Although AC/DC's thundering rhythm guitarist and co-founder Malcolm Young is absent from the band's upcoming album, Power Up — he's deep within the album's spirit. Malcolm died in November 2017 at the age of 64 after suffering from dementia and failing health for several years. He retired from the band in 2014, just before the group recorded its last album, Rock Or Bust.
Lead guitarist Angus Young sorted through the miles of the brothers' untapped musical ideas to craft the songs on Power Up, and told NME, “His death was a huge blow to us. But I still think he’s there when I’m playing. It sounds funny, but I can still feel him communicating to me when I’m playing guitar.”
Frontman Brian Johnson explained, “This year has been so bad and it’s a desperate time for everyone. But this record just brings across the sheer power of rock n' roll that other music can’t reach. There’s a lot of stuff out there at the moment with loads of dancers and singers on stage and it all just seems so bubblegum-y and nice and twee. It’s just good to have a nice shot of rock n' roll.”