He was the engine. While Angus Young grabbed the headlines with the schoolboy outfit and the frantic soloing, Malcolm Young was the literal heartbeat of AC/DC. He was the one who decided when the song started, when it breathed, and when it hit you like a freight train. But in 2014, the gears stopped turning. When the news broke that the Malcolm Young cause of death was ultimately linked to a brutal, years-long battle with dementia, the rock world didn't just lose a guitarist; it lost the architect of the greatest riff machine in history.
It wasn't sudden. Honestly, that’s the hardest part for fans to swallow.
Malcolm didn't go out in a blaze of rock-and-roll glory or a high-speed crash. He faded. For a man defined by his precision—his ability to lock into a groove with metronomic accuracy—the irony of losing his cognitive grip is nothing short of tragic. He died on November 18, 2017, at the age of 64. He was at Lulworth House in Elizabeth Bay, Sydney. He was surrounded by family. But the Malcolm who died that day had been slipping away for nearly a decade.
The Reality Behind the Malcolm Young Cause of Death
To understand what happened, we have to look at the timeline. It wasn't just "old age."
Malcolm was diagnosed with dementia several years before the public had a clue. During the recording and touring for the Black Ice album (2008), things started getting weird. Angus has since gone on record saying that Malcolm was already struggling to remember parts he had written himself. Imagine that. You wrote Back in Black, and suddenly, you’re looking at your fingers wondering where they go next.
Dementia is an umbrella term. While the family didn't specify the exact subtype—whether it was Alzheimer’s or something like Frontotemporal dementia—the symptoms described by those close to him were classic. Short-term memory loss. Confusion. The loss of motor skills.
But there were other health complications, too.
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Around the same time his brain was struggling, his body was failing elsewhere. He had a lung operation to treat a cancer scare. He had a heart condition that required a pacemaker. It was a perfect storm of physical and neurological decline. By the time the Rock or Bust sessions rolled around in 2014, Malcolm was done. He couldn't play. His nephew, Stevie Young, had to step in.
Why the World Was Shocked
The "tough guy" persona of AC/DC made the Malcolm Young cause of death feel impossible. These guys were supposed to be indestructible. They survived the death of Bon Scott. They survived the changing tides of the 80s and 90s. Malcolm was the "general." He ran that band with an iron fist.
If you’ve ever picked up a Gretsch Jet, you know how hard it is to play like Malcolm. He used heavy gauge strings—thick like bridge cables. He hit the strings so hard he’d literally wear through the metal of the bridge. That kind of physical power doesn't just vanish, right?
Well, it does.
According to the Mayo Clinic, dementia doesn't just take your memories. It eventually takes your ability to communicate and move. For a musician, the loss of "muscle memory" is the final insult. Angus told Rolling Stone that Malcolm would look at him and know he was his brother, but the connection to the music—the thing that defined their entire lives—was becoming a flickering light.
A Timeline of the Decline
It's helpful to look at how this progressed because it explains why he "retired" so abruptly.
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- 2008: During the Black Ice world tour, Malcolm began receiving treatment for his memory. He had to re-learn songs before every show.
- 2014 (April): The band announces Malcolm is "taking a break" due to ill health. Fans hoped it was temporary.
- 2014 (September): The devastating confirmation: Malcolm is officially retiring. The family confirms he has dementia.
- 2017 (October): George Young, Malcolm’s older brother and the band’s producer, passes away.
- 2017 (November): Malcolm passes away peacefully.
The death of George was likely a massive blow. The Young brothers were a tight-knit unit. George was the mentor; Malcolm was the leader; Angus was the star. With George gone, many close to the family felt Malcolm’s spirit finally let go.
Misconceptions About His Health
A lot of people wanted to blame the "rock star lifestyle." You know the drill—drugs, booze, the road.
But Malcolm’s issues were far more clinical. While the band certainly had their wild years, Malcolm had actually gotten sober years prior. He went through a period of heavy drinking in the late 80s but cleaned up his act to keep the band on track. The Malcolm Young cause of death wasn't a result of a recent bender or "living too fast." It was a biological breakdown.
There's also the question of whether headbanging or the loud environment contributed. While there's ongoing research into Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and musicians, there is no medical evidence linking Malcolm’s dementia to his stage performance. It was just a cruel, genetic roll of the dice.
The Legacy He Left Behind
Malcolm Young’s influence is everywhere. If you hear a rock song today with a "dry" guitar sound and a steady beat, that’s Malcolm’s ghost in the room.
He didn't use pedals. He didn't use effects. He plugged a guitar into an amp and played with a ferocity that scared people. Dave Grohl, James Hetfield, and Scott Ian all cite him as the ultimate rhythm guitar player.
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When he died, the tributes weren't just about his talent. They were about his discipline. He was the guy who told the rest of the band to "stop playing so much." He understood that the space between the notes was just as important as the notes themselves.
How to Honor His Memory Today
If you really want to understand the man behind the headlines, don't just read about his death. Listen to his life.
- Listen to 'Powerage': Most fans point to Back in Black, but Powerage is where Malcolm’s rhythm work is most complex.
- Watch 'Let There Be Rock' (1980): Watch him in the background. He doesn't move much, but his hand is a blur. He is the anchor.
- Support Dementia Research: Organizations like the Dementia Australia or the Alzheimer’s Association work to help families dealing with exactly what the Young family went through.
The Malcolm Young cause of death reminds us that even the most powerful among us are vulnerable. It’s a sobering thought. But as long as someone, somewhere, is plugging in a guitar and hitting an A-chord with everything they've got, Malcolm Young isn't really gone.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Musicians
If you are a musician or a caregiver, there are things to learn from Malcolm’s journey.
- Early Intervention: If you notice a loved one struggling with tasks they’ve done for decades—like playing an instrument or navigating a familiar route—get a neurological consult immediately. Early diagnosis doesn't cure dementia, but it allows for better quality-of-life planning.
- Protect Your Hearing: While not his cause of death, Malcolm suffered from significant hearing loss, which is linked to increased cognitive decline in older adults. Use high-fidelity earplugs.
- Document Everything: Malcolm’s family was private, but they ensured his musical legacy was documented. Record your stories. Keep your "riffs" safe.
Malcolm Young was the soul of AC/DC. He died from a complications of a relentless neurological disease, but he lived as a titan. The next time you hear the opening of Highway to Hell, remember the man in the back, leaning against the Marshall stacks, holding it all together. That’s where he lived. That’s where he’ll stay.