Angus was once asked how it feels to be one of the best guitarists in the world. He laughed and said, I'm not even the best guitar player in this band. That says it all (and speaks volumes about how humble a guy he is)
From everything I've researched (including a lot of the books you mentioned), Angus becoming the permanent lead had less to do with guitar talent and more to do with stage presence. Malcolm was a very shrewd businessman. He knew that the schoolboy running all around would be a golden ticket to selling out concerts. Plus AC/DC was Malcolm's band. Angus always followed his brother behind the scenes, so if Mal said "You're the lead now," Angus was.
I agree - almost - entirely! Yes, Malcolm was shrewd, the boss, the big brother. But I do believe Angus to be a better improviser with a truly original sound to his playing. Thanks for weighing in Josh!
This. Angus is such a tornado of entertainment he’s more of a frontman than their frontmen. The entire band moves back when not singing so Ang can just eat the stage. But I tell you what, I think they are both incredibly talented individuality and yet are a unit in AC/DC. Like fraternal twins…musical twins. Together they were even greater than the sum of their parts, imo.
K B F I remember reading where Bruce Howe the bass player from Fraternity was commenting on the musical interplay between Angus and Malcolm. I think it might have been when Bon was auditioning for AC/DC but he said it was incredible and that those guys Angus and Malcolm were like telepathic! Definitely such great interplay between the two of them and having grown up together and learning licks from each other really helped shape their sound I'm sure 👍
I like the story of Malcolm writing the riff to Back in Black and Angus saying he thinks he never got the descending lead lick quite right from Mal's original recording!
Malcom played lead on some of their VERRRRY early (like ‘74/early ‘75) songs. Their song, “Show Business”, is one example of Malcom playing lead. He was an absolutely incredible lead player and an even better rhythm player! Angus had the edge on him in terms of lead playing, but honestly not by a huge gap; Malcom was a VERY well-rounded guitarist.
Lead solo at 2:30 on Show Business is Malcolm. He plays the solo in You Ain't Got a Hold on Me, and the duel on Soul Stripper begins with Mal and alternates.
A great rhythm player is like a great bass player. They can push or drag the rhythm, or stay in the pocket, and they make or break a song. It's way harder to be great at that than to be great at lead, but then this particular band wouldn't exist without both players.
Mal could play a solo but his solos sound 'cleaner' and more methodical/conventional to me whereas Angus solos sound more daring and menacing. It's not that I don't like Mal's solos, but I think Angus solos really do compliment the sound of the band better.
Great breakdown. I’m a lifelong crazy AC/DC fan and while I was pretty sure I knew who was doing what on Aussie High Voltage/74 Jailbreak here in the States, you really distilled the parts for us. Very cool. Also, that 78 bootleg from Nashville is excellent and maybe my favorite version of Gone Shootin. There is no question that Mal is the Rhythm and Angus lead on all part of this song. They also only play the same part together in the pre-chorus. It’s one of my favorite all time songs period.
Some of my favorite Malcolm moments come from the "Live at Atlantic" recordings. He does so much cool shit on it that, to me, he was the best thing on the album. The whole band was at the top of the game.
Yeah it's probably my favourite live recording in Bons era. The polite clapping at the beginning of the set, to the full blown roar from the small studio audience at the end. It showed just what unbelievably good performers they were. Just blistering from start to finish.
@@groggyk I'll never forget the first time I heard it. They played it in it's entirety on KMET-Los Angeles in 1981 without any commercials. I thought I died and went to heaven because I just got into AC/DC 6 months prior. It was such a great musical moment for me. I looked for years to find it to no avail and it finally came out in the Bonfire box set.
Malcom & Angus worked on lead solos & riffs together in the studio, but it was Angus who took them to the stage, Malcolm stuck mainly to rhythm on stage, but they were equally proficient!
I bought the red Australian High Voltage album in a used record store in Boston in 1984 and I learned all the solos. I had read that Malcolm also played lead in the early days and after learning the solos I could tell which ones he played on. Besides the different guitar sound and looser vibrato, Malcolm also favors using chord tones while Angus seems less concerned with that. Listen to You Ain't Got A Hold On Me, and you can hear that the notes Malcolm plays correspond to the chords underneath more directly than Angus typically does. Also, Mal plays the guitar solo on the very first AC/DC recording, Rockin' In The Parlour, and he emphasizes chord tones in that solo as well. What an incredible guitar player and songwriter he was. I'm 55 years old, I've heard Back In Black a zillion times and I still get goosebumps when I hear it.
Thanks John. Yes, I found that too - the more I figured out, the easier it became to tell who was who. That's a great observation that Malcolm uses more chord tones. Although, I noticed on Show Business which is in E, he plays the typical G to G# lick - but does it over the A chord. To me, this is the sort of thing that a soloist of Angus' calibre doesn't do. Also agree that Back in Black still generates spinal shivers!!
Fantastic discussion! Loved this episode and had heard about his supposed playing on several earlier AC/DC songs. Now you have erased any doubt in my mind. Your playing of these solos and guitar parts was spot on and sounded just like the real thing, thank you!! No doubt about it Malcom and Angus are both fantastic players
The brothers just complemented each other perfectly, and I think Mal was just happy to stand back and play and let Angus have the limelight, Angus is perfect for that
The reason? The reason is quite simple and it is the fact that Angus has more stamina and stage presence then Malcolm would care to try. Malcolm knew what he was doing when he made Angus lead guitar! It isn't that he couldn't do it, he just knew who the better fit was.
Angus was also a much more creative and confident lead player, he’s one of the best ever. Nothing wrong with Malcolm’s lead playing but Angus’ lead playing is legendary
I've no doubt Malcolm was a very good lead player but NOBODY can play like Angus , his controlled ferocity is just awesome . For me the 'Let there be rock ' album was the pinnacle of rock guitar playing .Songs like the title tune and Bad boy boogie are almost perfect .He is without doubt one of the greatest to ever play. He can attack the guitar like a whirling dervish but he can also play soulful blues like on the track 'Ride on ' .
@@dannyeddyguitar I'm a fan of Brian Johnston but Bon was an extremely underrated song writer and had a great voice .In the song 'Ride on ' I can actually envision a shitty hotel room with empty bottles and the way he conveys the emotion of being stuck in a rut but ultimately thinking " fuck it ..I'm gonna keep on going " that's fantastic writing . To even think of writing " Big Balls " is just hilarious, he had that cheeky humour that in the hands of another writer would have come across as pervy but it was like Bon was winking at you as if to say " we're having a laugh " That trio of the young brothers and Bon was just dynamite .After his passing for me the dynamics weren't the same .They still did some great songs after that but the albums started to have filler tracks on them. People used to piss me off when they called ACDC a heavy metal band ...the Bon era was a hard rock and roll band made up of rock mixed with sublime blues playing
@@brendancronin3796 You've summed up my feelings too. I love the early Johnson albums, but Bon was something else! AC/DC have never gotten near his lyrical content since his death. The man was insanely good at writing, singing and entertaining!
Thanks dude, I really appreciate that you learned and played everything; this is good music, must be nice to know you can demonstrate the difference between Angus' and Malcolm's vibrato! All the best.
Haha! Great question. But seriously, Mal's rhythm playing is like no one else. It's SO in the pocket, it's like funk! Maybe he just sensed that he needed to be driving...
@@Tedanson There is a lot there to be said on B.B. He’s pretty much the only exception to the rule, and in some ways not even. He only got away with it because he’s also an iconic singer. Pretty much the only iconic guitarist you could mention that (arguably) stopped playing traditional rhythm at all. He COULD easily have played traditional rhythm if he wanted to. Nobody with that much feel is incapable of playing rhythm guitar. In fact, his fills are a type of call and response rhythm. He’s more of a singer/frontman/instrumentalist than a guitarist. He approached guitar like a saxophone or a trumpet. In that way, he’s not really a guitarist. He’s a singing horn player that uses a guitar.
@@TheMasonator777 That put it perfectly. He had troubles with playing bar chords though probably because he had big fingers and it would get crowded especially on an electric guitar neck.
omg, YES. Thanks so much Danny. This is GOLD. Thanks for mentioning the stuff he did on Tales of Old Grandaddy.. I have had so much joy in listening for the young Young brothers on those recordings, and what an album...!
I got that album many years ago, the 1979 vinyl reissue that is just titled Marcus Hook Roll Band. I thought it was a local band at first, as there is a Marcus Hook near me in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It's an obscure rarity here, but I've always cherished my copy. Some great tracks on it!
He played lead on Evie, his older brother said "Get Malcolm to Play the Solo" Evie was Stevie Wright's massive hit in Australia and is one of the greatest Rock tracks in History. No Question. Here is Evie Parts 1 2 3 with Malcolm on Lead Guitar...this production was basically mostly the Youngs and Stevie was another Scottish Blooded Aussie. The solo is at 1 : 58. But if you have never heard it prepare to be mind blown. This is Aussie Rock, bred in the pubs at its best. th-cam.com/video/8Hj8BRV8Jls/w-d-xo.html
Part 1 has always been one of my absolute favourite tunes. A real 'awakening' for me as a kid. By the way, the lead guitar on Part 3 was played by Harry Vanda according to Wikipedia.
