AC/DC Producer, Easybeats Guitarist George Young Dies At 70
AC/DC producer and guitarist with The Easybeats, George Young, has died at the age of 70.
Young, who was the elder brother of AC/DC’s Malcolm and Angus Young, found fame as a member of 1960s group The Easybeats before later producing some of AC/DC’s earliest albums including 1976’s High Voltage and 1977’s Let There Be Rock.
In a statement released by AC/DC, Young was hailed for his dedication to working with the rock icons.
“As a musician, songwriter, producer, advisor and much, much more, you could not ask for a more dedicated and professional man”, a statement from the band reads.
“You could not ask for a finer brother. We will always remember him with gratitude and hold him close to our hearts.”
Confirming Young’s death, Australian publishing house Alberts wrote: ”It is with great sadness that Alberts acknowledge the passing of George Young. A consummate songwriter, trailblazing producer, artist, mentor and extraordinary musician, George was above all else a gentleman who was unfailingly modest, charming, intelligent and loyal; a man with a wonderful sense of humour. George was a pioneer who, with close friends Harry Vanda and Ted Albert, created a new sound for the Australian music industry.”
Born in the Glaswegian suburb of Cranhill, in 1946, Young emigrated from Scotland to Australia at a young age before becoming a member of The Easybeats, who were hailed as Australia’s answer to The Beatles. Young co-wrote most of the band’s songs, firstly with lead singer Stevie Wright, and later with lead guitarist Harry Vanda.
The group, who became best known for their hit ‘Friday On My Mind’, broke up in 1970 before they were later inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005. After the band dissolved in 1970, Vanda & Young concentrated on writing and producing pop and rock songs for other recording artists, and for themselves under various stage names, including as Flash and the Pan. One recording studio-based group was Marcus Hook Roll Band, with his brothers, Malcolm and Angus Young. Angus and Malcolm later formed AC/DC, in 1973.
Paying tribute to Young, popular Australian singer Jimmy Barnes wrote: “George Young RIP. What a huge loss for music. A great songwriter, producer and a great human being”.
UK English
