Malcolm Young, the rhythm guitarist and guiding force behind the hard rock band AC/DC who helped create such head-banging anthems as "Highway to Hell," "Hells Bells" and "Back in Black," has died. He was 64.
AC/DC were remarkably consistent for over 40 years with its mix of driving hard rock, lyrics and bluesy shuffles, selling over 200 million albums, surviving the loss of its first singer and creating one of the greatest rock records ever in "Back in Black," the world's second best-selling album behind Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 2003.
The Glasgow-born Young brothers who moved to Sydney, Australia, with their parents, sister and five older brothers in 1963 formed the band in 1973.
They were inspired to choose the high-energy name AC/DC from the back of a sewing machine owned by their sister, Margaret.
By 1980, the band was on a roll, known for its high energy performances and predictably hard-charging songs.
The band continued with a studio or live album every few years, blending their huge guitar riffs with rebellious and often sophomoric lyrics song titles include "Big Balls," "Beating Around the Bush," "Let Me Put My Love Into You" and "Stiff Upper Lip."
AC/DC won a Grammy Award, for best hard rock performance in 2009 for "War Machine."