I think you’ll find that the original recording of Can I Sit Next To You Girl with Dave Evans on vocals has both brothers on lead (check out the original intro, as well as the first half of the solo; it’s distinctly Malcolm’s style. The B-side, Rockin’ In The Parlour also has Malcolm on lead, especially near the end. Also Can’t Stand Still from Stiff Upper Lip has a distinctly Malcolm flavoured solo too.
You're spot on about the original version of Can I Sit Next To You Girl, although, it's only a single line at the beginning of the guitar solo. The intro isn't technically 'lead' playing. Mal is simply sustaining chordal tones high on the neck whilst Angus answers with improvised licks. I don't believe Can't stand Still is Mal. I know many people say it is. But it definitely sounds like Angus to me. BUT... Rockin' In The Parlour - you've opened my eyes to another Malcolm lead on this one!! Thank you so much. Love that tone!
@@dannyeddyguitar in the end, it was the Maximum Rock ‘N’ Roll biography that claims Can’t Stand Still is Mal’s playing, but outside of that, it’s not been officially verified. In the end, it could very well be Angus. Thanks mate.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@@dannyeddyguitar I know I'm late to the game here, but I'm going to add a little more fuel to the fire of Mal playing the lead on "Can't Stand Still". I have recently finished re-reading Jeff Apter's book on George Young, which does mention the Stiff Upper Lip sessions, as it was the last time George produced Acca Dacca. According to Apter, George issued the challenge for Mal to play the lead on that track, which he did. To my ears, the playing doesn't seem as fluid as Angus's usually does, and incorporates a lot of the double stops and trilling that are hallmarks of Mal's lead playing. Bear in mind it had been a good thirty years since Mal last played lead on record, so during that period his lead technique most likely evolved, even though he never played lead publicly. Maybe it is Mal?
9/2023: Love your audience! Heartbreaking shame that Malcolm died. The Brothers were very special. Thank You for this wonderful video. Beautiful Playing on your part. Best Regards to You and Yours.
Thank you so much, Tim! They were indeed so special. I think many people play down AC/DC's talent because they - cleverly - have such broad appeal. But to my mind, they were the pinnacle of a genre that contains a legion of distant seconds!
Many lifelong ACDC know it all gurus don't know that that many of the lead fills played by Angus were started by Mal..yes Mal was quite a notable lead guitarist with his own creative seeds.. underestimated. Very much so.. being the rhythm guitarist he was able to keep an eyes and ears better focused.. and ppl thought he was just a backseat rhythm guitarist...AC DC on stage was under Malcolm's constant observation, Malcolm' was still giving Angus lead guitar parts and outlined drumming rhythm ideas up until just before Black Ice.. during this tour,Mal was beginning to show signs of mental decline...Miss the writing genius of Malcolm ...the man who brought the world a fresh angle and sound ifRock and Roll.. Thanks a million AC DC and company...
Danny, what a superb video! I commend and thank you. I had no idea Mal played the solo on Evie pt 1l. I knew he was at the sessions (and apparently played on stage with Stevie in the ~1974 Sydney Opera House show, NOT the 1978 one where there’s video), but didn’t know he soloed. As for Gone Shootin’, I wonder if people are referring to the outro. There’s that really funky bit when the song is fading. To my ear, it’s Ang, but I wonder because it’s so rhythmical if that’s why people suppose it’s Mal… There’s a cool interview with the recently late Stuart Fraser talking about jamming with Mal in the 70s, where Stuart was impressed with Mal’s solos and said “why don’t you play lead on some AC/DC songs?”, and Mal immediately shut him down saying “AC/DC only has one lead guitarist”. I really enjoyed this, Danny, thank you very much!
Malcolm was my idol and what got into playing guitar back in the late 70s along with Ace. Angus was awesome but there is just something about Malcolm standing in the background just jamming doing his thing.
Angus doing the pick tapping in 1973 might have been something he picked up from Jimmy page . Page used to pick tap during the live heaaetbreker solos and Angus did attend a show from zeppelins 1972 Aussie tour . He did say page was a huge influence but preferred him with yardbirds . He was not a fan of Plants vocals though. Eddie Van Halen also said the first time he saw someone pick tap was page doing it live during Heartbreaker
Just watched this! Love it. Great to hear an Aussie accent in this space. Forensic guitar analysis, and you are so talented to be able to demonstrate each player. Your little assistant even has your hair😊🤣. Rock on🎸🔥
There’s one story I’ve heard that I wondered about for years, but it’s not about who played what. I read once in a guitar magazine that during the sessions for the earliest AC/DC albums (High Voltage, TNT and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap), there were only three guitars in the studio during the sessions: Mal’s Gretsch, Angus’ SG and (and this is the one that I’m unsure of) a Fender Telecaster set up like Keith Richards’ main guitar (Humbucker in the neck position and single coil in the bridge), that was used as a spare. Has anyone else heard about this particular story?
Not sure about that one mate. Jeff Apter's book does talk about Mal's guitar and when he acquired it (68). Both Mal and Angus had their Gretsch Jet and Gibson SG guitars well before recording the 1st album.
@@dannyeddyguitar That’s the thing: nobody said if it belonged to the studio and was just there, or the producers brought it in just in case it was needed (and there was no mention in the story of it ever making it on to any of the original albums, so it may not have been used) or if Malcolm had it as a spare for the studio. It was only mentioned as being in the studio for the sessions for those albums. And I know that Mal got his Gretsch from either his brother, George or George’s bandmate/music partner Harry…one of the two, and read Angus bought his somewhere.
For all those new to guitar, the Pentatonic scale is different from the blues scale. The Pentatonic scale has five notes and usually soloing is done on Pentatonic minor. The blues scale has six notes: all the Pentatonic minor notes plus an extra note (4th note) which is the third note sharp or fourth note flat.
Always heard Mal played the little lover solo, which I gotta say, sounds so much like Angus…the one handed hammer on’s, the attack, the vibrato, and his tone. But multiple ppl in the know have said that it’s Malcolm so I guess gotta believe that. His licks on all the jailbreak ‘74 stuff, is def cool and you can tell it’s 2 guys playing lead.
@@dannyeddyguitar your demonstration has actually made me stick to my original theory that it’s angus. It’s just weird that Angus would say it was his brother, knowing angus wasn’t a drunk or druggie, he’d probably remember correctly. But I trust my ears, and so I agree with you, it’s angus
I had a guitar teacher years ago that broke Malcolm down into two parts. 1.) He wrote all the music for the band so he wanted to focus on other things. 2.) The more controversial (will probably set some of you off and that’s not the intent) Malcolm really liked to drink and had an alcohol problem which he struggled with for a long time.
@@dannyeddyguitar Malcolm was the engine of the band, and so intellegent, didn't suffer fools gladly and he knew always what was best for the band. Angus admired him very much. They wern't bothered by stardom, to them it was the music and the fans that mattered. Malcolm was respected by everyone in the music industry, and of course Malcolm could play solos.
im 48. in 1980.. I was 6 years old. My family had just moved to a new town and one of the neighborhood kids had records at his house. I was over at his house and he played back in black for me. It had just been released. I was 6!! so it was really the first time I heard anything like that. my parents only listened to church music in the house. Still to this day... I maintain that it was the most profound impact on my brain when it comes to music, And still to this day... when I hear mal and angus' guitar and phil's drums.... it hits me right in that sweet spot... just like when I was 6!! Rip malcolm! Rip Bon. Thank you Acdc for changing lives for the better with your music! ACDC for life!
It's funny I came across this video today, I write music reviews or articles revolving around old school Rock 'n' roll and heavy metal. I had just got done writing a piece speculating about Malcolm Young playing lead guitar. I have never known for sure, but now I do! Awesome video man! 🤘🏼
Regarding the Angus style solo on an Malcom style tone in Show business - I could believe it could be Angus on Mal's Gretsch. I don't know if it was the case in these early days of High Voltage, but Mal ran with a heavy set of .012 in AC/DCs later years, and Angus ran a light set of .009s. Doing Angus's vibrato on a heavy set of strings would be much harder.
Angus does a pick tap at the end of his solo on Let There Be Rock & when I picked up that album new in the the USA "import" bin in 77 (?) it took me forever to realize what he was doing! LOL Gotta love them Young Brothers! Acca Dacca, the most underrated Band ever! AC/DC FOREVER & LONG LIVE ROCK n ROLL!
True! He does. Although, it's more of a random noise, as opposed to using tapping to add melody notes. But thanks for alerting me to that moment - I'd missed it!
