In the 1950s, Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and their family lived at 6 Skerryvore Road in the Cranhill district of Glasgow, Scotland. Their siblings were all interested in music, Stephen played the piano and accordion, John played the guitar, and Alexander was a talented singer, bass guitarist, and saxophonist. Growing up in such a family, the Young brothers became the founding members of AC/DC.
Angus Young started playing guitar around five after receiving one lesson from his brother Alexander. He then developed his guitar playing himself. At that time, his elder brother Malcolm was also playing guitar. After moving to Sydney, Australia, in 1963, the Young brothers played with Marcus Hook Roll Band. When the pair turned eighteen, they formed AC/DC in 1973. Angus was on lead guitar while Malcolm was on rhythm guitar.
Although they enjoyed remarkable success with AC/DC, Malcolm began struggling with health issues. He was diagnosed with lung cancer, but he received treatment at an early stage. The musician then got seriously ill in 2014 due to dementia. Malcolm left AC/DC to receive treatment but permanently retired from the band. On November 18, 2017, Malcolm sadly passed away. After his brother’s death, Angus Young confessed something about him in an interview.
What Did Angus Young Admit About Malcolm Young?
In his classic Guitar World column, ‘Let There Be Rock,’ Angus Young spoke about his late brother Malcolm Young. He argued that Malcolm is underrated and said Malcolm makes AC/DC sound complete with his rhythm playing. Angus then added that he was astonished by Malcolm’s powerful guitar playing, saying he has a unique style with a raw and natural sound.
Moreover, Angus Young claimed musicians like Malcolm, Steve Cropper, Chuck Berry, and Keith Richards were doing something better than other artists. According to the guitarist, rhythm playing was more impressive and important in a band, and Malcolm inspired him a lot, keeping him on his feet.
Speaking to Guitar World in 2017, Angus Young said the following about his brother:
“Malcolm’s really underrated. He makes the band sound so full, and I couldn’t ask for a better rhythm player. Sometimes I look at Malcolm while he’s playing, and I’m completely awestruck by the sheer power of it. He’s doing something much more unique than I do with his raw, natural sound.
People like Malcolm, Steve Cropper, Chuck Berry, and Keith Richards are doing something better than the rest of us. I can’t deny that Eric Clapton’s and Eddie Van Halen’s lead stuff has influenced a stack of people, but it’s the rhythm thing that’s way more impressive and important to a band. Malcolm is a big inspiration to me; he keeps me on my feet.”
In a more recent interview in 2020, Angus Young said that Malcolm Young could do a solo better than him because he would come up with impressive guitar licks. Angus then admitted he would ask himself how Malcolm plays guitar that great whenever he heard him playing.
In 2020, Angus told Guitar World the following in another interview:
“Many people never knew Malcolm could do a solo probably even better than me. He’d come up with some great licks. Whenever I heard his things, I’d always say, ‘How’s he doing that?'”
As siblings in one of the greatest rock bands, Malcolm and Angus Young had a special bond and influenced each other profoundly. His late brother significantly impacted Angus with his guitar playing style and techniques. Due to his older brother’s remarkable talent, the guitarist believed Malcolm could play solos better than him.
