Stevie Young

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Lore & Background

Stevie Young's connection to AC/DC goes back to the 1960s, where he, Angus, and Malcolm attended the same school while growing up in Sydney. During the late 1970s, Stevie and his brother Fraser occasionally travelled with AC/DC on tour; both were photographed with Angus and Malcolm backstage at Wembley in 1979 during the Highway to Hell Tour. During the 1988 US tour for AC/DC's album *Blow Up Your Video*, which started on 3 May 1988, Stevie filled in for Malcolm on rhythm guitar while Malcolm left to deal with a growing alcohol dependency. Many fans were not even aware that Malcolm had been replaced, because Stevie bore a physical resemblance (at the time) to him. Malcolm overcame his drinking problem and returned to the band, staying until his retirement in 2014. In July 2014, AC/DC's Brian Johnson confirmed that Stevie had recorded with the band for their upcoming album *Rock or Bust*, again replacing his ill uncle Malcolm. In September it was confirmed that Stevie would replace Malcolm on a permanent basis. It was revealed in a *Rolling Stone* interview that Stevie had been recruited by Angus as far back as January 2014, before contact had been made with other band members. Stevie was involved with AC/DC's 2020 follow-up album, *Power Up*, in which he once again performed rhythm guitar and backing vocals. When asked about the difficulties of having to arrange riffs that he had written with his brother, Angus admitted that Stevie was instrumental in helping with compiling all of the riffs for the record.

In Their Own Story

In 1988, Stevie Young got the call to fill in for his uncle Malcolm on AC/DC's US tour for *Blow Up Your Video*. The tour started on 3 May 1988, and many fans didn't even realize Malcolm had been replaced — Stevie bore a physical resemblance to him at the time. Malcolm left to deal with a growing alcohol dependency, and Stevie stepped in, playing rhythm guitar night after night. Malcolm eventually overcame his drinking problem and returned to the band, staying until his retirement in 2014. Fast forward to 2014: AC/DC's Brian Johnson confirmed in July that Stevie had recorded with the band for *Rock or Bust*, again replacing his ill uncle Malcolm. By September, it was confirmed that Stevie would replace Malcolm on a permanent basis. A *Rolling Stone* interview revealed that Angus had recruited Stevie as far back as January 2014, before other band members were even contacted. Stevie went on to play on *Power Up* (2020), where Angus said Stevie was instrumental in helping compile all the riffs for the record.

Reader's Guide

Stevie Young's role in AC/DC is rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist. He joined the band in April 2014 to record *Rock or Bust*, but wasn't announced as an official member until September 2014. He replaced his uncle Malcolm, who retired due to dementia. Stevie had previously filled in for Malcolm on AC/DC's 1988 US tour. His equipment includes a selection of Gretsch Jet Firebirds throughout his career. His first was a black, left-handed Firebird which was modified with an additional set of half-moon fret inlays on the fingerboard, and had the neck pick-up removed. It had an additional jack slot fitted, and a Burns tailpiece. This Firebird was inherited from Malcolm Young, and was used to record with Starfighters in the early 1980s. Stevie also inherited another Firebird from Malcolm Young; this one was almost exactly the same as Malcolm's main Gretsch, with the neck pick-up removed, a third pick-up cavity, and the finish removed to leave clear maple. It has a Burns tailpiece, and was Stevie's no. 1 guitar on AC/DC's *Rock Or Bust* World tour. Stevie uses 0.011 gauge strings for his high E string, although when playing AC/DC material he retains Malcolm's string gauge of 0.012" with a wound G string. For the *Rock or Bust* tour, Stevie used Marshall Amplifiers with Celestion Creamback and Classic Lead 80 speakers as part of his touring set-up.

Did You Know?

• Stevie Young was born 11 December 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland.
• He emigrated with his family from Scotland to Sydney in 1963, settling in Concord, New South Wales.
• He returned to Scotland in 1970.
• During the 1988 US tour for AC/DC's album *Blow Up Your Video*, many fans were not even aware that Malcolm had been replaced because Stevie bore a physical resemblance to him at the time.
• Stevie's son Angus was briefly a member of AC/DC tribute band AC/DC UK.