You can see on the old Dave evans can I sit next to you girl video that mal is defiantly playing a solo, they are trading licks in the intro and then in the main solo, ang starts and plays when the rhythm guitars are on D and when they go to that single string riff on G, mal is soloing. And then at the end of the solo Malcolm plays what angus plays but two octaves higher! Also I think I found and some other newer songs that mal plays lead for example:the outro solo of hell or high water because you can hear it from the left channel and it has the style and tone of him (or I think so!) and I think he is playing the double stops on the song anything goes and ang does that bend (you can hear it clearly in the intro)(oh and I don’t thrust the video clip on this one). Mal is amazing!!!
In the solo of gone shootin’ , Malcolm’s doing the solo until the 3 minute mark when you hear 4 snare hits, then Angus is doing the solo. In the first part it’s slower, a little bit sloppier and mostly pentatonics without any Angus’s vibrato while the second part is tighter, faster and you can clearly hear Angus’s vibratos and tone. You can also hear the rhythm guitar changes tone at the 3 minutes mark.
Wow! This is a great comment. I'm inclined to agree with you on this - but I didn't pick it up when I first listened, because the guitar/distortion/amp tone and the position in the mix is all the same. I just thought Angus started his solo kinda shaky. But, I'm prepared to go with you on this, Sam. Thanks so much!
Came here because of AC/DC,stayed because of how interesting and high quality this video is (and also because of that cutee baby). You earned my subscription just continue making high quality videos 💜
Surely Can I Sit Next to You Girl was a non-album single with Dave Evans and then re-recorded with Bon for T.N.T. Very minor issue. There's a great video of a pre-concert warm-up in the rooms from somewhere Mid-west America on the (I recall) For Those About to Rock tour with some fantastic blues lead being played, unfortunately the camera is not busy showing which brother is auditioning for Howlin' Wolf..
He could probably have done it at least as well as angus. But a band is more than one and family is family. Privilege to have grown up listening to them.
Great video Danny. I remember hearing Angus reply to an interviewer's question, "What do you think about being labeled as one of the best guitarists of all time?" with "I'm not even the best guitarist in AC/DC."
Wow! Is there footage? I had a quick look and could only find Rock Me Baby, where Angus plays some lead with Keef, but Mal just keeps chugging that boogie riff.
@@dannyeddyguitar that's the right gig but it was before it as the sound checks were happening. I have looked on hear for it but no luck but I do have it on DVD. I will fish it out and up load it send you a link.
Hi, I'm a big AC/DC fan and an amateur guitarist. Sorry if my English is not correct but it is rusty from the school and I use the computer translator you already know how it works lol. I have a lot of musical influences within rock and heavy metal. But AC/DC is the band that defined my passion for the instrument and sound with distortion. I really liked the analysis you did, with all that music theory that I don't fully understand. As I say, I am an amateur musician who plays by ear and has little learned music theory. For me it's simpler. I think Malcolm could play as many solos as he wanted. If it is true that his style, his personality is softer and Angus is more energetic. I think that because of the development of things, and how the character of Angus grew up (that furious schoolboy who does not stop running and jumping while playing his guitar) for the show, they themselves decided to accommodate Malcolm to play the rhythm guitar and give him the feeling, while Angus gave him the fury ... And as far as you can see, they didn't do badly. Best regards!
Thanks for the great in depth piece. Someone has probably already commented, but I love the patent drawing of a Mosrite guitar at 3:17 into the video. I own 5 of these classics including a bound Ventures model built in 1985 and signed by Semie Mosely on the headstock (he put several coats of clear on top) that says "Mosrite Forever Semie Mosely '85". I put medium jumbo frets and humbuckers on one of my "60's era Ventures models that had a bit of wear and tear-which definitely transformed it into a modern weapon!
Wow! That's so cool. I didn't give it much thought to be perfectly honest. I just wanted a 'blue-print-y' looking pic to represent a scientific breakdown of the topic. Your collection sounds awesome!
all I can say is once you see AC/DC live it will change you forever this band will be known as one of the greatest of all times. long after other bands fad off into a distant memory AC/DC will still be rocking.
I saw AC/DC in the 80's and when when they did Shoot to Thrill" Angus broke a string. He turned around and Malcolm stepped up... minus the chords... just the rhythm section. Angus gets another guitar and looks at his brother with a big shit eating grin.
Malcolm Young isn’t just one of, if not the best, rhythm guitarists EVER, he’s one of the best guitarists ever. Absolutely the brains and genius behind AC/DC
Starting 3:27, what's that delay on guitar 1? Slapback echo? Just one repeat or a little more? Delay time? -- Thx, really enjoyed this clip and your playing
Thanks so much! That slapback echo is a Tape Delay model in Logic. Set to 150 ms. Feedback set at 16%. Wet Output set at 46% (Dry, 100%) Modulation controls up pretty high to make it sound extra 'Tapey'!
Another one that I suspect is the first little solo in ‘Ride On’ the tone doesn’t sound like an SG and the attack is more subtle than Angus. That said it is always Angus live.
That's an interesting comment, because I've always just automatically presumed that it's Angus playing something appropriate for the vibe of the song. But... maybe...
Ha ha. I lived your views and your enthusiasm. I am trusting your words. As for your Les Paul, I am unfamiliar with that one. I am thinking 'Studio' or something having a flat top, a 'Special'? Ha, I had to laugh, as you mentioned you not having a Gretsch or SG, which I have both, and a Les Paul Supreme and several Gretsch hollow body, acoustic, solid body, guitjo, and resonator. You are an exvellent guitarist yourself and I wish I could play like that. I didn't buy all my guitars, they came to me. So... I am very lucky that way.
Thanks Matthew. Gee whizz mate, I'd LOVE some nice guitars to 'come to me'! How do you manifest that sort of outcome?? That guitar is a Gibson 'The Paul' also known as a Firebrand.
There is a live video of show business on youtube and it does show malcolm young soloing on it. Not sure why he stepped away from soloing. He was good. Maybe it was just to conserve time in the studio. Y&T was the same way. Joey Alves used to solo early on but stopped as well. He never mentioned why either.
I was in a remote part of Mexico and heard perfect Dire Straits on guitar coming from a little bar. It was Jack Sonni, Mark Knopfler is rhythm guitarist who must you don’t realize plays a lot of his guitar parts when he’s singing. I got to jam, blues harmonica with him.
Great video. Yes I have read that book. As still a school kid with bad teeth, Angus exclaimed to his leader brother, "So what am I supposed to do?" To which Mal replied, "Just go f*&king crazy!". Angus still has the memo to this day..
This is a great video on the human metronome, Malcolm Young! A man who put the rhythm in the term rhythm guitar. I have loved this band since before I made my sister take her 5th grade brother to see his 1st rock concert, right outside Heidelberg, Germany. It just so happened that my two favorite bands were playing on the same ticket. It was AC/DC touring for “Highway to Hell” and Judas Priest supporting with “Unleashed in the East” (I realize that was a live album, but that was the artwork the used for posters so…). She walked away enjoying 1 of the 2, but it was not enough to stop her incessant playing of Barbra Streisand's record that featured “Evergreen” (This record so traumatized me that I can't bear even looking it up to see the details of the album! It was the bane of my existence! ARRGH!) As an aside and after noticing your prominently displayed copy of one of the boys' least popular albums, I think “Flick of the Switch” is one of their best guitar albums the band ever composed. It also highlighted just how many times Brian could say “you” at the end of songs on the same album without anyone noticing! What is your take on "Flick of the Switch"?
This is my favourite type of comment. I've read and reread your tale! I love the thought that discussing the intricacies of the music of AC/DC can generate connections across the globe. Thanks for sharing!
PS great playing!! I listened to this in the car without watching the video and I seriously thought you had isolated the lead guitar and put an acoustic underneath!
I truly believe that Angus was the showman and Malcolm just sat back happy to lay down the rhythm. Not everyone wants to play lead and Malcom's rhythm is ACDC. RIP Malcolm Young. But as for the band? They just did thier thing. And it worked really well.
@@dannyeddyguitar I know. So thank you and go have a drink on me for your reply. Not everyone that plays wants to be in the spotlight. Lemmy was a hell of a bassist and played it like a guitar. From what I heard his Mike was up and his eyes closed because he was an Introvert Psychologically. Pertaining to ACDC Angus dresses like a schoolboy. Alter ego???. Hmm. Hell Mick Mars from Motley Crue I haven't ever heard two shits from him. So yeah some prefer to be heard but not in the limelight. Me personally as a gig musician? My head is down and my hair hides my face. Both guitar and bass. So I get why we never heard much about Malcom. So good and always stood back. And just busted out the rhythm. And probably didn't even like doing the background vocals. Let him be and rest in peace. What a guitar god.
@@dannyeddyguitar Well dude. I don't know about all that. But I am a deep thunker fo sho. LOL. But let me put it this way. I have played lead guitar in bands. I hated it. I preferred rhythm guitar. Now play bass and more than ecstatic to hang my hair in my face and just lay down strong bass lines. No one needs to know that much about me. Don't even want to noodle on bass solos. Just wanna play because that is MY THING. It's fun. It was probably Malcolm's thing too. Just making a living playing music. So let Malcom Rest in Peace. We all know everything about him from Angus. And we all know he was a bad ass axman. If he wanted everyone to know anything about him then we would have heard more from him. Right? So now Malcom is gone and just respect his talent.
