A power chord-powered tribute from The Riff Report Blog
“Forget the solos – feel the rhythm.” – Malcolm Young (probably, in a grumble)
🕯️ NOVEMBER 18, 2017 – THE ENGINE ROOM SHUTS DOWN
On November 18, 2017, we lost the heartbeat of hard rock.
Malcolm Young, co-founder and rhythm guitarist of AC/DC, died peacefully surrounded by family after a long battle with dementia. He was 64.
He wasn’t the face. He wasn’t the voice.
But he was the fkin’ soul** of AC/DC.
No frills. No fuss. No spotlight.
Just downstroke after downstroke until the crowd was moving and the heavens were shaking. ⚡💀
🎸 WHO WAS MALCOLM YOUNG?
- Born January 6, 1953, in Glasgow, Scotland, before moving to Sydney, Australia
- Older brother of Angus Young
- Co-founded AC/DC in 1973
- Played Gretsch Jet Firebirds through Marshall amps like a goddamn steamroller
- Wrote EVERY single riff that built rock ‘n’ roll’s foundations
While Angus duck-walked and shredded, Malcolm was the brick wall behind him — riffing with precision, power, and pride.
“You can’t have thunder without Malcolm.” – Brian Johnson
⚡ AC/DC: BUILT ON MAL’S MONSTROUS RHYTHM
Angus might’ve worn the schoolboy uniform, but Malcolm wore the crown of groove.
He was the riff-master.
The no-nonsense heartbeat.
The guy who could play one chord and make stadiums explode.
💿 Albums Etched in Bedrock:
- High Voltage (1975) – The spark ⚡
- Let There Be Rock (1977) – The sermon
- Highway to Hell (1979) – The anthem
- Back in Black (1980) – One of the best-selling albums of all time. Period.
- For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (1981) – Canon fire included
- The Razors Edge (1990) – Modern, yet still pure Mal
🧱 WHY MALCOLM WAS THE GUITARIST’S GUITARIST
- Never showed off
- Never soloed
- Played with military tightness
- Knew how to leave space in a riff (which is way harder than playing fast)
- Could out-chug a tank on fire
- No click tracks. No edits. Just fists and strings.
“People talk about lead guitarists… but the best rhythm player ever? Malcolm.” – James Hetfield
💔 HEALTH STRUGGLES & RETIREMENT
In 2014, AC/DC released the news that Malcolm would not be returning.
He was suffering from dementia, with memory loss so severe he couldn’t remember the band’s own songs.
He also battled lung cancer and had a pacemaker fitted.
But you’d never have guessed from his last recordings on Black Ice (2008) and Rock or Bust (2014) — the man never dropped a beat.
🎧 MAL’S MONSTER RIFFS – THE WALL OF SOUND
- Back in Black – That intro? Iconic. Unmatched.
- Highway to Hell – You feel this riff in your ribcage
- You Shook Me All Night Long – Sleazy. Tight. Perfect.
- Shoot to Thrill – That build-up to carnage
- It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll) – Bagpipes and all, still grooves
- For Those About to Rock – FIRE.
- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap – Filthy and punchy
- Whole Lotta Rosie – Bon’s finest hour backed by riff thunder
- Riff Raff – Hidden gem with god-tier rhythm
- Thunderstruck – Angus showboating? Yep. But Mal drives the damn train.
💬 TRIBUTES THAT SHOOK THE EARTH
“The greatest rhythm guitarist of all time.” – Dave Grohl
“He was the core of AC/DC.” – Slash
“He created the bedrock of modern hard rock.” – Eddie Van Halen
“Without Malcolm, there’s no AC/DC. There’s no anything.” – Ozzy Osbourne
“I owe my tone to trying to sound like him.” – Scott Ian
🪦 LEGACY OF A MAN WHO NEVER NEEDED THE LIMELIGHT
- Sold over 200 million albums
- Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2003
- Still studied by guitarists trying to figure out how he made 3 chords feel like an earthquake
- Famously kicked Angus out of the band once for being sloppy — Mal ran a tight ship, mun
- Inspired every rhythm guitarist with a pulse — even if they didn’t know it
🎩 NO SPOTLIGHT, JUST LEGEND
Malcolm was never flashy.
He didn’t jump around.
He didn’t smile much.
He let the amp do the talking.
And when he left us, a silence hit harder than a cannon blast.
But every time you hear an AC/DC riff rumble through your speakers, Malcolm’s still right there.
Downpicking. Unflinching. Unstoppable.
MALCOLM MITCHELL YOUNG
January 6, 1953 – November 18, 2017
The Silent General. The Rhythm Overlord. The Man Who Made Simple Sound Supreme.
