Pioneer singer/songwriter George Young died at the age of 70. It’s almost safe to say he belonged to the first family of rock ‘n’ roll, with big names like Stevie Young, Malcolm Young, and Angus Young in his family tree. George Young of The Easybeats was a respected man, and now the world of music is mourning the loss of yet another great.
George Young’s cause of death is still not determined. And although there is no news about where the musician died, there are fans, friends, and family who are paying their condolences on social media. The painful loss of a great songwriter is hard to digest.
Here is George Young’s wiki to help you get to know him better.
Emigration Changed Young’s Life
George Redburn Young was born on November 6, 1946, in Scotland. He was raised in Glasgow until he was a teenager and later moved to Australia in the ‘60s with his parents and two younger brothers, Malcolm and Angus. His two older brothers Stephen and Alex Young stayed in Scotland.
George Young went to Sefton High School in Sydney. Young knew he was born for music and took up guitar. He met Harry Vanda and Stevie Wright and the outcome of that was the formation of The Easybeats.
Young co-wrote almost every song of the band, with Wright as the singer and Vanda playing lead guitar. The rock ‘n’ roll scene in Australia took a huge turn, and a different genre was born.
The Easybeats and a Journey into Music
George Young and The Easybeats became a household name with hits like “Friday On My Mind” and “Love Is In The Air.” They were a craze during the reformation eras, and the band might not have known at the time that their songs would become a culture in themselves!
The Easybeats songs are known for their smooth and fun beats and lyrics. Their songs were Billboard chart-busters and instant fan favorites for a very long time. And, the band toured with big names like The Rolling Stones.
The Easybeats broke up as a band in 1970, and it was then that Young decided to write for other record labels and bands. He and Harry Vanda wrote pop and rock songs for other artists, as well as themselves, under the fake infamous name Flash and the Pan.
The Birth of Another Iconic Band
But George Young was determined to make it bigger in the industry, and that’s when he and Vanda met with Ted Albert, who ran Albert Productions. Young also co-produced for bands like Rose Tattoo, AC/DC, and The Angels. As many know, AC/DC was formed by George Young’s younger siblings Malcolm and Angus Young, and later Stevie Young (George’s nephew) joined the famous band.
Young produced the early albums of the band like “High Voltage,” “Let There Be Rock,” “T.N.T.,” “Powerage,” and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.” He was also a bass guitarist for the band in the initial stages and had told his younger brothers that they couldn’t really call themselves a band unless they do 200 gigs.
AC/DC went on to become one of the most famous and internationally-recognized bands. And now, Young’s passing has set a gloomy mood in the music industry.
The band released a statement after the passing of the legend that said, “It is with pain in our heart that we have to announce the passing of our beloved brother and mentor George Young. Without his help and guidance there would not have been an AC/DC. As a musician, songwriter, producer, advisor and much, much more, you could not ask for a more dedicated and professional man. As a brother, you could not ask for a finer brother. For all he did and gave to us throughout his life, we will always remember him with gratitude and hold him close to our hearts.”
Here is one more look at George Young’s top three songs that are sure to give you a huge dose of nostalgia.
#1. “Lazy River”
#2. “Friday on my Mind”
#3. “She’s So Fine”
It was estimated in 2013, that the Young family, consisting of brothers Malcolm, Angus, and George Young of AC/DC, had a net worth of approximately $233.0 million (U.S).
According to Noise11.com, they are the 48th richest Australian family as per Business Review Weekly magazine.