AC/DC keeps 'go

NEW YORK - The past few months have been eventful for AC/DC - and not always in a positive way, to put it mildly.

In September, it was confirmed that Malcolm Young, 61, the veteran hard-rock band's rhythm guitarist and founding member, was suffering from dementia and would retire.

Less than two months later, drummer Phil Rudd, 60, was arrested in New Zealand on charges of drug possession and hiring a hitman to commit murder. The latter charge was dropped, but Rudd still stands accused of possession and threatening to kill. (He entered no plea at a subsequent court hearing and was remanded on bail until Tuesday.)

Visiting Manhattan just days after Rudd's arrest, lead guitarist Angus Young, 59, and bassist Cliff Williams, 64, admit that their longtime colleague was behaving erratically during studio sessions for the band's new album, Rock or Bust, out Tuesday.

'It was tough to get (Rudd) there in the first place,' says Williams. Rudd subsequently failed to show up for promotional photo and video shoots, adds Young. He was missing in action when the video accompanying Bust's first single, Play Ball, was shot in October.

'It put us in a difficult situation,' says Young, who speculates that drugs could be an issue. 'But I don't know the exact situation. ... We don't monitor each other in our down time. I can only say, from our perspective, that the guy needs to sort himself out.'

Meanwhile, Young says, AC/DC has 'decided to move forward, whether Phil wants to be part of it or not.' The band, which includes singer Brian Johnson, plans to tour next year with Stevie Young - the son of Stephen Young, Angus and Malcolm's big brother- replacing Malcolm on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Stevie also played with the band on tour in the late '80s, and on Bust.

'He plays just like Malcolm, which is unique,' Williams notes. 'There are not many players like that. He has the same personality as well.'

AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson, left, and Angus Young perform in November 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York.(Photo: Jeff Zelevansky, AP)

Angus agrees that his nephew is 'like a clone. He grew up that way, playing that hard rhythm style. There's only a few years difference between (Stevie) and me, and he shared the same interests as Malcolm, you know?'

Asked about Malcolm's condition, Angus says, 'He himself is happy. He's getting a lot of care. His family is with him all the time, and they're strong.'

Symptoms of Malcolm's dementia 'first started appearing while we were making our last album,' 2008's Black Ice, Angus says, but he was 'still putting down ideas' for songs when the writing process for Bust began; the siblings are credited as co-writers throughout.

'There were ideas that Malcolm and I myself had for years, that we hadn't finished,' Angus adds. 'What he always believed was, 'Let's keep going, as long as we can do it.' He always had that spirit, because the band was his baby.'

The title Rock or Bust is intended to reflect 'that go-for-broke attitude, which we've always had,' Angus says. Producer Brendan O'Brien, who also helmed Black Ice, had the musicians 'in and out (of the studio) in four weeks. He said, 'I'm the big AC/DC fan,' so he picked what he thought that fan would want to hear.'

Their live audience has expanded through the years. 'It's lovely to see the different generations now, the kids on their dads' shoulders,' Williams says.

'At some shows, they're already partying before we go on,' Angus adds. 'Sometimes you think, 'Do they want us to come on and mess it up?''

More seriously, he figures the group will 'keep going as long we still feel good about it. The day you lose the heart, that's when you say, 'I can't do this anymore.''

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