Malcolm Young leaves AC/DC, band will release new album in December
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Molly Driscoll Staff Writer
AC/DC member Malcolm Young is reportedly leaving the band after more than four decades, and the group will be releasing a new album later this year.
鈥淸New album] 鈥楻ock or Bust鈥� is the first AC/DC album in the band鈥檚 41 year history without founding member Malcolm Young on the recordings,鈥� a statement on the band鈥檚 reads. 鈥淓arlier this year AC/DC released a statement explaining that due to illness, Malcolm would be taking a break from the band. Unfortunately, due to the nature of Malcolm鈥檚 condition, he will not be returning to the band.鈥�
According to the statement, Stevie Young, nephew of AC/DC members Malcolm and Angus Young, will play rhythm guitar on 鈥淩ock or Bust鈥� and will tour with the band in 2015. 鈥淩ock or Bust鈥� will be released on Dec. 2.聽
AC/DC was founded by siblings Angus and Malcolm Young and also includes of Cliff Williams on bass guitar, singer Brian Johnson, and Phil Rudd on drums. The band released its debut album, 鈥淗igh Voltage,鈥� internationally in 1976 and its famous albums 鈥淗ighway to Hell鈥� and 鈥淏ack in Black鈥� in 1979 and 1980, respectively.
As for the band鈥檚 future, Michael Molenda, editor-in-chief of聽Guitar Player聽magazine, told that he thinks AC/DC will bounce back from Malcolm Young鈥檚 departure.
"Malcolm Young has been a critical element of the AC/DC guitar sound for decades,鈥� Molenda said. 鈥淗is edgy tone and punch-in-the-face grooves pretty much define what hard-rock guitarists should aspire to. But the Young family has always been resilient ... I'm sure [Stevie] knows what his uncles Malcolm and Angus expect. He may even bring a slightly new attitude to the guitar party.鈥�
Meanwhile, writer Michael Hann honored Malcolm Young鈥檚 contributions to the band and to rock music in general.
鈥淸Malcolm Young] was the heartbeat of AC/DC, the very core of the band鈥檚 unyielding, unrelenting, implacable throb,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淢alcolm Young was the master of making as little as necessary do as much as possible. The band鈥檚 music was low input, high impact, so to speak鈥� Oh, Malcolm Young, you will be missed.鈥�
