Angus Young gets emotional recalling Malcolm Young’s battle with dementia: “The worst part is the decline”
“He always knew I was there. So that was a big thing. I was with him towards the end.”
Photo: Martyn Goodacre / Getty Images
AC/DC guitarist Angus Young has opened up about his late brother Malcolm Young’s battle with dementia in an emotional new interview.
Speaking to Australia’s 60 Minutes about AC/DC’s latest studio album, Power Up, Angus got teary-eyed as the interview shifted towards Malcolm’s declining health leading up to his passing in 2017.
“I think the hardest part was not so much him passing, because that was a kind of end, a relief,” said Angus. “I think the worst part is the decline – that’s the hard part. Because of how you knew him, and then to see that that was gone.”
Recalling the late-night visits he would pay to Malcolm at his care home, Angus said, “Even to the end, if I was there, he had a big smile.”
“For me, that always gave me a kind of joy,” Angus said. “Even though he was in that state, that was always the joy of it. And he still got a great kick if I played him guitar. He would try to tap his foot. But he always knew I was there. So that was a big thing. I was with him towards the end.”
The legendary Australian rock band was founded by the Scottish-born Young brothers back in 1973. The band’s 17th and latest album, Power Up – which launched last week (13 November) – still features musical ideas and guitar riffs from Malcolm Young.
Watch the rest of Angus Young’s interview with 60 Minutes below:
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