AC/DC’s Malcolm Young 'Taking A Break', Band Not Breaking Up

Australia's biggest rock export AC/DC have addressed the swirling retirement rumours with a statement confirming that guitarist Malcolm Young will be stepping back from the group due to sickness.

The band's statement reads, “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.”

Earlier this week reports had emerged that the band would be breaking up or entering an extended period of retirement, rumours that flew in the face of the band's plan to enter a Vancouver studio at the start of May.

“In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family's privacy be respected during this time,” said the statement, before adding, “The band will continue to make music.”

Management have indicated that no further statement will be made at this time.

The band's frontman Brian Johnson also stressed that they are not breaking up, telling London's Telegraph, “We are definitely getting together in May in Vancouver.

“We're going to pick up some guitars, have a plonk, and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens, we'll record it.”

On Malcolm health and touring he said, “I wouldn't like to say anything either way about the future. I'm not ruling anything out. One of the boys has a debilitating illness, but I don't want to say too much about it. He is very proud and private, a wonderful chap. We've been pals for 35 years and I look up to him very much.”

The band have not revealed which Vancouver studio they'll be entering, but they recorded both 2008's Black Ice and 2000's Stiff Upper Lip in the Canadian city's The Warehouse Studio.