Malcolm Young Cause Of Death: AC/DC Founding Member, Guitarist, Dies At 64

Malcolm Young, AC/DC co-founder, and guitarist died Saturday at the age of 64 years after a long battle with dementia for several years. Young died surrounded by family at his home, the band said in a statement.

An official statement was posted on the band’s website and Facebook page confirming his death.

"It is with deep heartfelt sadness that AC/DC has to announce the passing of Malcolm Young,” it read. “Malcolm, along with Angus, was the founder and creator of AC/DC. With enormous dedication and commitment, he was the driving force behind the band. He leaves behind an enormous legacy that will live on forever. Malcolm, job well done."

On Saturday, Nov. 18, the Young family also released a statement announcing his passing.

“It is with deepest sorry that we inform you of the death of Malcolm Young, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother. Malcolm had been suffering from Dementia for several years and passed away peacefully Saturday with his family by his bedside,” their statement said.

“For those wishing to send messages to the family please visit the Sydney Morning Herald tribute site for Malcolm Young which will be available later today. The family has asked instead of flowers to send donations to The Salvation Army,” the family statement added.

Born in Glasgow in 1953, Young moved with his family to Sydney, Australia, 10 years later. Young’s elder brother George found fame first with his band the "Easybeats," before he went on to produce for AC/DC. He also died last month, aged 70.

A Rolling Stone tribute to Young said: “As rhythm guitarist for the legendary rock band, Malcolm Young served as an indispensable foil to Angus Young’s arena-stuffing riffs.”

Young was an Australian musician and songwriter and was famous for co-founding the legendary rock group, AC/DC. In 2014, he retired from the group due to health issues.

In September 2014, just five months after AC/DC announced Young’s retirement from the group, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the musician had been admitted to a nursing home because he needed constant care.

“If you were in the room with [Malcolm Young] and walked out, then came back in one minute later, he wouldn’t remember who you are. He has a complete loss of short-term memory. His wife, Linda, has put him in full-time care,” a source told the outlet at the time.

Young wrote AC/DC's material and came up with many of their biggest and best guitar riffs of all time. The band went on to become one of the biggest rock bands in history, scoring hits including “Back In Black”, “Highway to Hell”, “You Shook Me All Night Long”, and many more. Angus and Malcolm were credited as co-writers on every song they recorded for the band. In 2003, AC/DC was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which described its sound as "scorched-earth, metallic hard rock which has rarely deviated from a template of headbanging-inducing guitar riffs, flashy drums, and banshee-yell vocals."

Angus Young, Malcolm’s younger brother, also a part of AC/DC, said in a separate statement that Malcolm took "great pride in all that he endeavored."

"His loyalty to the fans was unsurpassed," he wrote. "As his brother, it is hard to express in words what he has meant to me during my life, the bond we had was unique and very special. He leaves behind an enormous legacy that will live on forever."