George Young has passed away at 70
Tributes have poured in for the legendary George Young, who has died at the age of 70 after a long and highly successful career in the music industry.
His younger brothers, Malcolm and Angus Young of AC/DC, released a statement saying that the band would not exist without George’s ‘help and guidance.’
The pair will remember their brother ‘with gratitude and hold him close to our hearts.’
‘As a musician, songwriter, producer, advisor and much, much more, you could not ask for a more dedicated and professional man. You could not ask for a finer brother.’
Young was born in 1946 in Scotland, but the Young family moved to Australia when he was a teenager, according to the ABC.
The rocker first shot to fame in the 1964s the guitarist for the Easybeats, a Sydney-based rock band he formed with Dutch-born Harry Vanda.
Both Young and Harry were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1988, and Easybeats was later inducted in 2005
The band’s most famous hit, Friday On My Mind, shot to number one in Australia in 1966, after the successful second hit She’s So Fine.
The two met while staying at Villawood, which was then a hostel for migrants awaiting placement in Sydney, according to the Guardian.
Both Young and Harry were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1988, and Easybeats was later inducted in 2005.
After the band broke up in the 1970s, he went on to co-produce numerous AC/DC albums including TNT, Dirty Deeds Done Cheap and Let There Be Rock.
After the band broke up in the 1970s (pictured), he went on to co-produce numerous AC/DC albums including TNT, Dirty Deeds Done Cheap and Let There Be Rock
ARIA also released a statement extending its ‘deepest sympathies’ to the family, friends and fans of the music legend.
The CEO of Albert Music, the label that Young helped build, acknowledged his death with ‘great sadness’.
‘A consummate songwriter, trailblazing producer, artist, mentor and extraordinary musician, George was above all else a gentleman who was unfailingly modest, charming, intelligent and loyal, a man with a wonderful sense of humour,’ said a statement to news.com.au.
Angus Young (left) and Malcolm Young (right) will remember their brother ‘with gratitude and hold him close to our hearts’
The CEO of Albert Music, the label that Young helped build, acknowledged his death with ‘great sadness’ (pictured the Easybeats)
ARIA also released a statement extending its ‘deepest sympathies’ to the family, friends and fans of the music legend
‘George was a pioneer who, with close friends Harry Vanda and Ted Albert, created a new sound for the Australian music industry. He will be missed.’
Heartfelt messages have also come from fellow Australian musicians, including Jimmy Barnes, who was also born in Scotland.
The Working Class Man singer tweeted: ‘What a huge loss for music. A great songwriter, producer and a great human being…George Young RIP.’
Heartfelt messages have also come from fellow Australian musicians, including Jimmy Barnes, who was also born in Scotland
Jimmy Barnes has tweeted that the death of guitarist George Young is ‘a huge loss for music’
Young will also be remembered as an immensely talented songwriter, and is responsible for dozens of 1970s hits such as John Paul Young’s Love Is In The Air and Yesterday’s Hero
Young will also be remembered as an immensely talented songwriter, and is responsible for dozens of 1970s hits such as John Paul Young’s Love Is In The Air and Yesterday’s Hero.
‘George just picked up things you and I would say and turn them into songs,’ John Paul Young said in a 2016 interview.
George Young is responsible for almost writing and arranging almost 300 Australian tunes, including songs made famous by Meatloaf, Stevie Wright and The Angels.