers.
Instead of linking to an AC/DC classic, most of which you've probably heard a thousand times already, here's a rare treat instead - Malcolm Young's rhythm guitar from Let There Be Rock, way back in 1976.
Updates to follow
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
RIP AC/DC: 1973 - 2014
|
| Brothers Malcolm Young, George Young and Angus Young, 2012 (photo from Facebook) |
<tbody>
</tbody>
AC/DC are ending their 41 year career on a terribly sad note.
Plans were underway for a new studio album, their first since 2008's monumental Black Ice, and a '40th Anniversary' world tour, 40 huge shows across the globe.
About 3 weeks ago, founding member, rhythm guitarist, co-producer and co-songwriter Malcolm Young had a stroke, which left a blood clot on his brain.
When AC/DC reunited at the start of April to begin a month of rehearsals, in the lead-up to new album recording sessions, Malcolm discovered he couldn't play. At least, he couldn't play like he used to play.
Nothing has been officially confirmed, as of this writing, but friends and family members have been discussing what happened to Malcolm for the past couple of weeks. The blood clot, resulting from the stroke, is believed to be why Malcolm couldn't keep working.
Although friends have described Malcolm's condition as serious, it doesn't mean he won't recover. People do get better after strokes, and people do recover lost skills.
But friends and family of band members believe the decision was made last week to call it quits.
Media in Australia have gone ballistic today on rumours of The End Of AC/DC, and it appears the news got out ahead of a planned official announcement from the band and management.
Right now, that announcement is expected Tuesday, April 16, and a press conference has been scheduled.
AC/DC won't continue playing and recording without Malcolm. It can't be done.
While Angus Young is the more famous, and more recognisable, AC/DC is most definitely Malcolm Young's band, he started AC/DC, under the guidance of big brother George Young (ex-Easybeats, and co-producer) and encouraged his younger brother Angus to join him, and take on the world.
Malcolm Young has been the quiet motivator and boss of the band for four decades, co-writing nearly all of AC/DC's classics, and making sure nothing happened to harm or damage the band's reputation, or disappoint the fans who've stuck by them for decades.
His passion for the band and its music, and integrity, were so intense, back in the 1970s he used to have fistfights with his younger brother, Angus, in the studio, when disagreements about a sound or riff couldn't be resolved. Proper punch-ups, teeth were lost, blood was drawn.
So that's it. AC/DC are coming to an end.
But what a career. AC/DC set out to conquer the world, and they did it, multiple times. Even the death of singer Bon Scott barely slowed them down, and only slightly delayed recording sessions for Back In Black.
Back In Black is still one of the biggest-selling albums in rock history, and AC/DC have easily sold more than 180 million albums, and probably half as many singles and DVDs and videos and special edition packages. They've influenced pretty much every hard rock, heavy rock and heavy metal band that has followed in their wake, including Nirvana, Metallica, you name them, they probably grew up loving AC/DC. And AC/DC are still in the record books for one of the biggest live audiences in rock history, playing to more than 1.6 million people in Moscow, in 1991. They were invited to play by the youth of Russia, who grew up on AC/DC bootlegs, after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The band have been written off by critics, numerous times, but they stuck to their guns and beliefs and never compromised their sound. They were rarely, almost never, tempted by the musical fades that came and went over the decades. They dabbled in glam rock at the start of their career, but that barely lasted through the recording sessions of their debut album. Their fans wanted rock n roll, heavy rock, they could rely on, and that's what AC/DC delivered, across more than 14 albums, and numerous live-in-concert releases.
Malcolm Young never gave up on his belief that 1950s and 1960s rock n roll was rarely bettered, and he used the riffs and rhythms of black blues players as the basis for AC/DC's sound. He's also cited The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards as a key influence, and talks about that influence in the below interview.
The secret to Malcolm's playing, as Guitar Magazine explained, was open chords with the amps turned down, not up, and mics shoved right up close to capture all the details. He didn't churn out huge rock riffs through blasting amplifiers, his playing, and magic, is much more subtle than that, despite the rawness of the early studio albums.
I still reckon AC/DC's 2008 album Black Ice was amongst the best they made, right up their with Back In Back and Highway To Hell (their last album with Bon Scott), it's absolutely killer, and filled with excellent playing, classic AC/DC songs about rock n roll and some of Brian Johnson's better vocal performances. It's also pretty much a live-in-the-studio album, with minimal overdubs, just like they did it back in the Alberts Studio days in the mid-1970s.
Malcolm's work on Black Ice, in particular, is superb, not just the detail of his playing, but also his songwriting with brother Angus. They worked on the writing of the Black Ice songs for five years, and gave themselves the time to get it right. They nailed every single one, and Black Ice became the 2nd highest selling album of 2008.
Rock N Roll Dream, from Black Ice, is everything AC/DC was about. They wanted the rock n' roll dream, they got it, then they lived it.
"And it could be the very last time..."
