Dave Grohl Pens Tribute To Malcolm Young, Foo Fighters And Guns N’ Roses Play AC/DC Cover Songs

On Saturday the world lost AC/DC co-founder and guitarist Malcolm Young when he died at the age of 64 following a three-year battle with dementia. The Foo Fighters paid tribute the rock god by opening their concert at Mexico’s Corona Capitol Festival with a cover song of AC/DC’s “Let There Be Rock.” “Tonight, we’re gonna play some rock and roll for Malcolm Young tonight,” Dave Grohl told the crowd before the Foo Fighters covered the 1977 song at Saturday night’s concert as a photo of Young was shown behind the band on a large video screen.

Once Grohl heard the news of Young’s death earlier on Saturday, he penned a heartfelt tribute to the legendary rocker. The Foo Fighter frontman remembered how AC/DC changed his life back in 1980 when he saw AC/DC’s concert film “Let There Be Rock.”

“That film, a live AC/DC performance from Paris, 1979, is everything that live and roll should be. Sweaty. Loose. Loud. A relentless performance from the perfect band. It was the first time I lost control to music. The first time I wanted to be in a band. I didn’t want to play my guitar anymore, I wanted to smash it,” Grohl 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.”

Guns N’ Roses also paid tribute to the life and influence of Malcolm Young during their concert in Sacramento, California on Saturday night. “We’re gonna dedicate this to Malcolm Young, who will be sorely missed. By none more than his brother Angus,” Rose told the crowd. Rose performed with AC/DC in a number of European and North American tour dates in 2016. Guns N’ Roses then dedicated their covers of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie” to the late, great Malcolm Young.

Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash reminisced over the life and talents of Young to Rolling Stone, “Malcolm Young was one of the best ever rhythm guitarists in Rock n Roll. He was a fantastic songwriter and he had a great work ethic too. I toured with AC/DC on their ‘Stiff Upper Lip’ tour. I found Malcolm to be a really cool, down to earth fellow. The entire rock n roll community is heartbroken by his passing.”

[NME]