It’s a sad day for music lovers and fans of the perennial Aussie rock gods, ACDC, with news today that founding member, Malcolm Young has been moved into a full-time nursing home for dementia sufferers, in eastern Sydney.

The news is yet to be confirmed by the band or their management and comes directly following Wednesday’s announcement that Young aged 61, had retired from the band.

That announcement (Young’s retirement) came via a statement on the band’s website, which read:

“After forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health. Malcolm would like to thank the group’s diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support.

In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music.”

The Sydney Morning Herald is today reporting that Young was recently moved into Lulworth House, a nursing home in Elizabeth Bay. The same facility is home to former Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam and former NSW Premier Neville Wran, whose final years were marred by dementia until his death last April.

Family sources are quoted as saying:

“If you were in the room with [Malcolm Young] and walked out, then came back in one minute later, he wouldn’t remember who you are.

He has a complete loss of short-term memory. His wife, Linda, has put him in full-time care.”

Stevie Young, nephew of Malcolm and Angus Young, will take his Uncle’s place for next year’s massive Rock or Bust world tour, which celebrates the band’s 40th anniversary. The tour follows the December release of the studio album of the same name, the first from the band in six years. Young can be heard playing on the new album, alongside his nephew Stevie, who also features on the new release.

The illustrious rock’n’roll career of ACDC began in November, 1973, when Young founded the group with his younger brother Angus. Throughout his 41 years with the band, Young has been songwriter and rhythmic force behind their music.

His rhythm chords are instantly recognisable and for many, only a handful will causes uncontrollable and immediate head-banging.

Despite the band’s renowned ear-crushing concerts, inside the studio Young prefered to play quietly. He’d turn down his amp, place a pick-up microphone closely in front of the loudspeaker, recording every nuance of those legendary riffs.

As Michael Hann from the Australian Guardian said in his tribute to the guitarist:

“Malcolm Young understood that a great riff does not need 427 components to make it great, that what it really needs is clarity…That’s why, on the great AC/DC albums, you hear not just the chords of the riffs, but their very texture, their burnished, rounded sound.”

Adding that Malcolm Young’s rhythm guitar is “Why AC/DC are immediately recognisable, whether or not you know the song.”

Sadly, even rock gods get old.