Malcolm Young and his family have now returned to Australia. Everyone is hoping he makes a recovery, but close friends are saying the situation is not looking good, right now. Things may change. We can hope they change, and Malcolm recovers.
Instead of linking to an AC/DC classic, most of which you've probably heard a thousand times already, here's a rare treat instead - Malcolm Young's rhythm guitar from Let There Be Rock, way back in 1976.
Updates to follow
AC/DC Not Breaking Up Amid Retirement Rumors
Australian hard-rock group plan new album, yet confirm founding member Malcolm Young's "debilitating illness"
Brian Johnson and Angus Young of AC/DC perform in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Rob Verhorst/Redferns
By Jason Newman
April 16, 2014 8:20 AM ET
After two days of massive speculation, Australian hard-rock pioneers AC/DC have shot down rumors that they are retiring. Frontman Brian Johnson has instead revealed that the band is going ahead with plans to record a new album, though admitted that founding member Malcolm Young is "taking a break from the band due to ill health."
Long Way to the Top: look back at AC/DC's 40-year history in photos
"We are definitely getting together in May in Vancouver," he told the Daily Telegraph. "We're going to pick up some guitars, have a plonk, and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens, we'll record it."
Rumors of the group's retirement began late Monday night when Australian radio station 6PR reported the breakup during their "Rumour File" section and tweeted that founding member Malcolm Young and his family "have moved back to Oz because he is very sick." Australian news anchor Peter Ford fueled rumors on his Twitter, stating, "There is some quite sad detail about it all, that I will not be reporting on, but the band/management may choose to reveal this" and that the "boys played together privately a few weeks back."
Australian music journalist Darryl Mason posted on his blog speculation that Young had had a stroke one month ago and was unable to play at his previous skill level. Choirboys frontman Mark Gable, a close friend of the band, confirmed Young's illness.
"That is true, Malcolm is sick," Gable told ABC radio on Wednesday morning. "From what I understand, and it's even been confirmed in part by his son Ross, that it would appear Malcolm is unable to perform anymore. It's not just that he is unwell; it's that it is quite serious. It will constitute that he definitely won't be able to perform live. He will probably not be able to record."
AC/DC's Angus Young: The Rock & Roll Peter Pan
The band itself confirmed that Young was the sick member in question in a Facebook post Wednesday morning. "After 40 years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health," the band wrote. "Malcolm would like to thank the group’s diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support. In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music."
"I wouldn't like to say anything either way about the future," Johnson told the Telegraph earlier that day. "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."
In February, frontman Brian Johnson revealed that the band was about to begin recording new music alongside a special 40th anniversary tour. The album would be the band's first since 2008's Black Ice. Bassist Cliff Williams revealed last spring that Angus and Malcolm Young were at work on new songs.
Despite Young's, Johnson said an upcoming tour was still a possibility. "That would be a wonderful way to say bye-bye," said Johnson. "We would love to do it. But it's all up in the air at the moment. AC/DC is such a tight family. We've stuck to our guns through the Eighties and Nineties when people were saying we should change our clothes and our style. But we didn't and people got it that we are the real deal."
Earlier this year, Johnson said of a possible tour, "It’s been 40 years of the band’s existence. So I think we’re gonna try to do 40 gigs, 40 shows, to thank the fans for their undying loyalty. I mean, honestly, our fans are just the best in the world, and we appreciate every one of them. So, like I said, we’ll have to go out, even though we’re getting a bit long in the tooth. You know what?! It’s been four years [since we last toured], and I’m really looking forward to it."
Billy Joel Rocks 'You Shook Me All Night Long' With Brian Johnson
In 2010, Johnson shot down rumors of the band's retirement to the Telegraph. "Of course I don’t want to retire," he said. "But I’m telling you if the body or the voice packs in there’s nothing I can do. Pride is what it is. You don’t want to let yourself, the band or the fans down. I’ll go on as long as I can. Thankfully the old tubes have held up. They’ve got a little bluesier, that just happens with life. I’m 62 now and I know it. And I’ve got another birthday coming, which is a bit of a bugger but what better way to get old?"
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/n...amid-retirement-rumors-20140416#ixzz2z58D73XG
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook
Australian hard-rock group plan new album, yet confirm founding member Malcolm Young's "debilitating illness"
Brian Johnson and Angus Young of AC/DC perform in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Rob Verhorst/Redferns
By Jason Newman
April 16, 2014 8:20 AM ET
After two days of massive speculation, Australian hard-rock pioneers AC/DC have shot down rumors that they are retiring. Frontman Brian Johnson has instead revealed that the band is going ahead with plans to record a new album, though admitted that founding member Malcolm Young is "taking a break from the band due to ill health."
Long Way to the Top: look back at AC/DC's 40-year history in photos
"We are definitely getting together in May in Vancouver," he told the Daily Telegraph. "We're going to pick up some guitars, have a plonk, and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens, we'll record it."
