Rock and roll is supposed to be a young man’s game. Or at least, that’s what the critics used to say back when the flares were wide and the hair was long. But here we are in 2026, and Angus Young is still out there, hunched over a Gibson SG, wearing a schoolboy uniform that he’s technically about sixty years too old for.
It’s hilarious when you think about it. Most people his age are worrying about their retirement portfolios or the best way to grow tomatoes, but Angus is busy planning the next leg of the Power Up World Tour.
Honestly, the guy is a freak of nature. He’s 70 now, yet he still moves across the stage like he’s just had five double espressos and someone told him the building is on fire. You’ve probably seen the videos of him doing the "duckwalk" or the "spasm" on the floor. It’s not just a gimmick; it’s a lifestyle. And while the lineup around him has changed—with his nephew Stevie Young holding down the rhythm and Chris Chaney currently handling the bass—Angus remains the high-voltage heart of the whole operation.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Playing
There’s this weird misconception that Angus Young is just a "simple" guitar player. People hear those big, chunky power chords in T.N.T. or Highway to Hell and think, "Yeah, I could do that."
Well, good luck.
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Basically, Angus is a blues player disguised as a demolition expert. If you strip away the massive Marshall stacks and the screaming crowds, you’re left with a guy who studied Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry until his fingers bled. He’s not interested in the "wangy" bars or the complex tremolo effects that he famously said set music back 20 years. He doesn't want to sound "dated" by using the fad of the week.
His vibrato is where the real magic happens. It’s wide, aggressive, and perfectly in tune. If you’ve ever tried to play the solo to Back in Black, you know it’s not the notes that kill you—it’s the attitude. He plays with a 1968 Gibson SG, usually straight into a Marshall JTM45 or a 1959 Super Lead. No pedals. No digital nonsense. Just a piece of wood, some wire, and a lot of sweat.
The Gear That Defines the Sound
- The Gibson SG: He bought his first one in 1970 because he liked the "devil horns" and the fact that it was light enough for a small guy to carry.
- The Schaffer-Vega Diversity System: This is the "secret sauce" for his studio tone. It was originally a wireless unit, but it had a built-in compressor/booster that gave his guitar a specific "growl."
- Heavy Strings (sorta): While his brother Malcolm used massive .012 gauge strings to "rip the chords," Angus usually sticks to lighter sets (around .009 or .010) so he can pull off those massive bends without snapping his tendons.
The Schoolboy Uniform Wasn't the First Choice
You might have heard the story that his sister, Margaret, suggested the schoolboy outfit. That’s true. But what people forget is that before he settled on the shorts and blazer, Angus tried a bunch of other ridiculous costumes.
He went on stage as Zorro. He tried a Gorilla suit. He even had a "Super Ang" costume with a cape. Imagine if the Gorilla suit had stuck—the history of rock would look a lot hairier.
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The schoolboy look worked because it captured that "juvenile delinquent" energy he had growing up in Sydney. He wasn't a fan of school. In fact, he was a "prize truant" who preferred listening to his brother George’s records. When he first walked out in the uniform at Victoria Park in 1974, he was terrified. He figured if he stood still, people would throw bottles at him. So, he just didn't stop moving. That frantic energy became his trademark because of a literal fear of being hit by a flying beer can.
AC/DC in 2026: The Power Up Era
It’s been a rough decade for the band. Losing Malcolm Young in 2017 was a blow that many thought would end AC/DC. Malcolm was the general; he was the one who decided the direction of every riff.
But Angus kept the torch lit.
The 2026 tour dates prove that the world still has a massive appetite for no-nonsense rock. They’re hitting stadiums from São Paulo to Philadelphia. They’ve even brought back Brian Johnson, whose hearing issues nearly sidelined him for good a few years back. Seeing them on stage now feels less like a nostalgia act and more like a victory lap.
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The current lineup for the 2026 shows includes:
- Angus Young (Lead Guitar)
- Brian Johnson (Vocals)
- Stevie Young (Rhythm Guitar)
- Matt Laug (Drums)
- Chris Chaney (Bass)
They aren't trying to reinvent the wheel. They're just spinning it faster than anyone else.
Why He Still Matters
In a world of AI-generated music and perfectly quantized pop songs, Angus Young is a reminder that rock is supposed to be human. It’s supposed to be a little bit "nasty," as he likes to say. He’s one of the last true "Guitar Heroes" who doesn't rely on a backing track or a laptop.
If you want to understand why his style works, stop looking at the tabs and start listening to the space between the notes. Angus and Malcolm understood "the groove" better than almost anyone. They were basically two frustrated drummers who happened to pick up guitars.
If you’re a guitar player looking to capture a bit of that Angus magic, here are a few things to try:
- Plug straight in: Turn your amp up until it starts to growl naturally. Avoid the distortion pedals.
- Master the Pentatonic: 90% of his solos are built on the minor and major pentatonic scales. It’s all about the phrasing.
- Watch your right hand: Angus hits the strings hard. He doesn't "tickle" it. You need that percussive attack to get the "snap" in the tone.
- Learn the rhythm first: You can’t play like Angus if you don’t understand what Malcolm was doing. The rhythm is the foundation.
The 2026 tour is likely one of the last chances to see this level of rock royalty in person. It’s loud, it’s sweaty, and it’s exactly what music needs right now. Grab a pair of earplugs—you’re going to need them.