The outro of the song Little Lover was always a favorite of mine of Malcolm playing lead. Till this day that moment in the song gives me goosebumps and a tear in my eye as it fades off into silence.
Nice analysis and recreation of the leads. However... Soul Stripper... In the live situation, it's just Angus playing all those leads in a row, very similar to the album's solos. I think for the album they just let Angus record both sides seperately. For the stereo effect. Or he made the individual parts up in the studio. Even brother George could have done a run or two. Rob
G'day Rob. Thanks mate. I hear what you're saying, and whilst I can't absolutely discount George, after transcribing and learning, I can't tell you it's definitely not all Angus. The playing begins to sound very different, the more you listen.
I think the guys found their place in the band by working together, they found the thing that worked.they are ace players, all of them, in my humble opinion, and they found the sweet spot. This is just the opinion of a fan, nothing more
That 1st lead solo you played IS the Bedlam Bedrock and Basement of all every AC/DC Rhythm & Lead henceforth. (PERIOD) (I wrote this barely 1 minute into this video mind you)
Great breakdown!! Just one small correction: that Little Lover solo isn't two-hand tapping, it's fast hammer-ons and pull-offs. You can hear it more definitively in the clips of them playing that song live. It's a fast lick, but there's a lot of other examples of Angus' left-hand hammer-on speed. I'm thinking of the studio version of Dirty Deeds, the descending lick in the breakdown of The Jack live, or the lick towards the end of Dog Eat Dog live.
Thanks, Mr Mustard! Yeah, I could totally believe that might be all left hand in Little Lover. But if you listen close to the studio version, the F, F# and G notes all have that 'pick-tapped' sound. Like, it's more edgy than just the flesh of a finger. You're probably right though. Maybe Angus's callouses are rock hard haha!
I remember Angus was interviewed after he passed away and I think it was that interview he said: “Mal could do everything I could with the guitar, but I couldn’t do everything he could” And it’s so true. In a lot of ways Rhythm guitar is actually harder than lead. Because to keep rhythm you can’t make a mistake. Unlike lead you are constantly changing notes, so fast mistakes can be masked especially if using distortion etc. and Mals playing was perfection without any mistakes. Think about it: everyone commonly thinks of the intro to thunderstruck to be “ohhhh ahhhh wow” but in 10 mins you can learn the sequence of notes and play hammer ons and get a similar sound. When you finally learn the sequence, you can alternate pick all those notes and in a few hours you sound decent. Alternate picking that is no joke. Especially for minutes straight, and it will take weeks of practice before it’s close to the original sound. But- what people miss is the opening rhythm Mal played. Essentially a bar chord where his hand stayed in place- but he made a sequence of notes by creating a sequence of up down up picks of different strings on that same chord. And when you spend days on end memorizing just the down/ups to that sequence, you aren’t even remotely close to sounding like that original tune and rhythm. And to do it for a few minutes straight no mistakes! Well you’ll see that it’s just extremely hard, it was genius with no flaws. And probably the hardest part to the song.
This comment encompasses precisely what I think of Angus and Mal. Your thoughts regarding Thunderstruck mirror something that I have told EVERY single student that has ever asked to learn that intro. Mal's part is one of the hardest things to play well - especially for that duration. And to be brutally honest, a lot of the song would be nothing without Mal's part! Most people that think it's easy to play, simply don't realise that their rhythm playing sucks. (Not all - there are definitely people out there who inherently play rock solid rhythm. Sadly, not enough. And even more sadly, not many seem to dedicate the time to practicing rhythm that they would put into learning the notes to a solo.)
I have no idea how proficient a lead guitarist Malcolm was, but I agree about Angus mixing scales. His solos are very melodic, and could very easily have come from Country songs.
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
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Angus was once asked how it feels to be one of the best guitarists in the world. He laughed and said, I'm not even the best guitar player in this band. That says it all (and speaks volumes about how humble a guy he is)
I love his humility!
I've heard Angus say it. Such a fitting compliment to Malcolm.
pretty much what lennon said about ringo. wouldn't read too much into it.
@@toddinthemiddle That makes no sense at all. You can't make a self-effacing comment about somebody else.
Did he not say once that Mal could do what he does but he can’t do what Mal does? 🤔 Sure i heard Angus say that.
When your rhythm guitarist can be a secret weapon lead it's a beautiful trick to have up your sleeve
Thanks Leo.
real
From everything I've researched (including a lot of the books you mentioned), Angus becoming the permanent lead had less to do with guitar talent and more to do with stage presence. Malcolm was a very shrewd businessman. He knew that the schoolboy running all around would be a golden ticket to selling out concerts. Plus AC/DC was Malcolm's band. Angus always followed his brother behind the scenes, so if Mal said "You're the lead now," Angus was.
I agree - almost - entirely! Yes, Malcolm was shrewd, the boss, the big brother. But I do believe Angus to be a better improviser with a truly original sound to his playing. Thanks for weighing in Josh!
This. Angus is such a tornado of entertainment he’s more of a frontman than their frontmen. The entire band moves back when not singing so Ang can just eat the stage. But I tell you what, I think they are both incredibly talented individuality and yet are a unit in AC/DC. Like fraternal twins…musical twins. Together they were even greater than the sum of their parts, imo.
K B F I remember reading where Bruce Howe the bass player from Fraternity was commenting on the musical interplay between Angus and Malcolm. I think it might have been when Bon was auditioning for AC/DC but he said it was incredible and that those guys Angus and Malcolm were like telepathic! Definitely such great interplay between the two of them and having grown up together and learning licks from each other really helped shape their sound I'm sure 👍
@@jonathanhudak2059 There are videos on here of Malcolm isolated in the songs so you can clearly hear what’s him and it was enlightening.
You’re correct ACDC was Malcolm’s band a lot of people don’t know that Angus was the last to join the original ACDC line up.
I like the story of Malcolm writing the riff to Back in Black and Angus saying he thinks he never got the descending lead lick quite right from Mal's original recording!
Would love to hear that demo!
@@dannyeddyguitar oh boy I hope they release that one day!
I, also, can't quite play it right. It's small timimg issue that makes a huge difference.
Anyone who’s read about AC/DC knows that Malcolm was the brains behind the band. He put Angus on lead because he had a gift for it.
He had a gift alright, and Mal knew that very well. Excellent decision
Succinct!
Now THAT'S what you call brotherly love....
and that he taught and showed angus how to do most of them.. he clearly could.. just never wanted that attention
Absolutely right
Malcom played lead on some of their VERRRRY early (like ‘74/early ‘75) songs. Their song, “Show Business”, is one example of Malcom playing lead. He was an absolutely incredible lead player and an even better rhythm player! Angus had the edge on him in terms of lead playing, but honestly not by a huge gap; Malcom was a VERY well-rounded guitarist.
Cheers Brian.
Brian Taylor 2.0 can't agree more with you! 👍
Soul Stripper is one of my favorite solos of all time
All you did was repeat what was said in the video…
Lead solo at 2:30 on Show Business is Malcolm. He plays the solo in You Ain't Got a Hold on Me, and the duel on Soul Stripper begins with Mal and alternates.
That kid is blessed to live in a house with music..all children deserve that kind of life…Outstanding
Thanks for watching!
Could Malcom play lead? Yes, however as Jimi explained, the world is full of lead guitar players, but the rhythm is the thing.
Rhythm is the thing. Rhythm is the KING! Thanks for checking it out.
A great rhythm player is like a great bass player. They can push or drag the rhythm, or stay in the pocket, and they make or break a song. It's way harder to be great at that than to be great at lead, but then this particular band wouldn't exist without both players.
I agree. John Lennon was a hot rhythm player but couldn’t play lead really
Mal could play a solo but his solos sound 'cleaner' and more methodical/conventional to me whereas Angus solos sound more daring and menacing. It's not that I don't like Mal's solos, but I think Angus solos really do compliment the sound of the band better.
Well said. Yeah Angus plays SO aggressively. It's always intense!
You nailed that soul stripper duel. Such an awesome song. Great breakdown of the brothers playing.
Thanks kindly, Drew!
Great breakdown. I’m a lifelong crazy AC/DC fan and while I was pretty sure I knew who was doing what on Aussie High Voltage/74 Jailbreak here in the States, you really distilled the parts for us. Very cool. Also, that 78 bootleg from Nashville is excellent and maybe my favorite version of Gone Shootin. There is no question that Mal is the Rhythm and Angus lead on all part of this song. They also only play the same part together in the pre-chorus. It’s one of my favorite all time songs period.
Thanks Dale! Yeah, I'd almost forgotten about Gone Shootin' - brilliant song! So glad to get the approval of such a super-fan.
Some of my favorite Malcolm moments come from the "Live at Atlantic" recordings. He does so much cool shit on it that, to me, he was the best thing on the album. The whole band was at the top of the game.
