Rumor: AC/DC are Breaking Up

The future of AC/DC is in serious jeopardy: reports are flying around the web that AC/DC are planning on hanging it up and will be canceling their planned 40-date, 40th anniversary summer tour.

Founding member, rhythm guitarist, co-producer and co-songwriter Malcolm Young had a stroke a few weeks ago, and upon regrouping with the band to rehearse discovered he could no longer play guitar up to snuff. While his brother Angus is the more famous Young, Malcolm started the band, wrote a number of their greatest hits and is considered the band’s main driving force. Friends and family report that the band has decided to call it quits rather than soldier on without Malcolm. People can and do recover from damage sustained during strokes, but we don’t yet know what any prospective recovery timetable is like for Malcolm.

Axl and I had the opportunity to see AC/DC live at Madison Square Garden a few years back when they toured with The Answer, whose label hooked us up with incredible seats in the center of the floor. The show was over-the-top and completely energizing, the stamina and vigor of a bunch of 60+ year-olds putting most young metal bands to shame. I feel very fortunate to have caught the spectacle that is AC/DC live before it was too late.

Officially word hasn’t yet come down from the band, and it should be noted that some outlets have conflicting reports. We’ll keep you updated. But if the rumors are true, this is a very sad day. Crank ’em if ya got ’em.

[MS reader Daan H. via The Orstrahyun]