# AC/DC's Malcolm Young - has dementia and is leaving the band \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 17, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338 "2014-04-17T13:25:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/1 "2014-04-17T13:25:21Z")
Report here: [http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/16/showbiz/music/ac-dc-malcolm-young-ill/index.html?hpt=hp\_t2](http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/16/showbiz/music/ac-dc-malcolm-young-ill/index.html?hpt=hp_t2) Felt the need to get a thread going on this. As I said in an email to a friend who mentioned it: Yeah, I have been following this, and thought about commenting on the SDMB, but haven’t had the time (well, I guess I do now!). Word is that he had a stroke and it has compromised his playing. I love the pre-Back in Black AC/DC – I really like BiB, but stopped paying attention after that. I enjoyed the first singer, Bon Scott’s, incredibly tasteless sense of humor. Either way, Malcolm was essential to AC/DC establishing it’s sound. Songwriting, yes, but his work with original (and now returned) drummer Phil Rudd is what makes AC/DC pop - Angus and Brian Johnson ride on top of a wonderful rock/blues/boogie groove set by Malcolm, Rudd and whatever bassist is droning on open strings 😉 Hope he gets better. ETA: here’s an old thread where a few of us explored the groove that AC/DC lays down: [Musicians, Please Explain Why I Love AC/DC... - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=473514) ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/2 "2014-04-17T13:31:20Z")
Ah, AC/DC. Occupying that sweet spot where the punks AND the metalheads could find something they liked. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/3 "2014-04-17T13:45:07Z")
That linked thread is good. As a non-musician I have little knowledge of what exactly is being discussed with syncopation and half beats and the like. I do know what I like though, and I like AC/DC. The Bon Scott years are the best, but Back in Black is, well, fabulous. I was just turning 18 when it was released. Everyone, and I mean _everyone_ had that album. You couldn’t go to a party without hearing it. Strangely the same people also had “Frampton Comes Alive.” ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/4 "2014-04-17T15:57:13Z")
I had heard about this, too, but haven’t heard a confirmation of what is ailing him. The BBC reports that Brian Johnson says they’re planning on getting together in the studio soon, so I hope that it’s something he’s likely to recover from. Even though I haven’t paid much attention to them since Back in Black, his rhythm playing certainly shaped my taste in music. Here’s to hoping he has a swift recovery. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/5 "2014-04-17T16:06:57Z")
If Malcolm is done, the band is done. And frankly, I’d be fine with that. Their output has sucked for decades now. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/6 "2014-04-18T06:39:53Z")
This quote from The Sydney Morning Herald is attributed to a source close to the family: “His memory loss is so bad it is consistent with Alzheimers or dementia although we do not know that is what it is. There has been talk about cancer too.” When I read that the first thing that came to mind is a stroke. Or maybe a brain tumour. Or at 61 years of age it could actually be Alzheimers. Link to the article: [http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/acdcs-malcolm-young-so-sick-unable-to-perform-live-mark-gable-20140416-36qlp.html](http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/acdcs-malcolm-young-so-sick-unable-to-perform-live-mark-gable-20140416-36qlp.html) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/7 "2014-09-25T21:35:10Z")
> **[AC/DC’s Malcolm Young leaving band | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2014/09/25/showbiz/music/acdc-malcolm-young/index.html?hpt=hp_c4)** > > AC/DC founder Malcolm Young won’t be returning to the group, the band has announced. > [@](#): > > “Unfortunately, due to the nature of Malcolm’s condition, he will not be returning to the band,” the statement said. “AC/DC will undertake a world tour in support of ‘Rock or Bust’ in 2015. Stevie Young, nephew of founding members Angus and Malcolm Young, plays rhythm guitar on ‘Rock or Bust’ and will accompany the band on tour.” > [@](#): > > The band hasn’t disclosed the nature of Malcolm Young’s illness, but one musician told an Australian radio station in April that the situation was “serious.” > > Mark Gable told Australia’s ABC Radio that Young “is sick. … It’s not just that he is unwell, it’s that it is quite serious.” Gable’s remarks were reported at the time in The Sydney Morning Herald. Sorry to hear - I know absolutely nothing about the guy, but man, what a rhythm player. What a tone. And what a career. Wishing him a good journey. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/8 "2014-09-25T21:59:55Z")
Article I just saw, which I don’t have handy to link, says that it’s dementia. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/9 "2014-09-26T08:06:57Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > If Malcolm is done, the band is done. And frankly, I’d be fine with that. Their output has sucked for decades now. Yes, they should call it quits. Probably they have contracts to fulfill with their new album and tour, but Malcolm was the heart of the band, and though I don’t know anything about his nephew Stevie, I don’t know how anybody could follow in Malcolm’s footsteps. Heck, I never was a fan of Brian Johnson and don’t consider the post-Bon work (with a few exceptions) up to the standard of what they did before, but without Malcolm? No way. It’s like the Stones without Keef. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/10 "2014-09-26T11:16:02Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Yes, they should call it quits. Probably they have contracts to fulfill with their new album and tour, but Malcolm was the heart of the band, and though I don’t know anything about his nephew Stevie, I don’t know how anybody could follow in Malcolm’s footsteps. Heck, I never was a fan of Brian Johnson and don’t consider the post-Bon work (with a few exceptions) up to the standard of what they did before, but without Malcolm? No way. It’s like the Stones without Keef. Must agree. Other than Back in Black, I don’t listen to BJ stuff, and I don’t need to listen to BiB because it pops up all over the place. I get the impression that AC/DC is a machine - when Bon died, they were looking for the next guy within days. Their instinct is to keep on plugging. But Malcolm was the engine. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/11 "2014-09-27T01:45:25Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > Article I just saw, which I don’t have handy to link, says that it’s dementia. [AC/DC’s Malcolm Young has dementia: report](http://www.torontosun.com/2014/09/26/acdcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-report) ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/12 "2014-10-01T18:19:19Z")
Dammit. > **[AC/DC's Malcolm Young has dementia, family says | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2014/10/01/showbiz/music/malcolm-young-acdc-dementia/index.html?hpt=hp_t2)** > > The family of founding AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young has confirmed the illness that forced the 61-year-old to quit the band. He’s 61 years old. My cousin once-removed just passed away from early & rapid-onset dementia; she went from being an accountant to completely unable to care for herself very quickly. Best wishes to Mal and his family. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/13 "2014-10-01T18:38:25Z")
I had a thread about it here: [AC/DC's Malcolm Young - has dementia and is leaving the band [edited title] - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=721156) Mods - perhaps merge the threads? And yes, it is hard news. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ac-dcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-and-is-leaving-the-band-edited-title/686338/14 "2014-10-03T02:43:34Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > That linked thread is good. As a non-musician I have little knowledge of what exactly is being discussed with syncopation and half beats and the like. I do know what I like though, and I like AC/DC. The Bon Scott years are the best, but Back in Black is, well, fabulous. I was just turning 18 when it was released. Everyone, and I mean _everyone_ had that album. You couldn’t go to a party without hearing it. _Back in Black_ was one of the first albums I got when I was 12. I also got Queen-_The Game_ and Cheap Trick-_In Color_ for Christmas that year.