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It’s Official: MALCOLM YOUNG Taking Break From AC/DC Due To ‘Ill Health’

Manos Spanos
Legendary Anglo-Australian hard rockers AC/DC have released the following statement: "After forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health. Malcolm would like to thank the group's diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support. "In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family's privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music." As previously reported, a musician who says he has been friends with AC/DC for "years" has corroborated reports that Malcolm Young is no longer able to perform with the band due to illness. Mark Gable, lead singer with the CHOIRBOYS, told ABC Radio Australia, "From what I understand, and it's even been confirmed in part by his son Ross… It would appear Malcolm is unable to perform anymore. It's not just that he is 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." Australian journalist Darryl Mason wrote that Malcolm suffered a stroke last month. According to The Age, a source who knows the Young family has said that Malcolm's condition has deteriorated so badly that his wife Linda and family were investigating full-time care for the guitarist. It is believed that Malcolm is currently having in-home care at his home in the Sydney area. He is said to be having difficulty remembering familiar faces and having increasing problems communicating. AC/DC singer Brian Johnson has shot down reports that the band is retiring, telling U.K.'s Telegraph that the band is about to begin work on its 16th studio album. "We are definitely getting together in May in Vancouver," he said. "We're going to pick up some guitars, have a plonk, and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens, we'll record it." While the members of AC/DC are notoriously private, Johnson did reveal in a 2012 interview and in a February 2014 one that an unnamed member of the group had been ill — but whether that was Malcolm remains unclear. Asked about the prospect of retiring one day, Johnson told The Pulse Of Radio that he would know when the time had come. "You know, retirement is like anything," he said. "A good football or a good ice hockey player, they don't want to retire. But unfortunately, sometimes there's a time when you have to call it quits. I don't want to do it, and if we can get out another album and do another little short tour or something, and have a bit of fun, well. I'm your man. I'll be right there." AC/DC's last album was 2008's "Black Ice", one of the group's most successful later albums, which was followed by a nearly two-year world tour.
03 min read

BRIAN JOHNSON Says AC/DC Will Enter Studio In May

Manos Spanos
Legendary Anglo-Australian hard rockers AC/DC will enter a studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in May, presumably to begin recording their first new material since 2008's "Black Ice" album. In addition, the band will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year by playing 40 shows around the world. The news of AC/DC's recording and touring plans was revealed earlier today (Friday, February 14) by the band's lead singer, Brian Johnson, during a surprise phone call he gave to Andy Preston of the 98.7 The Gater radio station in West Palm Beach, Florida (hear audio below). Asked if AC/DC is planning to do anything this year, Johnson told Preston: "Well, you'll be the first one to know, really, because we've been denying anything, 'cause we weren't sure. One of our boys was pretty ill, so we didn't like to say anything, and we're very private about things like this, so we didn't wanna say anything. And he's a very proud man. But I think we'll be going into the studio in May in Vancouver. Which means, we should be getting ready. "It's been 40 years of the band's existence, so I think we're gonna try to do 40 gigs, 40 shows, to thank the fans for their undying loyalty. I mean, honestly, our fans are just the best in the world, and we appreciate every one of them. So, like I said, we'll have to go out, even though we're getting a bit long in the tooth. [laughs]" He added: "You know what?! It's been four years [since we last went out on the road], and I'm really looking forward to it." During a January 2012 appearance on "The Cowhead Show", the American radio program hosted by Mike "Cowhead" Calta, Johnson revealed that health issues were affecting one of his bandmates, which may have put new album plans temporarily on hold. "One of the boys is a little sick and I can't say anything, but he's getting better," Brian said. "He's doing wonderful. Full recovery fully expected." AC/DC bassist Cliff Williams told BackstageAxxess.com in a March 2013 interview that guitarists Malcolm and Angus Young were writing songs for the band's next album. But Williams said that at the time that there was still a long way to go, explaining, "[There is] nothing in the works right now [as far as recording]. We're still getting over the last tour, so we're just hanging out and doing stuff. The guys are writing material and when they've got some stuff together, they'll give us a holler." Asked how the band's creative process works, Williams said, "[Angus and Malcolm] get a bunch of ideas together. Some are more together than others — and then we'll all hit the studio or a little rehearsal room and we'll kick it around with a producer. And then we get in a studio and record, and that's kind of how it runs." "Black Ice" was followed by a nearly two-year world tour. Malcolm Young told Classic Rock magazine in 2012, "I've been doing some jamming on some song ideas but I do that all the time, as do the rest of the band . . . I think we need a couple of years to recuperate and work on it a bit more." Regarding AC/DC's plans to tour in support of the upcoming CD, Brian told the Bay Area rock station 107.7 The Bone in a June 2012 interview: "Well, I think it wouldn't be like the last one. That was two years. I mean, that was just nuts. We were just fragged when we finished [that one]. I mean, it took about three weeks to get over it. But it was so much fun, though. For guys our age at the time, to tour the world to sellout audiences everywhere, it gives you a good feeling. And the great thing was to look out into the audiences and have a look at the generations of people… I mean, it was unbelievable… Kids there that were 7-8 [years old], teenagers…" Johnson also spoke about how AC/DC decides which recording and touring projects to take on, telling 107.7 The Bone: "We're just a bunch of pals from the projects, still. Even though we've done well, we still have the same roots that we stick by that we did when we had nothing, basically. And that's the work ethic. And it has to be right for the boys to do anything. When we're sitting down and [we're talking about], 'Can we do this? We're not gonna be a pale shadow of our former selves?' We'll talk about it and make sure that we've all got it. We're just five pieces of a card, and if one of us is not really [able to perform at 100 percent], the whole thing would just collapse, I think."
04 min read

