It’s official: AC/DC rhythm guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young has left the group. Young, who is 61, has been battling an undisclosed and very serious illness for the past year. Stepping into his shoes is nephew Stevie Young, who’s played with the band off and on throughout the years. The band also announced plans to release its first album in six years, Rock or Bust, this December 2.
Said AC/DC in a statement, “Unfortunately, due to the nature of Malcolm’s condition, he will not be returning to the band. AC/DC will undertake a world tour in support of Rock or Bust in 2015. Stevie Young, nephew of founding members Angus and Malcolm Young, plays rhythm guitar on Rock or Bust and will accompany the band on tour.”
Sad news indeed, but we’re excited to get the chance to see AC/DC back on the road. The House of Hair sends our best wishes to the legendary Malcolm Young!
What does ex-Gun N’ Roses guitarist Slash think his former band’s video for the tune “November Rain” means? “To tell you the truth, I have no idea,” said Slash to HuffPo Live. “Well, it was a concept. The song itself is pretty self-explanatory, but the video is so complex. And I remember when Axl [Rose, singer] was writing it, it just became…It was so epic, it was like a movie. And I, not being huge [into] videos and making videos especially, I just showed up for my scenes. I [would] write my own scene and do my section. I never paid attention to the rest of the whole production. So at the end of the day, I never really knew… I knew there was a wedding in there somewhere and I was not into the concept of the wedding.”
Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister says he’s on the mend. Lemmy was recently interviewed by VH1.com and asked about his health struggles (a hematoma last year, heart issues, and diabetes). “I’m getting back there,” said Lemmy, who turns 69 later this year. “We’ve just done two tours. It doesn’t really matter what you do, it’s how you do it and how you feel. I gave up smoking more or less. I have one now and again but that’s about it. And I more or less gave up drinking or I switched to vodka instead of Jack Daniels, which is better for you apparently. If you’re going to drink, that’s the least harmful.”
In a recent podcast, ex-Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott reminisced about his brother, “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, who was murdered onstage while performing with his band, Damageplan, in December of 2004. “I still feel like a 19-year-old kid, man,” said Vinnie. “Everything I do, I approach the same way. I’m not married. I don’t have any kids. I’ve been married to music my entire life. I’ve been dedicated to it. I know what it takes to do it. And ever since my brother has been taken from me, I feel like I have to live for both of us. And I bring it everywhere I go, everything I do, and I think he’s here with us, watching us and enjoying everything that’s going on, man.”
About the night his brother died, Vinnie said, “It was a really hardcore, tragic event, and the [shooter] wanted to kill me, too. And somehow or another, I was lucky enough to escape that, and I’m still here, and I will do everything and anything I can to carry on the legacy and the tradition that my brother always had.” He said that he still dreams about it “every night” and added, “I don’t wanna remember it, I don’t wanna think about it, I don’t want anybody saying, ‘Hey, man…’ You know…It’s hard. It’s hard. But I’ve found peace.”
Ozzy Osbourne’s wife Sharon once hacked at her wrists with a dirty steak knife to prove her love for a married-to-another-at-the-time Ozz early in their relationship. In a recent interview, she talked about the incident for the first time ever, saying, “I’ve never discussed it out of embarrassment of how stupid I was at the time to have done such a thing to myself. When we first got together, we would drink a lot together…And we had a session of romance, drinking, partying. It was about four in the morning and he says to me, ‘How much do you really love me?’…And I’m saying to him, ‘I’d do anything for you. Anything. I absolutely adore you. I’d give my life for you.’ ‘Okay, Prove it.’ It wasn’t him. It was me, me, me. And I’m very dramatic, as you all know…So I’m, like, ‘I’ll show you how much I love you. I’d die for you.’
So I went to a room-service table that was still in the room, covered in all fries and burgers and steak. And there was a steak knife. So I get the knife and I go, ‘I love you so much.’ Slash, slash, slash, on my wrist. And, unfortunately for me, I kind of went too deep, and it wouldn’t stop bleeding. So I’m saying, ‘Dear, I think we’d better call an ambulance. This thing is not stopping now.’ So the ambulance came and I’m, like, ‘Just put tape on it.’ ‘No, this is attempted suicide.’ And I’m, like, ‘No, actually, no. I’m drunk. I didn’t know.’ ‘We’re taking you away.’ They took me to the hospital…So then they put me on lockdown, called the psych ward…I was on lockdown for being overdramatic and drunk at the time. So if anybody out there who likes to cut or harm themselves or try and prove to someone, firstly, let me tell you, these scars are a big embarrassment. I tell everyone I was attacked by a dog.”
Check out Helix’s new video for “Even Jesus (Wasn’t Loved In His Hometown).” It’s the first single from the band’s latest studio album, Bastard Of The Blues.
Here’s the new video for the title track from Winger’s latest album (released earlier this year), Better Days Comin’.”