AC/DC biographer warns Malcolm Young may not return to band

AS AC/DC’s founding member Malcolm Young battles his health issues, fans are being told to prepare themselves for the band’s succession plan.

AC/DC’S biographer has hinted ailing guitarist Malcolm Young may not return to the band.

Sydney writer Jesse Fink said Young’s immediate future in AC/DC is in doubt.

“I’m not expecting to see Malcolm return,” Fink told a US radio station.

“I think the important thing is we all let Mal be and hope he can recover. But I think we should all expect that Stevie Young (Malcolm’s nephew) is in the band now.”

Stevie Young, who briefly replaced Malcolm in the past in AC/DC, has played on the band’s new album, expected out later this year.

Fink said fans should also expect Stevie to tour the album, with shows rumoured to start as early as later this year.

“As far as I’m concerned, Malcolm’s illness is a private matter. However, fans seem to think his illness is just going to quickly go away and he’s going to be there on stage when they announce their tour. If what I have heard from numerous sources is true, then I expect Stevie Young will be touring with the band and not Malcolm. That’s not a seditious viewpoint. It’s realistic.”

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Fink has written a new book The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC.

He said inside reports suggest the follow up to Black Ice is strong.

“I’m hearing on very reliable authority the new album is up there with (2009′s) Black Ice or even better. So Stevie must be a good replacement for Mal.”

In April rumours suggested the band would retire rather than function without Malcolm, whose illness has never been identified.

The band recorded the album in Vancouver. Frontman Brian Johnson told Classic Rock magazine one working title was Man Down.

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“We miss Malcolm, obviously,” Johnson said.

“He’s a fighter. He’s in hospital but he’s a fighter. We’ve got our fingers crossed that he’ll get strong again Stevie, Malcolm’s nephew, was magnificent, but when you’re recording with this thing hanging over you and your work mate isn’t well, it’s difficult.

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“But I’m sure he was rooting for us. He’s such a strong man. He’s a small guy but he’s very strong. He’s proud and he’s very private so we can’t say too much. But fingers crossed he’ll be back.”

Former AC/DC member Mark Evans has called The Brothers Who Built AC/DC “the best book about AC/DC I’ve ever read.”

Originally published as AC/DC biographer warns Malcolm Young may not return to band