Rumors of the group's retirement began late Monday night when Australian radio station 6PR reported the breakup during their "Rumour File" section and tweeted that founding member Malcolm Young and his family "have moved back to Oz because he is very sick." Australian news anchor Peter Ford fueled rumors on his Twitter, stating, "There is some quite sad detail about it all, that I will not be reporting on, but the band/management may choose to reveal this" and that the "boys played together privately a few weeks back."
Australian music journalist Darryl Mason posted on his blog speculation that Young had had a stroke one month ago and was unable to play at his previous skill level. Choirboys frontman Mark Gable, a close friend of the band, confirmed Young's illness.
"That is true, Malcolm is sick," Gable told ABC radio on Wednesday morning. "From what I understand, and it's even been confirmed in part by his son Ross, that it would appear Malcolm is unable to perform anymore. It's not just that he is unwell; it's that it is quite serious. It will constitute that he definitely won't be able to perform live. He will probably not be able to record."
AC/DC's Angus Young: The Rock & Roll Peter Pan
The band itself confirmed that Young was the sick member in question in a Facebook post Wednesday morning. "After 40 years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health," the band wrote. "Malcolm would like to thank the group’s diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support. In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music."
"I wouldn't like to say anything either way about the future," Johnson told the Telegraph earlier that day. "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."
In February, frontman Brian Johnson revealed that the band was about to begin recording new music alongside a special 40th anniversary tour. The album would be the band's first since 2008's Black Ice. Bassist Cliff Williams revealed last spring that Angus and Malcolm Young were at work on new songs.
Despite Young's, Johnson said an upcoming tour was still a possibility. "That would be a wonderful way to say bye-bye," said Johnson. "We would love to do it. But it's all up in the air at the moment. AC/DC is such a tight family. We've stuck to our guns through the Eighties and Nineties when people were saying we should change our clothes and our style. But we didn't and people got it that we are the real deal."
Earlier this year, Johnson said of a possible tour, "It’s been 40 years of the band’s existence. So I think we’re gonna try to do 40 gigs, 40 shows, to thank the fans for their undying loyalty. I mean, honestly, our fans are just the best in the world, and we appreciate every one of them. So, like I said, we’ll have to go out, even though we’re getting a bit long in the tooth. You know what?! It’s been four years [since we last toured], and I’m really looking forward to it."
Billy Joel Rocks 'You Shook Me All Night Long' With Brian Johnson
In 2010, Johnson shot down rumors of the band's retirement to the Telegraph. "Of course I don’t want to retire," he said. "But I’m telling you if the body or the voice packs in there’s nothing I can do. Pride is what it is. You don’t want to let yourself, the band or the fans down. I’ll go on as long as I can. Thankfully the old tubes have held up. They’ve got a little bluesier, that just happens with life. I’m 62 now and I know it. And I’ve got another birthday coming, which is a bit of a bugger but what better way to get old?"
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/n...amid-retirement-rumors-20140416#ixzz2z58D73XG
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook
<section class="single"> <article id="post-content-180896"> AC/DC Confirms Malcolm Young is ‘Ill,’ Taking Break From Group
by Nick DeRiso April 16, 2014 10:54 AM
<figure id="attachment_180900" class="aligncenter">
<figcaption style="width:630px;">Larry Hulst, Getty Images</figcaption></figure> AC/DC has officially announced a hiatus for Malcolm Young, confirming that the founding rhythm guitarist is “taking a break from the band due to ill health.” However, the group says they “will continue to make music.”
Rumors have been swirling about both Young, brother of AC/DC’s lead guitarist Angus Young, and the future of the band since a friend said the 61-year-old Malcolm Young was “unable to perform anymore,” perhaps after a stroke. Today the band addressed these reports with the following statement on their Facebook page:
</article></section>
Read More: AC/DC Confirms Malcolm Young is 'Ill,' Taking Break From Group | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/acdc-malcolm-young-break/?trackback=tsmclip
<section class="single"> <article id="post-content-180896">
</article></section>
by Nick DeRiso April 16, 2014 10:54 AM
<figure id="attachment_180900" class="aligncenter">
Rumors have been swirling about both Young, brother of AC/DC’s lead guitarist Angus Young, and the future of the band since a friend said the 61-year-old Malcolm Young was “unable to perform anymore,” perhaps after a stroke. Today the band addressed these reports with the following statement on their Facebook page:
After forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health. Malcolm would like to thank the group’s diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support.
In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music.
Initially, sources denied that AC/DC was retiring. Earlier today, frontman Brian Johnson said an unidentified member of the band was, in fact, ill but that AC/DC was planning to convene again in May for a music-making sessions. How all of this impacts a possible 40th anniversary concert tour remains unknown.In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music.
</article></section>
Read More: AC/DC Confirms Malcolm Young is 'Ill,' Taking Break From Group | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/acdc-malcolm-young-break/?trackback=tsmclip
<section class="single"> <article id="post-content-180896">
</article></section>
