George Young, the pioneering Australian songwriter and producer of AC/DC, has died at the age of 70.
Young, the brother of AC/DC’s Angus and Malcolm Young, was a member of the Easybeats and co-wrote its classic hit Friday on My Mind.
With his fellow Easybeats member Harry Vanda he became one of Australian pop’s best-known songwriters, creating Yesterday’s Hero and Love Is in the Air for John Paul Young, Evie for Stevie Wright and Hey, St Peter, which he and Vanda recorded as Flash and the Pan, among many others.
The music publishing and recording house Alberts, which had both the Easybeats and AC/DC in its stable, reported Young’s death.
“It is with great sadness that Alberts acknowledge the passing of George Young,” it said. “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.
“George was a pioneer who, with close friends Harry Vanda and Ted Albert, created a new sound for the Australian music industry.”
It concluded with a message from Harry Vanda, saying: “Rest in Peace my dear friend.”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/23/george-young-pioneering-songwriter-and-member-of-the-easybeats-dies-at-70
RELATED AC/DC news
Dave Evans Interview | AC/DC Singer | November 2011
Mark Evans Interview | Original AC/DC Bassist | September 2011
Dave Evans Interview | Former AC/DC Singer | March 2016
Bob Richards Interview | AC/DC drummer | February 2015