I'm gonna revisit that, Scott. Thanks!
@@dannyeddyguitar Listen particularly what he does in "The Jack". It is so tasty!
Yeah it's probably my favourite live recording in Bons era. The polite clapping at the beginning of the set, to the full blown roar from the small studio audience at the end. It showed just what unbelievably good performers they were. Just blistering from start to finish.
@@groggyk I'll never forget the first time I heard it. They played it in it's entirety on KMET-Los Angeles in 1981 without any commercials. I thought I died and went to heaven because I just got into AC/DC 6 months prior. It was such a great musical moment for me. I looked for years to find it to no avail and it finally came out in the Bonfire box set.
Loved his re-entry to "Rocker" and the way the two of them played off each other
Malcom & Angus worked on lead solos & riffs together in the studio, but it was Angus who took them to the stage, Malcolm stuck mainly to rhythm on stage, but they were equally proficient!
Yeah man! Thanks for checking it out and commenting.
I bought the red Australian High Voltage album in a used record store in Boston in 1984 and I learned all the solos. I had read that Malcolm also played lead in the early days and after learning the solos I could tell which ones he played on. Besides the different guitar sound and looser vibrato, Malcolm also favors using chord tones while Angus seems less concerned with that. Listen to You Ain't Got A Hold On Me, and you can hear that the notes Malcolm plays correspond to the chords underneath more directly than Angus typically does. Also, Mal plays the guitar solo on the very first AC/DC recording, Rockin' In The Parlour, and he emphasizes chord tones in that solo as well. What an incredible guitar player and songwriter he was. I'm 55 years old, I've heard Back In Black a zillion times and I still get goosebumps when I hear it.
Thanks John. Yes, I found that too - the more I figured out, the easier it became to tell who was who. That's a great observation that Malcolm uses more chord tones. Although, I noticed on Show Business which is in E, he plays the typical G to G# lick - but does it over the A chord. To me, this is the sort of thing that a soloist of Angus' calibre doesn't do. Also agree that Back in Black still generates spinal shivers!!
Fantastic discussion! Loved this episode and had heard about his supposed playing on several earlier AC/DC songs. Now you have erased any doubt in my mind. Your playing of these solos and guitar parts was spot on and sounded just like the real thing, thank you!! No doubt about it Malcom and Angus are both fantastic players
Thanks for watching, Jonathon. Glad you liked it!
He and Cliff Williams had a role they played it like no act ever did flawless
Thanks for watching and commenting Scott!
Status quos rick parfitt and Alan lancaster come very close too
The brothers just complemented each other perfectly, and I think Mal was just happy to stand back and play and let Angus have the limelight, Angus is perfect for that
Nailed it!
Mal let Angus go out front as he wanted to concentrate on drinking..his words
The reason? The reason is quite simple and it is the fact that Angus has more stamina and stage presence then Malcolm would care to try. Malcolm knew what he was doing when he made Angus lead guitar! It isn't that he couldn't do it, he just knew who the better fit was.
Yeah! Was Mal the band's best rhythm guitarist, or their best image-maker / direction-setter?
Angus was also a much more creative and confident lead player, he’s one of the best ever. Nothing wrong with Malcolm’s lead playing but Angus’ lead playing is legendary
I've no doubt Malcolm was a very good lead player but NOBODY can play like Angus , his controlled ferocity is just awesome .
For me the 'Let there be rock ' album was the pinnacle of rock guitar playing .Songs like the title tune and Bad boy boogie are almost perfect .He is without doubt one of the greatest to ever play.
He can attack the guitar like a whirling dervish but he can also play soulful blues like on the track 'Ride on ' .
Great comment, Brendan! And, yes, Ride On - what a CLASSIC!
@@dannyeddyguitar I'm a fan of Brian Johnston but Bon was an extremely underrated song writer and had a great voice .In the song 'Ride on ' I can actually envision a shitty hotel room with empty bottles and the way he conveys the emotion of being stuck in a rut but ultimately thinking " fuck it ..I'm gonna keep on going " that's fantastic writing .
To even think of writing " Big Balls " is just hilarious, he had that cheeky humour that in the hands of another writer would have come across as pervy but it was like Bon was winking at you as if to say " we're having a laugh "
That trio of the young brothers and Bon was just dynamite .After his passing for me the dynamics weren't the same .They still did some great songs after that but the albums started to have filler tracks on them.
People used to piss me off when they called ACDC a heavy metal band ...the Bon era was a hard rock and roll band made up of rock mixed with sublime blues playing
@@brendancronin3796 You've summed up my feelings too. I love the early Johnson albums, but Bon was something else! AC/DC have never gotten near his lyrical content since his death. The man was insanely good at writing, singing and entertaining!
@@dannyeddyguitar notable is that the early ACDC stuff was in 432hz tuning.
Malcolm played the solo on the track “Cant Stand Still” from Stiff Upper Lip in 2000 using Angus’s guitar
Thank you! I was looking to see if anyone brought this up!
Thanks dude, I really appreciate that you learned and played everything; this is good music, must be nice to know you can demonstrate the difference between Angus' and Malcolm's vibrato! All the best.
So welcome! It's just so much fun digging deep into this stuff.
This breakdown of the traded solos is AMAZING! Thank you thank you thank you. More content like this please!
Thanks Peter! Glad you liked it mate.
you captured the soul stripper tone so well.
It's all about the pick attack and that short delay.
I think a better question would be... Did Angus have the patience to play rhythm?
Haha! Great question. But seriously, Mal's rhythm playing is like no one else. It's SO in the pocket, it's like funk! Maybe he just sensed that he needed to be driving...
He does play rhythm, and incredibly well. You aren’t a guitarist if you can’t/don’t play rhythm.
@@TheMasonator777 bb king's not a guitarist?
@@Tedanson There is a lot there to be said on B.B. He’s pretty much the only exception to the rule, and in some ways not even. He only got away with it because he’s also an iconic singer. Pretty much the only iconic guitarist you could mention that (arguably) stopped playing traditional rhythm at all. He COULD easily have played traditional rhythm if he wanted to. Nobody with that much feel is incapable of playing rhythm guitar. In fact, his fills are a type of call and response rhythm. He’s more of a singer/frontman/instrumentalist than a guitarist. He approached guitar like a saxophone or a trumpet.
In that way, he’s not really a guitarist. He’s a singing horn player that uses a guitar.
@@TheMasonator777 That put it perfectly. He had troubles with playing bar chords though probably because he had big fingers and it would get crowded especially on an electric guitar neck.
omg, YES. Thanks so much Danny. This is GOLD. Thanks for mentioning the stuff he did on Tales of Old Grandaddy.. I have had so much joy in listening for the young Young brothers on those recordings, and what an album...!
Thanks man! You're always so generous with your feedback. I truly appreciate it. I hadn't even heard of that 'Tales' album until researching for this!
I got that album many years ago, the 1979 vinyl reissue that is just titled Marcus Hook Roll Band. I thought it was a local band at first, as there is a Marcus Hook near me in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It's an obscure rarity here, but I've always cherished my copy. Some great tracks on it!
The lilting rhythm he played on Thunderstruck is preposterously excellent.
Yes! And preposterously hard to maintain for that long!
He played lead on Soul Stripper Can I sit next to you and show Business and he played some licks here and there on all the other albums
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Daniel.
I always heard Mal played some lead, but this is awesome! Very detailed and informative and it helps me know what to listen for next time! 🤘🤘🤘
Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it.
He played lead on Evie, his older brother said "Get Malcolm to Play the Solo"
Evie was Stevie Wright's massive hit in Australia and is one of the greatest Rock tracks in History.
No Question.
Here is Evie Parts 1 2 3 with Malcolm on Lead Guitar...this production was basically mostly the Youngs and Stevie was another Scottish Blooded Aussie.
The solo is at 1 : 58.
But if you have never heard it prepare to be mind blown.
This is Aussie Rock, bred in the pubs at its best.
th-cam.com/video/8Hj8BRV8Jls/w-d-xo.html
Part 1 has always been one of my absolute favourite tunes. A real 'awakening' for me as a kid.
By the way, the lead guitar on Part 3 was played by Harry Vanda according to Wikipedia.
Malcom played the Australian version of Little lover solo but taught it to Angus, he also played the solo on Can i sit next to you girl
Thanks, Deklan
I think you’ll find that the original recording of Can I Sit Next To You Girl with Dave Evans on vocals has both brothers on lead (check out the original intro, as well as the first half of the solo; it’s distinctly Malcolm’s style. The B-side, Rockin’ In The Parlour also has Malcolm on lead, especially near the end. Also Can’t Stand Still from Stiff Upper Lip has a distinctly Malcolm flavoured solo too.
You're spot on about the original version of Can I Sit Next To You Girl, although, it's only a single line at the beginning of the guitar solo. The intro isn't technically 'lead' playing. Mal is simply sustaining chordal tones high on the neck whilst Angus answers with improvised licks.
I don't believe Can't stand Still is Mal. I know many people say it is. But it definitely sounds like Angus to me.
