Slash, the famous guitarist from Guns N’ Roses, once said something interesting about his bandmate Steven Adler. “Steven didn’t get the credit he deserved because everyone noticed the big stars first,” Slash explained. “But he brought a special beat and energy to our music, especially on the Appetite for Destruction album. That’s half of what makes it so cool!” A lot of people don’t even realize how important Steven was.
Slash’s words show a simple truth about bands: every member matters, even if some don’t get as much attention. In Guns N’ Roses, Axl Rose and Slash were the ones everyone watched and listened to. The same thing happens in other bands, like AC/DC, where Angus Young grabs all the spotlight.
Angus Young has always been the star of AC/DC. He’s the guy people picture when they think of the band, with his wild energy and schoolboy outfit on album covers. The lead singers, Bon Scott and Brian Johnson, are super important and fun to watch, but Angus stands out the most. And he deserves it! He’s an amazing guitarist with a huge stage presence. When he runs around, plays loud solos, and rocks every song, fans can’t look away.
But because Angus shines so bright, many people miss another key player in AC/DC: his brother Malcolm Young. Malcolm was quieter than Angus. While Angus jumped around and rolled on the stage, Malcolm stayed in the back, nodding his head and letting his guitar do the talking. He wrote a lot of the band’s famous riffs—the catchy parts you hum along to. Without Malcolm, AC/DC wouldn’t sound the same.
Malcolm had a special way of playing. He didn’t just follow the usual notes. Instead, he added his own style, giving the music a fun swing that made AC/DC’s heavy sound stand out. It’s not something you notice right away, but it’s a big reason why the band became one of the biggest rock groups in the world.
Angus once talked about how great Malcolm was, especially with the song “Bad Boy Boogie.” He said it’s one of his favorites to play because Malcolm added a little twist to it. “It sounds simple, but that twist is tricky,” Angus shared. “Even now, I listen to how smart he was. I still play it just to hear that one little change he made—it makes the song so much better.” Angus also said Malcolm was awesome to work with on guitar ideas. “He was a fantastic guy!”
So, while stars like Slash and Angus get the most attention, players like Steven and Malcolm quietly make the music special. They might not be in the spotlight, but they’re a huge part of why these bands rock!
