Angus Young Siblings: A Look at the Musician’s Family Tree

Angus McKinnon Young, born on March 31, 1955, in Glasgow, Scotland, stands as one of the most electrifying figures in rock music history.

As the co-founder, lead guitarist, songwriter, and sole continuous member of the hard rock band AC/DC, Young has defined the sound of high-voltage guitar riffs and unrelenting energy for over five decades.

Emigrating to Sydney, Australia, with his family at the age of eight in 1963, he grew up in a household steeped in musical passion, which propelled him toward a career that transformed him into a global icon.

Renowned for his signature schoolboy uniform complete with shorts, tie, and cap, and his explosive stage antics including the iconic duckwalk inspired by Chuck Berry, Young embodies the raw, youthful rebellion at the heart of rock ‘n’ roll.

Siblings

Angus was the youngest of eight children in a tight-knit Scottish family that valued music as a cornerstone of daily life.

His parents, William Young, a former Royal Air Force mechanic turned postman, and Margaret Young, a devoted housewife, raised their children in the Cranhill district of Glasgow before relocating to Australia amid economic hardships.

Eldest brother Stephen Crawford Young mastered the piano accordion and piano and became the father of Stevie Young, who would later join AC/DC as Malcolm’s replacement.

Sister Margaret, the only girl in the family, was a fervent music enthusiast who inadvertently inspired AC/DC’s name by pointing out the AC/DC label on her sewing machine.

John Young picked up the guitar early on, while his twin brother Alexander, known as Alex, pursued a professional music career as a singer, bassist, and saxophonist, touring Europe with groups like The Bobby Patrick Big Six and later joining the London band Grapefruit.

William Young Jr. rounded out the older brothers, though he played a less prominent musical role.

George Young achieved international fame as a founding member of The Easybeats and later produced AC/DC’s early albums alongside Harry Vanda.

Closest in age to Angus was Malcolm Young, his rhythm guitar partner and AC/DC co-founder, whose innovative riffing laid the band’s foundation until his retirement due to dementia and his passing in 2017.

Career

Young’s professional journey began in the early 1970s during Sydney’s booming pub rock scene, where he refined his skills in bands like Kantuckee before joining his brother Malcolm to form AC/DC in November 1973.

At only 18, Young became the lead guitarist, with Malcolm on rhythm, alongside early members Dave Evans on vocals, Larry Van Kriedt on bass, and Colin Burgess on drums.

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The band’s name, taken from their sister’s sewing machine, represented their explosive energy, and their debut single Can I Sit Next to You, Girl gained local momentum.

Early albums such as High Voltage (1975) and T.N.T. (1975), produced by George Young and Harry Vanda, laid the groundwork for their signature sound by blending blues-based riffs with raw, hard-edged attitude.

Their breakthrough came with Highway to Hell (1979), their first major international success, showcasing Young’s blistering guitar style and launching the band into global prominence shortly before the death of singer Bon Scott in 1980.

After Scott’s death, the band recruited Brian Johnson and released Back in Black in 1980, a tribute album that became the second-best-selling album of all time, surpassing 50 million copies sold.

Young’s iconic riffs on tracks like Hells Bells and You Shook Me All Night Long solidified AC/DC’s hard rock blueprint.

Throughout the 1980s and beyond, albums such as For Those About to Rock We Salute You (1981), The Razors Edge (1990), which featured Thunderstruck, and Black Ice (2008) kept the band at the forefront of global rock music.

Despite Malcolm’s retirement in 2014 and passing in 2017, Angus continued leading the band, bringing nephew Stevie Young and longtime bassist Cliff Williams into the lineup for Power Up (2020), which debuted at number one worldwide.

Even at 70, Young remains a touring force, loyal to AC/DC’s mantra of power, simplicity, and stamina, with no plans for retirement.

Accolades

In 2003, Young and his bandmates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where Young electrified the ceremony with a fiery performance of Highway to Hell.

Rolling Stone ranked him 24th on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2011 and placed him and Malcolm at number 38 on its 2023 list of greatest guitar duos.

AC/DC’s achievements include 17 wins from 50 major award nominations, including the 2010 ARIA Award for Band of the Year and multiple American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Band.

Young received individual recognition in 2007 when Gibson named him Rock Icon of the Year, followed by Australian Guitar magazine naming him Best Australian Guitarist of All Time in 2012.

Additional honors include the Kerrang! Legend Award in 2006 for his lifelong impact on rock and the Order of Australia Medal in 2012 for his contributions to the arts.

Although he once earned a Razzie nomination for Worst Original Song for the 1994 film Last Action Hero, these moments only highlight the breadth of his career, from global triumphs to pop-culture oddities.