BUT... Rockin' In The Parlour - you've opened my eyes to another Malcolm lead on this one!! Thank you so much. Love that tone!
@@dannyeddyguitar in the end, it was the Maximum Rock ‘N’ Roll biography that claims Can’t Stand Still is Mal’s playing, but outside of that, it’s not been officially verified. In the end, it could very well be Angus. Thanks mate.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@@dannyeddyguitar I know I'm late to the game here, but I'm going to add a little more fuel to the fire of Mal playing the lead on "Can't Stand Still". I have recently finished re-reading Jeff Apter's book on George Young, which does mention the Stiff Upper Lip sessions, as it was the last time George produced Acca Dacca. According to Apter, George issued the challenge for Mal to play the lead on that track, which he did. To my ears, the playing doesn't seem as fluid as Angus's usually does, and incorporates a lot of the double stops and trilling that are hallmarks of Mal's lead playing. Bear in mind it had been a good thirty years since Mal last played lead on record, so during that period his lead technique most likely evolved, even though he never played lead publicly. Maybe it is Mal?
9/2023: Love your audience! Heartbreaking shame that Malcolm died. The Brothers were very special. Thank You for this wonderful video. Beautiful Playing on your part.
Best Regards to You and Yours.
Thank you so much, Tim! They were indeed so special. I think many people play down AC/DC's talent because they - cleverly - have such broad appeal. But to my mind, they were the pinnacle of a genre that contains a legion of distant seconds!
Great video -well researched, fascinating stuff. I particularly liked the Back in Black intro scrapes as sound fx for the captions! 👍🏻
I wondered if anybody picked up on that. Great ears Mark!
Many lifelong ACDC know it all gurus don't know that that many of the lead fills played by Angus were started by Mal..yes Mal was quite a notable lead guitarist with his own creative seeds.. underestimated. Very much so.. being the rhythm guitarist he was able to keep an eyes and ears better focused.. and ppl thought he was just a backseat rhythm guitarist...AC DC on stage was under Malcolm's constant observation, Malcolm' was still giving Angus lead guitar parts and outlined drumming rhythm ideas up until just before Black Ice.. during this tour,Mal was beginning to show signs of mental decline...Miss the writing genius of Malcolm ...the man who brought the world a fresh angle and sound ifRock and Roll.. Thanks a million AC DC and company...
Thanks for offering some original thoughts on this topic, BBJ.
Danny, what a superb video! I commend and thank you. I had no idea Mal played the solo on Evie pt 1l. I knew he was at the sessions (and apparently played on stage with Stevie in the ~1974 Sydney Opera House show, NOT the 1978 one where there’s video), but didn’t know he soloed. As for Gone Shootin’, I wonder if people are referring to the outro. There’s that really funky bit when the song is fading. To my ear, it’s Ang, but I wonder because it’s so rhythmical if that’s why people suppose it’s Mal…
There’s a cool interview with the recently late Stuart Fraser talking about jamming with Mal in the 70s, where Stuart was impressed with Mal’s solos and said “why don’t you play lead on some AC/DC songs?”, and Mal immediately shut him down saying “AC/DC only has one lead guitarist”.
I really enjoyed this, Danny, thank you very much!
Thanks so much Roddy. And thanks for sharing the Chet story! I hadn't heard/read that. Wow, imagine hearing those two blokes jamming!
I love to see people so excited talking about rock n roll, specially ACDC. Great video.
Thanks for commenting, Victor. Glad you enjoyed it.
I jus always knew Malcolm could play leads too. Any player that could write all them killer riffs and tunes just had to be able to play leads.
Yes, that makes sense too. Anyone with that level of musicality and melodic sensibility can also play great leads.
Malcolm was my idol and what got into playing guitar back in the late 70s along with Ace. Angus was awesome but there is just something about Malcolm standing in the background just jamming doing his thing.
Thanks Chris! Hey, have you watched this one:
th-cam.com/video/6KwHnwIrCDM/w-d-xo.html
Angus doing the pick tapping in 1973 might have been something he picked up from Jimmy page . Page used to pick tap during the live heaaetbreker solos and Angus did attend a show from zeppelins 1972 Aussie tour . He did say page was a huge influence but preferred him with yardbirds . He was not a fan of Plants vocals though. Eddie Van Halen also said the first time he saw someone pick tap was page doing it live during Heartbreaker
I reckon you're on the money, Adam! That totally makes sense.
@@dannyeddyguitar What about Foxy Lady - Hendrix 1967 ? It was the first time I heard pick tapping. André in Sydney
@SoundzAlive1 Yeah, all roads lead to Hendrix when it comes to rock guitar.
Just watched this! Love it. Great to hear an Aussie accent in this space. Forensic guitar analysis, and you are so talented to be able to demonstrate each player. Your little assistant even has your hair😊🤣. Rock on🎸🔥
Hahaha! Great comment - thanks heaps, Paul!
There’s one story I’ve heard that I wondered about for years, but it’s not about who played what. I read once in a guitar magazine that during the sessions for the earliest AC/DC albums (High Voltage, TNT and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap), there were only three guitars in the studio during the sessions: Mal’s Gretsch, Angus’ SG and (and this is the one that I’m unsure of) a Fender Telecaster set up like Keith Richards’ main guitar (Humbucker in the neck position and single coil in the bridge), that was used as a spare. Has anyone else heard about this particular story?
Not sure about that one mate. Jeff Apter's book does talk about Mal's guitar and when he acquired it (68). Both Mal and Angus had their Gretsch Jet and Gibson SG guitars well before recording the 1st album.
@@dannyeddyguitar That’s the thing: nobody said if it belonged to the studio and was just there, or the producers brought it in just in case it was needed (and there was no mention in the story of it ever making it on to any of the original albums, so it may not have been used) or if Malcolm had it as a spare for the studio. It was only mentioned as being in the studio for the sessions for those albums. And I know that Mal got his Gretsch from either his brother, George or George’s bandmate/music partner Harry…one of the two, and read Angus bought his somewhere.
@@georgeprice4212 Yeah, definitely interesting. Would love to know if that guitar is present on any of those early tracks.
At the early gigs they had one spare guitar the top 3 strings heavy gauge for Mal and the bottom 3 strings rigged for Angus.
@@paulweston285 Wow! Did not know that!
For all those new to guitar, the Pentatonic scale is different from the blues scale. The Pentatonic scale has five notes and usually soloing is done on Pentatonic minor. The blues scale has six notes: all the Pentatonic minor notes plus an extra note (4th note) which is the third note sharp or fourth note flat.
Thanks, Abhirup
Angus often said Malcom was way ahead of himself as guitar player, even as lead player.
Angus is one humble dude
Always heard Mal played the little lover solo, which I gotta say, sounds so much like Angus…the one handed hammer on’s, the attack, the vibrato, and his tone. But multiple ppl in the know have said that it’s Malcolm so I guess gotta believe that. His licks on all the jailbreak ‘74 stuff, is def cool and you can tell it’s 2 guys playing lead.
Wha? Even after my thorough forensic investigation? You're still going against me because 'multiple ppl' said it? lol
@@dannyeddyguitar your demonstration has actually made me stick to my original theory that it’s angus. It’s just weird that Angus would say it was his brother, knowing angus wasn’t a drunk or druggie, he’d probably remember correctly. But I trust my ears, and so I agree with you, it’s angus
I had a guitar teacher years ago that broke Malcolm down into two parts.
1.) He wrote all the music for the band so he wanted to focus on other things.
2.) The more controversial (will probably set some of you off and that’s not the intent) Malcolm really liked to drink and had an alcohol problem which he struggled with for a long time.
Sounds reasonably accurate to me.
Really interesting.I learned this not for note when I started playing lead and always thought Angus was playing the intro.great review
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching and commenting.
Mal said “If I take a solo the arse end falls out.“
Of all the great quotes shared on here, this is likely the most accurate and honest.
@@dannyeddyguitar Malcolm was the engine of the band, and so intellegent, didn't suffer fools gladly and he knew always what was best for the band. Angus admired him very much. They wern't bothered by stardom, to them it was the music and the fans that mattered. Malcolm was respected by everyone in the music industry, and of course Malcolm could play solos.
@@TenMinutesLyne Thanks for that.
Dude. Where have I been? The Malcolm Young mystery was the gateway drug, and now I'm hooked🤣👌
Haha! Good news. Thanks for watching!
It's been said over the years that Malcolm could do whatever Angus could do, but Angus could not do what Malcolm did.
Have guitar just like that! THE PAUL wow , that's just the1st one I ever saw besides mine.
Yeah, they're pretty scarce!
Love this. What a guitar tone you have. Soul stripper is amazing
Thanks heaps! Yeah, the old Firebrand sounded alright that day...
im 48. in 1980.. I was 6 years old. My family had just moved to a new town and one of the neighborhood kids had records at his house. I was over at his house and he played back in black for me. It had just been released. I was 6!! so it was really the first time I heard anything like that. my parents only listened to church music in the house. Still to this day... I maintain that it was the most profound impact on my brain when it comes to music, And still to this day... when I hear mal and angus' guitar and phil's drums.... it hits me right in that sweet spot... just like when I was 6!! Rip malcolm! Rip Bon. Thank you Acdc for changing lives for the better with your music! ACDC for life!