STERN PINBALL Releases AC/DC ‘Luci’ Premium Game

Manos Spanos
Stern Pinball, Inc., the world's leading maker of real pinball games, today announced the availability of the AC/DC Luci Premium pinball machine. Based on Steve Ritchie's hit design, the latest addition to the AC/DC pinball lineup features an entirely new original artwork package that captures the titillating rock and roll spirit of AC/DC and AC/DC pinball. Players will rock with Luci to twelve classic AC/DC hits including "Back In Black", "Highway To Hell" and "You Shook Me All Night Long". Other exciting game features include a lower playfield, ball-shooting cannon, drop targets, a mechanized Hell's Bell and animations of the band. This decidedly edgy tribute to one of rock and roll's most memorable bands pushes the visual and auditory limits with its style, sound and infectious riffs. Simply put: Luci rocks! The AC/DC Luci Premium game continues both the Stern Pinball and the Stern family tradition of producing quality pinball machines for young and old. Stern Pinball traces its lineage to Philadelphia in the 1930s when Sam Stern entered the business of operating pinball games. Sam subsequently became part owner and President of Williams Manufacturing, a pioneer of the pinball industry, and passed his lifelong enthusiasm for the game and the business of pinball to his son, Gary, who founded Stern Pinball. Today pinball remains one of the world's favorite pastimes. AC/DC, more than three decades into a career that shows no signs of slowing, like electricity itself, provides the world with an essential source of power and energy. Since forming in 1973, AC/DC's high voltage rock 'n' roll has flowed into the world via consistently sold-out concert tours and global sales totaling more than 200 million albums. Sony BMG Music Entertainment's #1 best selling catalog act worldwide, AC/DC has sold nearly 71 million albums in the U.S. alone, making AC/DC one of the five top-selling bands in American music history. One of the group's best-loved works, the enormously successful and influential "Back In Black", has achieved RIAA "Double Diamond" status, with sales in excess of 22 million copies in the United States. It is the U.S.'s fifth largest-selling album ever. AC/DC's intense live performances and innovative guitar driven music are at the core of the band's 30-year legacy of great rock and roll music. Pricing and availability: AC/DC Luci Premium pinball is available through authorized Stern distributors and dealers. MSRP $7,495 To learn more about the AC/DC pinball machine, "Luci" and Stern Pinball, please visit www.sternpinball.com.
02 min read