“AC/DC To Retire” blurted headlines all over Australia today but the entire story is based on one anonymous rumour emailed to a Perth radio station.
The story started with an anonymous person using the name ‘Thunderstuck’ emailing Perth radio station 6PR with the rumour of the band’s retirement. The radio station reported the rumour prompting a flurry of activity across Australian media then reporting the rumour as fact without confirmation from anyone from the band.
The word was founding member Malcolm Young is seriously ill as was unable to continue with the band. That, according to ‘Thunderstuck’ meant the end of AC/DC and to Australian media quickly became fact and reported as news.
UPDATE: Malcolm Young seriously ill but AC/DC not retiring
But lets think about that for one moment. In 1980 lead singer Bon Scott died. Four months later AC/DC released the Back In Black album with a new lead singer, Brian Johnson.
AC/DC continued then because, according to the band, it would have been Bon’s wish. Is it Malcolm’s wish that they break-up if he leaves?
While the Young brothers have been the one constant in AC/DC the band lists 13 names in its ex-members list.
AC/DC is not exactly a prolific group. In the past 22 years they have worked for 5. The band has been inactive since June, 2010 when they performed the last of their Black Ice shows.
The Black Ice tour grossed $441 million. AC/DC is a corporation. Regardless of the various members activity or lack of, the business will go on. The corporation does not stop when the band takes a break.
Rock writer Iain Shedden, who is known for having his finger on the pulse a bit more than ‘Thunderstuck of Perth’ wrote in The Australian after the media tsunami that AC/DC are still booked to go into the studio in Vancouver from May 1 for six weeks to work on their next album.
Right now, published stories of the break-up of AC/DC are based on unsubstantiated and unconfirmed speculation out of Perth. When official news is announced we will report the facts then.
Listen to AC/DC Radio at iHeartRadio