I'm 53 and a mate played me TNT. It blew me away. Later, the You Shook Me All Night Long 45 was the 2nd piece of vinyl I ever purchased.
It's funny I came across this video today, I write music reviews or articles revolving around old school Rock 'n' roll and heavy metal. I had just got done writing a piece speculating about Malcolm Young playing lead guitar. I have never known for sure, but now I do! Awesome video man! 🤘🏼
That's so cool! Thanks Wheelchair Dude!
Thank you. Now I'm focused on learning both solos from Soul Stripper. Outstanding job
That's great to hear, Andre!
Regarding the Angus style solo on an Malcom style tone in Show business - I could believe it could be Angus on Mal's Gretsch. I don't know if it was the case in these early days of High Voltage, but Mal ran with a heavy set of .012 in AC/DCs later years, and Angus ran a light set of .009s. Doing Angus's vibrato on a heavy set of strings would be much harder.
Great comment. A definite possibility.
Angus does a pick tap at the end of his solo on Let There Be Rock & when I picked up that album new in the the USA "import" bin in 77 (?) it took me forever to realize what he was doing! LOL Gotta love them Young Brothers! Acca Dacca, the most underrated Band ever!
AC/DC FOREVER & LONG LIVE ROCK n ROLL!
True! He does. Although, it's more of a random noise, as opposed to using tapping to add melody notes. But thanks for alerting me to that moment - I'd missed it!
You can see on the old Dave evans can I sit next to you girl video that mal is defiantly playing a solo, they are trading licks in the intro and then in the main solo, ang starts and plays when the rhythm guitars are on D and when they go to that single string riff on G, mal is soloing. And then at the end of the solo Malcolm plays what angus plays but two octaves higher! Also I think I found and some other newer songs that mal plays lead for example:the outro solo of hell or high water because you can hear it from the left channel and it has the style and tone of him (or I think so!) and I think he is playing the double stops on the song anything goes and ang does that bend (you can hear it clearly in the intro)(oh and I don’t thrust the video clip on this one). Mal is amazing!!!
Thanks, SuperCo. He definitely possessed wicked lead skills right from the beginning!
In the solo of gone shootin’ , Malcolm’s doing the solo until the 3 minute mark when you hear 4 snare hits, then Angus is doing the solo.
In the first part it’s slower, a little bit sloppier and mostly pentatonics without any Angus’s vibrato while the second part is tighter, faster and you can clearly hear Angus’s vibratos and tone. You can also hear the rhythm guitar changes tone at the 3 minutes mark.
Wow! This is a great comment. I'm inclined to agree with you on this - but I didn't pick it up when I first listened, because the guitar/distortion/amp tone and the position in the mix is all the same. I just thought Angus started his solo kinda shaky. But, I'm prepared to go with you on this, Sam.
Thanks so much!
Came here because of AC/DC,stayed because of how interesting and high quality this video is (and also because of that cutee baby).
You earned my subscription just continue making high quality videos 💜
Thank you so much! I appreciate your support.
Surely Can I Sit Next to You Girl was a non-album single with Dave Evans and then re-recorded with Bon for T.N.T. Very minor issue. There's a great video of a pre-concert warm-up in the rooms from somewhere Mid-west America on the (I recall) For Those About to Rock tour with some fantastic blues lead being played, unfortunately the camera is not busy showing which brother is auditioning for Howlin' Wolf..
I'd love to see/hear that footage, if you ever stumble across it on the web...
@@dannyeddyguitar My memory may have oversold it a little.
th-cam.com/video/tfK2eDm13IY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=LV6vDEtsGbUpMaTo
Camera briefly pans to Angus playing some uncharacteristically undistorted, bluesy lead over Mal's finger-strummed rhythm. Great clip! Thanks!
Flick of the Switch in the background! The first one released after I became a fan. One of my favorites.
Yeah, I really enjoyed that lesser respected album. Although I LOVED For Those About to Rock!!
Awesome video! Really well put together and thoroughly researched.
Thanks again, Gruntle!
He could probably have done it at least as well as angus. But a band is more than one and family is family. Privilege to have grown up listening to them.
Thanks, Sean!
Great video Danny. I remember hearing Angus reply to an interviewer's question, "What do you think about being labeled as one of the best guitarists of all time?" with "I'm not even the best guitarist in AC/DC."
Love that typically humble quote!
Oh! I've just remembered as I watched your outro, Mal did play lead on stage one time with the Rollin Stones as jam. Yes he can play good lead.
Wow! Is there footage? I had a quick look and could only find Rock Me Baby, where Angus plays some lead with Keef, but Mal just keeps chugging that boogie riff.
@@dannyeddyguitar that's the right gig but it was before it as the sound checks were happening. I have looked on hear for it but no luck but I do have it on DVD. I will fish it out and up load it send you a link.
Hi, I'm a big AC/DC fan and an amateur guitarist. Sorry if my English is not correct but it is rusty from the school and I use the computer translator you already know how it works lol.
I have a lot of musical influences within rock and heavy metal. But AC/DC is the band that defined my passion for the instrument and sound with distortion. I really liked the analysis you did, with all that music theory that I don't fully understand. As I say, I am an amateur musician who plays by ear and has little learned music theory.
For me it's simpler. I think Malcolm could play as many solos as he wanted. If it is true that his style, his personality is softer and Angus is more energetic. I think that because of the development of things, and how the character of Angus grew up (that furious schoolboy who does not stop running and jumping while playing his guitar) for the show, they themselves decided to accommodate Malcolm to play the rhythm guitar and give him the feeling, while Angus gave him the fury ...
And as far as you can see, they didn't do badly. Best regards!
Thanks so much for watching and sharing your thoughts on rock's greatest brothers!
Thanks for the great in depth piece. Someone has probably already commented, but I love the patent drawing of a Mosrite guitar at 3:17 into the video. I own 5 of these classics including a bound Ventures model built in 1985 and signed by Semie Mosely on the headstock (he put several coats of clear on top) that says "Mosrite Forever Semie Mosely '85". I put medium jumbo frets and humbuckers on one of my "60's era Ventures models that had a bit of wear and tear-which definitely transformed it into a modern weapon!
Wow! That's so cool. I didn't give it much thought to be perfectly honest. I just wanted a 'blue-print-y' looking pic to represent a scientific breakdown of the topic.
Your collection sounds awesome!
Malcolm Young einer der besten Gitaristen aller Zeiten
Thanks, Frank - agreed!
all I can say is once you see AC/DC live it will change you forever this band will be known as one of the greatest of all times. long after other bands fad off into a distant memory AC/DC will still be rocking.
I've never been so lucky as to see them live.
I saw AC/DC in the 80's and when when they did Shoot to Thrill" Angus broke a string. He turned around and Malcolm stepped up... minus the chords... just the rhythm section. Angus gets another guitar and looks at his brother with a big shit eating grin.
This is a fantastic comment! What a thing to have witnessed! Thanks for sharing, Matt!
Loved the Little Lover rhythm sequence.
Thanks, David. Yeah, so good weren't they?!
i believe there is a very cool Malcolm lead break on one of the Ballbreaker tunes. Angus has the best vibrato in the business btw.
Not sure about the Ballbreaker tune? But, thoroughly agree re Angus' vibrato!
Great playing Danny.
Thanks!!
Malcolm Young isn’t just one of, if not the best, rhythm guitarists EVER, he’s one of the best guitarists ever.
Absolutely the brains and genius behind AC/DC
True story, Ash!
Starting 3:27, what's that delay on guitar 1? Slapback echo? Just one repeat or a little more? Delay time? -- Thx, really enjoyed this clip and your playing
Thanks so much! That slapback echo is a Tape Delay model in Logic. Set to 150 ms. Feedback set at 16%. Wet Output set at 46% (Dry, 100%) Modulation controls up pretty high to make it sound extra 'Tapey'!
Another one that I suspect is the first little solo in ‘Ride On’ the tone doesn’t sound like an SG and the attack is more subtle than Angus.
That said it is always Angus live.
That's an interesting comment, because I've always just automatically presumed that it's Angus playing something appropriate for the vibe of the song. But... maybe...
Little lover is awesome, Malcolm did beautiful bluesy songs
Absolutely! Thanks, @Rythm TR
Ha ha. I lived your views and your enthusiasm. I am trusting your words.
As for your Les Paul, I am unfamiliar with that one. I am thinking 'Studio' or something having a flat top, a 'Special'?
Ha, I had to laugh, as you mentioned you not having a Gretsch or SG, which I have both, and a Les Paul Supreme and several Gretsch hollow body, acoustic, solid body, guitjo, and resonator.
You are an exvellent guitarist yourself and I wish I could play like that.
