George Young, Easybeats guitarist and Australian singer, passes away aged 70
George Young, the legendary Australian singer, songwriter, producer and the guitarist of the rock band Easybeats passed away early Monday at the age of 70.
George Young. YouTube
The elder brother of the AC/DC pair Angus and Malcolm Young, George Young, co-produced five of their early albums including the 1975 debut set High Voltage.
George Young, along with fellow Easybeats member Harry Vanda, shot to fame in the '60s as one of Australia’s wildly popular bands with several top 10 singles in their country. Their smash hit 'Friday on My Mind' bought the band international fame.
His death was reported by Easybeats and AC/DC’s publishing and recording house Alberts. “It is with great sadness that Alberts acknowledge the passing of George Young. 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. He will be missed,” said the post by the CEO, David Albert. Harry Vanda added his farewell message, “Rest in peace my dear friend.”
Young was born in 1946 in Scotland and met his creative collaborator and Dutch-born band mate Harry Vanda in a migrant hostel in Sydney, where both their families were staying on arriving in Australia.
The duo went on to become the best known songwriters in Australian pop, creating hits like 'Love Is in the Air' for John Paul Young, 'Evie' for Stevie Wright.
Young, who retired from the music business in the late '90s was also a two-time inductee of ARIA, Australia’s pop music hall of fame in 1988 and 2005.
