Angus Young Shares Details Of Malcolm’s Final Days
Photo via Newsmakers
Angus Young recently opened up about the final days of his brother Malcolm Young, offering a rare and emotional insight into their bond and the pain of letting go. Speaking through visible emotion in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia, Angus reflected on the long and heartbreaking decline brought on by Malcolm’s dementia and other health complications. It wasn’t just the loss itself that hurt—it was watching someone so full of life slowly fade away.
Angus described the period not just as a farewell but as a difficult journey of witnessing change. “The decline, that’s the hard part,” he said, referring to the moment when Malcolm no longer seemed like the person he once was. It was painful for him to see his older brother, co-founder of AC/DC, and rock-solid rhythm guitarist lose the vitality that defined him for decades.
Despite the toll of Malcolm’s illness, Angus found brief moments of comfort in their time together. A smile from Malcolm, even in his weakened state, gave Angus a flicker of happiness. These small signs of recognition meant the world to him, a reminder of the powerful connection they shared both on and off stage.
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Finding Joy in the Darkness
Even as Malcolm’s health deteriorated, Angus made it a point to stay by his side. He recalled that Malcolm always responded positively to music—even if only with a smile or a tapping foot. Angus would play guitar for him, and in those moments, the essence of Malcolm seemed to briefly return.
“He always knew I was there,” Angus shared. These visits weren’t just a way to comfort Malcolm—they were deeply meaningful for Angus himself. Spending that time together, even without words, allowed them to maintain their bond in the most fundamental way possible. It was a quiet act of love rooted in decades of brotherhood and shared musical legacy.
Those moments in the room—one brother playing while the other smiled and tapped along—summed up their relationship in a way that words never could. It was a final encore of sorts, a last rhythm between two souls who had built something larger than life together.
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Shared Grief and Brotherhood
Brian Johnson, AC/DC’s longtime vocalist, joined the interview remotely and also expressed his emotions about Malcolm’s passing. He described it as “too quick and too soon,” echoing the sentiment felt by millions of fans. Although Johnson wasn’t related by blood, he considered Malcolm a brother and felt the weight of his loss deeply.
The two musicians, speaking from separate locations, were visibly moved during the conversation. Johnson acknowledged how the grief still lingers and how moments like these stir it back to the surface. For a band like AC/DC—defined by its unity and enduring spirit—losing someone like Malcolm was like losing a part of their foundation.
Johnson emphasized that while Malcolm may be gone, his influence remains very present in everything AC/DC does. From songwriting to the band’s ethos, his fingerprints are everywhere. It’s a legacy that continues to inspire, even in the shadow of loss.
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A Spark That Reignited the Band
One of the most touching revelations came from Johnson, who recalled that the band’s reunion was sparked at Malcolm’s funeral. The surviving members sat together and talked, reflecting not just on the loss but on their shared journey. It was a day of mourning, but also of reconnection.
“I’m not a religious or spiritual kind of person,” Johnson admitted, “but it’s so obvious now that something happened.” That moment of gathering—one of grief and remembrance—planted the seeds for what would eventually become Power Up, AC/DC’s triumphant return album. It was more than a tribute; it was a spiritual continuation of Malcolm’s role in the band.
Malcolm’s absence was deeply felt, but his presence also loomed large over Power Up. The album served as a tribute to him, filled with riffs he had co-written before his death. In a way, Malcolm was still a part of the band, guiding them from the background, proving that real legends never truly leave.
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