I didn't buy all my guitars, they came to me. So... I am very lucky that way.
Thanks Matthew. Gee whizz mate, I'd LOVE some nice guitars to 'come to me'! How do you manifest that sort of outcome??
That guitar is a Gibson 'The Paul' also known as a Firebrand.
Soul Stripper & Baby please dont go are massivly underated in the ACDC catologue
Great tunes!
There is a live video of show business on youtube and it does show malcolm young soloing on it. Not sure why he stepped away from soloing. He was good. Maybe it was just to conserve time in the studio. Y&T was the same way. Joey Alves used to solo early on but stopped as well. He never mentioned why either.
Thanks Adam. Yes, it's interesting isn't it. I'm so fascinated by the inner workings of these figures.
All the Young brothers were great and successful musicians including George, with the Easybeats "Friday on my mind" great musical family.
Thanks, John.
I was in a remote part of Mexico and heard perfect Dire Straits on guitar coming from a little bar. It was Jack Sonni, Mark Knopfler is rhythm guitarist who must you don’t realize plays a lot of his guitar parts when he’s singing. I got to jam, blues harmonica with him.
I take your point, Richard. Great story too! Thanks, mate.
Great video. Yes I have read that book. As still a school kid with bad teeth, Angus exclaimed to his leader brother, "So what am I supposed to do?" To which Mal replied, "Just go f*&king crazy!". Angus still has the memo to this day..
Love it!!
Love the breakdown on this! Thanks! Oh, also love your kid popping in. Lol.
Thanks so much, Bryan.
I always heard that Malcolm played lead on Love Song
This is a great video on the human metronome, Malcolm Young! A man who put the rhythm in the term rhythm guitar. I have loved this band since before I made my sister take her 5th grade brother to see his 1st rock concert, right outside Heidelberg, Germany. It just so happened that my two favorite bands were playing on the same ticket. It was AC/DC touring for “Highway to Hell” and Judas Priest supporting with “Unleashed in the East” (I realize that was a live album, but that was the artwork the used for posters so…). She walked away enjoying 1 of the 2, but it was not enough to stop her incessant playing of Barbra Streisand's record that featured “Evergreen” (This record so traumatized me that I can't bear even looking it up to see the details of the album! It was the bane of my existence! ARRGH!)
As an aside and after noticing your prominently displayed copy of one of the boys' least popular albums, I think “Flick of the Switch” is one of their best guitar albums the band ever composed. It also highlighted just how many times Brian could say “you” at the end of songs on the same album without anyone noticing! What is your take on "Flick of the Switch"?
This is my favourite type of comment. I've read and reread your tale! I love the thought that discussing the intricacies of the music of AC/DC can generate connections across the globe. Thanks for sharing!
PS great playing!! I listened to this in the car without watching the video and I seriously thought you had isolated the lead guitar and put an acoustic underneath!
Wow! Thanks Jon. That's wonderful praise mate!
Danny, thanks for sharing this information !
You're most welcome! Thanks for watching.
I truly believe that Angus was the showman and Malcolm just sat back happy to lay down the rhythm. Not everyone wants to play lead and Malcom's rhythm is ACDC.
RIP Malcolm Young. But as for the band? They just did thier thing. And it worked really well.
Great comment, Dave. Cheers!
@@dannyeddyguitar I know. So thank you and go have a drink on me for your reply.
Not everyone that plays wants to be in the spotlight. Lemmy was a hell of a bassist and played it like a guitar. From what I heard his Mike was up and his eyes closed because he was an Introvert Psychologically. Pertaining to ACDC Angus dresses like a schoolboy. Alter ego???. Hmm. Hell Mick Mars from Motley Crue I haven't ever heard two shits from him.
So yeah some prefer to be heard but not in the limelight. Me personally as a gig musician? My head is down and my hair hides my face. Both guitar and bass.
So I get why we never heard much about Malcom. So good and always stood back. And just busted out the rhythm. And probably didn't even like doing the background vocals. Let him be and rest in peace. What a guitar god.
You're a deep thinker, Dave.
@@dannyeddyguitar Well dude. I don't know about all that. But I am a deep thunker fo sho. LOL.
But let me put it this way. I have played lead guitar in bands. I hated it. I preferred rhythm guitar. Now play bass and more than ecstatic to hang my hair in my face and just lay down strong bass lines. No one needs to know that much about me. Don't even want to noodle on bass solos. Just wanna play because that is MY THING. It's fun. It was probably Malcolm's thing too. Just making a living playing music. So let Malcom Rest in Peace. We all know everything about him from Angus. And we all know he was a bad ass axman.
If he wanted everyone to know anything about him then we would have heard more from him. Right?
So now Malcom is gone and just respect his talent.
Angus the king of the Minor pentatonic scale
The outro of the song Little Lover was always a favorite of mine of Malcolm playing lead.
Till this day that moment in the song gives me goosebumps and a tear in my eye as it fades off into silence.
It's beautiful!
Beautifully executed! Thanks!!!
Thank you kindly for checking it out, Mike!
Nice analysis and recreation of the leads.
However... Soul Stripper... In the live situation, it's just Angus playing all those leads in a row, very similar to the album's solos.
I think for the album they just let Angus record both sides seperately. For the stereo effect. Or he made the individual parts up in the studio.
Even brother George could have done a run or two.
Rob
G'day Rob. Thanks mate. I hear what you're saying, and whilst I can't absolutely discount George, after transcribing and learning, I can't tell you it's definitely not all Angus. The playing begins to sound very different, the more you listen.
I think the guys found their place in the band by working together, they found the thing that worked.they are ace players, all of them, in my humble opinion, and they found the sweet spot. This is just the opinion of a fan, nothing more
Yeah, it was no doubt quite organic.
That 1st lead solo you played IS the Bedlam Bedrock and Basement of all every AC/DC Rhythm & Lead henceforth. (PERIOD) (I wrote this barely 1 minute into this video mind you)
Man! That song blew my mind as a kid! I'm still playing at gigs today.
You can the Malcolm solos on the early stuff as he has a wider vibrato than Angus.
Yes. Wider and slower.
Great breakdown!! Just one small correction: that Little Lover solo isn't two-hand tapping, it's fast hammer-ons and pull-offs. You can hear it more definitively in the clips of them playing that song live. It's a fast lick, but there's a lot of other examples of Angus' left-hand hammer-on speed. I'm thinking of the studio version of Dirty Deeds, the descending lick in the breakdown of The Jack live, or the lick towards the end of Dog Eat Dog live.
Thanks, Mr Mustard! Yeah, I could totally believe that might be all left hand in Little Lover. But if you listen close to the studio version, the F, F# and G notes all have that 'pick-tapped' sound. Like, it's more edgy than just the flesh of a finger. You're probably right though. Maybe Angus's callouses are rock hard haha!
"High Voltage" (australian variant) contanes their most beautiful guitar soloes.
Yeah! Great era!
I remember Angus was interviewed after he passed away and I think it was that interview he said: “Mal could do everything I could with the guitar, but I couldn’t do everything he could”
And it’s so true. In a lot of ways Rhythm guitar is actually harder than lead. Because to keep rhythm you can’t make a mistake. Unlike lead you are constantly changing notes, so fast mistakes can be masked especially if using distortion etc. and Mals playing was perfection without any mistakes.
Think about it: everyone commonly thinks of the intro to thunderstruck to be “ohhhh ahhhh wow” but in 10 mins you can learn the sequence of notes and play hammer ons and get a similar sound.
When you finally learn the sequence, you can alternate pick all those notes and in a few hours you sound decent. Alternate picking that is no joke. Especially for minutes straight, and it will take weeks of practice before it’s close to the original sound.
But- what people miss is the opening rhythm Mal played. Essentially a bar chord where his hand stayed in place- but he made a sequence of notes by creating a sequence of up down up picks of different strings on that same chord. And when you spend days on end memorizing just the down/ups to that sequence, you aren’t even remotely close to sounding like that original tune and rhythm. And to do it for a few minutes straight no mistakes! Well you’ll see that it’s just extremely hard, it was genius with no flaws. And probably the hardest part to the song.
This comment encompasses precisely what I think of Angus and Mal. Your thoughts regarding Thunderstruck mirror something that I have told EVERY single student that has ever asked to learn that intro. Mal's part is one of the hardest things to play well - especially for that duration.
And to be brutally honest, a lot of the song would be nothing without Mal's part!
Most people that think it's easy to play, simply don't realise that their rhythm playing sucks. (Not all - there are definitely people out there who inherently play rock solid rhythm. Sadly, not enough. And even more sadly, not many seem to dedicate the time to practicing rhythm that they would put into learning the notes to a solo.)
Hey guys. The difference is that Angus can mix easily two scales in one solo like a blues guitarist. Listen to the "You Shook Me All Night Long"
I have no idea how proficient a lead guitarist Malcolm was, but I agree about Angus mixing scales. His solos are very melodic, and could very easily have come from Country songs.
Absolutely!! th-cam.com/video/prTprMXJiw4/w-d-xo.html