AC/DC guitarist Angus Young is sharing details regarding his brother Malcolm’s history with dementia, revealing that his symptoms had existed for a number of years before being made public months ago.
"It's something that had actually been happening for a long time," Angus tells Rolling Stone as he promotes the band’s new album "Rock Or Bust." Malcolm’s symptoms – lapses in memory and concentration – "had surfaced even before the last project," AC/DC's 2008 album, “Black Ice.”
But Angus says Malcolm was "still capable of knowing what he wanted to do. I had said to him, 'Do you want to go through with what we're doing?' And he said, 'S***, yeah.' " Malcolm, Angus points out, "liked to finish what he started."
Angus also reveals that Malcolm was already in treatment during his last tour with AC/DC, from 2008 to 2010.
"He got good help, good medical care," Angus says. Malcolm had to "relearn a lot of things," including riffs he had created for AC/DC's biggest songs, "which was very strange for him. But he was always a confident guy, and we made it work."
Malcolm is officially retired from AC/DC, with Angus bringing in nephew, Stevie, to handle rhythm guitar on the new album and upcoming tour.
“Rock Or Bust” is due December 2; the band recently released the project’s lead single, “Play Ball.”
See also:
AC/DC comment on drummer Phil Rudd’s status
AC/DC premiere Play Ball video
VIDEO: AC/DC preview Play Ball video
PHOTOS: AC/DC preview Play Ball video
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