AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young is seriously ill and will never perform live or record again, according to Choirboys singer (and label mate) Mark Gable. Rumours have been rampant since yesterday morning that AC/DC are on the verge of announcing their retirement from music, with suggestions that Malcolm Young's health was the reason for this sudden decision.
Brian Johnson, singer for AC/DC, has commented as recently as February that the band were considering a new album and 40-date world tour to mark their 40th anniversary as a band but yesterday's news appears to have put paid to that ambition.
Gable confirmed Young's illness on ABC Radio this morning, saying: "That is true, Malcolm is sick. From what I understand, and it's even been confirmed in part by his son Ross, that it would appear Malcolm is unable to perform anymore."
"It's not just that he's unwell, it's that it is quite serious. It will constitute that he definitely won't be able to perform live. He will probably not be able to record", he continued.
Still lacking any official word from the band, Stuff.co.nz quoted "a source who knows the family" as saying that Young condition has deteriorated to the point where he may require full-time care. The same publication claims that Young's symptoms first began to show around Christmastime, where he began to experience difficulty recognising faces and communicating.
"His memory loss is so bad it is consistent with Alzheimers or dementia although we do not know that is what it is", the source continued.
Such is Malcolm Young's influence in AC/DC that it is understood that Angus Young, Malcolm's brother, believes that "Malcolm was the band" and is the one indispensible member of the legendary rock group.
We'll bring you more on this story when it becomes available.