Malcolm Young Illness: ACDC Founder has Dementia; Leaves Band for Good

AC/DC's long term guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young will no longer be playing with the band due to dementia, People reports.

"Malcolm is suffering from dementia and the family thanks you for respecting their privacy," the 61-year old musician's relatives said in a statement on Tuesday, September 30.

The band has announced in April that Young would be taking a break from playing with the band and that it would record a new album without him, according to Rolling Stone. However, the group announced recently on their website that Young will leave permanently from the band "due to the nature of Malcolm's condition." It was also mentioned in the statement that he would be replaced by his nephew, rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, on the band's world tour next year. Stevie Young also played in the band's latest and 17^th studio album "Rock or Bust", set to be released on December 2, 2014, as what was reported on the group's website.

"Rock or Bust" is the band's first studio album without Young.

Dementia is a brain disease that causes the decline of mental ability and reasoning that can significantly affect a person's everyday life, according to Web MD. Some of the symptoms of dementia are memory distortion, speech difficulties, and disability to focus and pay attention.

In the same article from Rolling Stone, AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson said back in July that the band is optimistic about Young's return. "He's a fighter. He's in [the] hospital, but he's a fighter. We've got our fingers crossed that he'll get strong again...Stevie, Malcolm's nephew, was magnificent, but when you're recording with this thing hanging over you and your work mate isn't well, it's difficult. But I'm sure [Malcolm] was rooting for us."

Fox News reports that fans can get a sneak peak of AC/DC's big return with the preview track "Play Ball" in ads for Turner Sports' Major League Baseball postseason.

Johnson previously considered naming the latest album "Man Down" as homage to Young as a fallen soldier, according to a report from NME. But he decided against it because it is a bit negative.

Malcolm formed hard rock band AC/DC with his brother Angus Young back in 1973. Since then, the Australian group has gained worldwide popularity through their music, famous ones include "It's a Long Way to the Top", "Highway to Hell", "Back in Black", and "You Shook Me All Night Long".