If you've been following this blog of mine for any length of time you've probably figured out that its main focus is on guitar.
Tag: Malcolm Young
That time I asked AC/DC’s Malcolm Young what it was like making Back in Black without Bon Scott on vocals
Way back in 1983 I interviewed three members of AC/DC--Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson, and Simon Wright--at a swanky Vancouver hotel.
That time AC/DC’s Malcolm Young told me that drummer Phil Rudd had “grown out” of the band
By Steve Newton Back in October of 1983 I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down (on a Vancouver hotel-room floor) with three members of AC/DC. It was the day before the band kicked off its Flick of the Switch Tour, and the local promo rep at the record label (WEA Canada) had set up … Continue reading That time AC/DC’s Malcolm Young told me that drummer Phil Rudd had “grown out” of the band
That time Mike Fraser told me what it was like recording AC/DC without Malcolm Young
By Steve Newton There were a lot of rumours circulating back in 2018--some started by yours truly--about AC/DC making a new album in Vancouver with Mike Fraser. And those rumours were proven true with the release in November 2020 of Power Up. The band's previous album, 2014's Rock or Bust, was the first one not … Continue reading That time Mike Fraser told me what it was like recording AC/DC without Malcolm Young
AC/DC rumours regarding Phil Rudd and Vancouver come from the right place
I don't care how tiny Angus is, the world needs his killer riffs. By Steve Newton There's been a lot of rumour and speculation flying around the music world since yesterday, when I posted a blog on the Georgia Straight website reporting that Phil Rudd and Stevie Young had been spotted in downtown Vancouver. The … Continue reading AC/DC rumours regarding Phil Rudd and Vancouver come from the right place
Malcolm Young: the five best quotes I ever got from AC/DC’s rhythm master
By Steve Newton The hard-rock world lost one of its most beloved artists on November 18, 2017, when AC/DC rhythm-guitarist Malcolm Young passed away at the age of 64. Ill health had forced him to leave the band in 2014, and to be confined to a nursing home, where he suffered from dementia. I only met … Continue reading Malcolm Young: the five best quotes I ever got from AC/DC’s rhythm master
That time I asked AC/DC’s Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson what they liked listening to in their spare time
By Steve Newton When I interviewed some of the guys from AC/DC back in '83, on the eve of the Flick of the Switch tour, I asked them which groups they liked listening to in their spare time. Both Brian Johnson and Malcolm Young mentioned ZZ Top. "I just like their attitude and all ya … Continue reading That time I asked AC/DC’s Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson what they liked listening to in their spare time
That time AC/DC’s Malcolm Young told me that his biggest influences were “the old rockers” and early Clapton
By Steve Newton I love listening to these old soundbites of me hangin' out with AC/DC's Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson at a Vancouver hotel room, sippin' tea and chattin' it up. The vast majority of interviews I've done since getting into the music-writing game back in '82 with Vancouver's Georgia Straight newspaper have been done … Continue reading That time AC/DC’s Malcolm Young told me that his biggest influences were “the old rockers” and early Clapton
That time AC/DC’s Malcolm Young told me that he just “tinkles” on lead guitar: “You can’t outdo Angus”
By Steve Newton When I interviewed AC/DC's Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson back in 1983 I asked Malcolm if he ever had a hankering to step out and play a lead-guitar solo once in a while. As expected, his response was along the lines of, "Why bother when you've got a guy like Angus around?" … Continue reading That time AC/DC’s Malcolm Young told me that he just “tinkles” on lead guitar: “You can’t outdo Angus”
Hangin’ with AC/DC on the Flick of the Switch tour while Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson talk Bon
By Steve Newton I guess one of the cooler in-person interviews I've ever done was that time back in October of '83 when I hung out with three members of AC/DC--singer Brian Johnson, rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, and then-new drummer Simon Wright--at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. The Aussie earbusters were in town to … Continue reading Hangin’ with AC/DC on the Flick of the Switch tour while Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson talk Bon
That time Brian Johnson joked about going deaf and Malcolm Young added that AC/DC’s fans get most of the volume
By Steve Newton The biggest news in the hard-rock world back in 2016 revolved around AC/DC having to hire Axl Rose to take the place of Brian Johnson for the remainder of its Rock or Bust World Tour. Johnson, the band's singer since replacing Bon Scott in 1980, had to leave the band--or got tossed … Continue reading That time Brian Johnson joked about going deaf and Malcolm Young added that AC/DC’s fans get most of the volume
Backstage at AC/DC with Angus Young, Scotty Bad, and my autographed copy of Powerage, Malcolm’s fave
Notice how Scotty Bad's left hand is just about to land on Angus's wee shoulder in a blatant attempt to have some of that coolness rub off.
Mike Fraser helps AC/DC get back on top, sets his sights on Sabbath
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 3, 2014 By Steve Newton The first time he ever saw AC/DC, Mike Fraser had no idea what band he was seeing. He'd gone to an Aerosmith show at the Pacific Coliseum back in '78 and showed up early enough to catch the warmup act. "Usually you kinda miss the opening … Continue reading Mike Fraser helps AC/DC get back on top, sets his sights on Sabbath