WATCH: Foo Fighters and Guns N’ Roses dedicate AC/DC covers to Malcolm Young
Foo Fighters and Guns N’ Roses both performed live tributes in memory of late AC/DC legend Malcolm Young at shows over the weekend.
Malcolm died aged 64 on Saturday (18th November) with his family at his bedside following a three-year battle with dementia – the devastating illness that forced him to retire from AC/DC in 2014.
Dave Grohl was one of the many rock stars who paid tribute to Malcolm on social media explaining how AC/DC’s 1980 concert film ‘Let There Be Rock’ changed his life forever.
He wrote: “Thank you, Malcolm for the songs, and the feel, and the cool, and the years of losing control to your rock and roll. I will do just that tonight, for you.”
> Thank you, Malcolm for the songs, and the feel, and the cool, and the years of losing control to your rock and roll. I will do just that tonight, for you. pic.twitter.com/dnwm1uRFqd > > — Foo Fighters (@foofighters) November 18, 2017
Hours later at the festival Corona Capital 2017 in Mexico City, Foo Fighters opened their headline set with their traditional cover of the AC/DC classic ‘Let There Be Rock’.
With a photo of Malcolm on the stage backdrop, Dave screamed to audience: "We're going to play some rock and roll for Malcolm tonight."
Watch the spine-tingling moment here:
Also on Saturday night, Guns N’ Roses dedicated their covers of Bob Dylan’s ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ and AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie’ to the iconic rhythm guitarist.
Also with an image of Malcolm emblazoned on the backdrop, Axl Rose told the Golden 1 Center crowd in Sacramento, California: “We're gonna dedicate this to Mr. Malcolm Young, who will be sorely missed by none more than his brother Angus."
Guns N’ Roses then launched into ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ and followed it up with set list regular ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’.
> This goes out to Malcolm Young.
> He will be sorely missed. pic.twitter.com/gO1mWVuDeR
>
> — Guns N' Roses (@gunsnroses) November 19, 2017
Malcolm’s younger brother Angus has guested with Guns N’ Roses six times on their ‘Not On This Lifetime… Tour’ and Axl, of course, fronted AC/DC for their European and North American shows in 2016 when Brian Johnson was ordered by doctors to quit touring or risk going deaf.
Paying tribute to Malcolm Young on Twitter, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan said: “Sincerest condolences going out to the Young family today. Malcolm Young sadly passing too soon. Love ya Angus!”
Slash wrote on Instagram: “This is a monumentally sad day in Rock n Roll. RIP #MalcomYoung Take a moment of silence in his memory.”
You can read tributes to Malcolm Young from across the rock world here.
Planet Rock will be playing AC/DC’s seminal classic album ‘Back In Black’ in its glorious entirety tonight (Monday 20th November) at 11pm in memory of Malcolm.