The Smiley Smile Message Board

Sadly another taken far too soon, poor guy had been suffering for some years.
Only 63  >:(

Very sad news. I knew he was suffering with dementia but I wasn't ready to hear about his passing this morning. One of my favorite rhythm guitar players in rock music. RIP

Ahh man, this sucks :-/

One of my favorite rock bands of all time, inspired me to get my first guitar.

Been listening to AC/DC since I heard of the passing. Just want to list some songs here if anyone is bored and hasn’t really listened to this band. They have some insanely catchy hooks, Malcom Young’s rhythm guitaring is a major reason why these songs have so much power. An interesting thing I read earlier: Angus Young once said that Malcolm’s guitaring was like the engine of a car and Angus’ was like the bright color paint on the car. Anywho, if you’ve got the time, crank up your stereo and listen to some classics...

War Machine (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WBQODlM__14)
Have A Drink On Me (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e7v0V58V3Uw)
Moneytalks (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LBYZoc9lnvE)
Who Made Who (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PiZHNw1MtzI)

The entirety of Back In Black is an amazing classic with nothing but great songs.

First brother George last month and now Malcolm. What a bummer.

I hope he has found peace now----dementia must be hell.

R.I.P. both.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/malcolm-young-acdc-guitarist-and-co-founder-dead-at-64-w512164

Indeed.... one can only imagine the grief the Young family are currently experiencing with the recent losses of George and now Malcolm..... May they Rock In Peace

This was sad to hear.

I'll pass on the best line about Malcolm's musicianship and guitar skills I've heard which I told one of my student groups today, and it was in a random guitar article I read in the 80's. Basically said that Malcolm Young's right (strumming) arm should be bronzed and put in a hall of fame whenever he's done with music. That summed it up for me, and as a younger player I began listening to his parts on any AC/DC record that I'd hear. The rhythm guitar played by Malcolm was the heartbeat of that band, no doubt. He was one of the best rock rhythm guitarists of all time.

Moneytalks is one of the best riffs they ever wrote...it surprises me how many younger AC/DC fans I work with don't really know that tune. A friend of mine went to see that tour, and they did drop the Angus Bucks at one point in the show like they did in the video, and he got one. Pretty damn cool.  :)

Here's one for the musicians...AC/DC's greatest strength in terms of production, arranging, and the sound of those records...leaving space for the riffs to breathe. Listen to a few of the classics and you'll hear plenty of glorious, open space...the brilliance of their riffs is that they never overplayed for the sake of filling the bar with notes. The open spaces were as vital as the notes themselves. Malcolm as rhythm guitarist can take a bow for that.  :)

Great post, GF. There’s this section in ‘Have A Drink On Me’ that perfectly encapsulates that “breathing” you’re talking about. Right at the 3:10 mark the guitars play a really simple progression that is so powerful because it gets to breathe...it’s in my top 5 favorite moments from their music all because of that...I don’t think the song is that widely loved, either.

Sometimes less is more...even Brian Wilson thought this way at times (bass solo in ‘Dont Talk’).

Yeah, AC/DC was the hard rock band  with swing.  OR Roll if you will.  Breathing.  Maicolm, a truly great rhythm player.

My heart goes out to Angus.  Losing George, then Malcolm pretty close together. 

Another one gone too soon, but as Dave Mustaine from Megadeth said, it's a little bittersweet because while we're sad Malcolm is gone, it's good that his suffering from dementia is over.