Stevie Young facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stevie Young
Young performing in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Stephen Crawford Young Jr.
Born	(1956-12-11) 11 December 1956 (age 68) Glasgow, Scotland
Genres	Hard rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1979–present
Labels	Columbia

Stephen Crawford Young Jr. (born 11 December 1956) is an Australian musician. He plays rhythm guitar and sings backing vocals for the famous Australian rock band AC/DC. He joined AC/DC in April 2014 to record their album Rock or Bust. He became an official member in September of that year. Stevie took the place of his uncle, Malcolm Young, who retired due to health reasons. Stevie had also helped out Malcolm on AC/DC's 1988 US tour.

Early Life

Stephen Crawford Young Jr. was born on December 11, 1956, in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Stephen Crawford Young Sr., was the oldest brother of Angus, Malcolm, George, and Alex Young.

In 1963, Stevie and his family moved from Scotland to Sydney, Australia. They settled in a place called Concord, New South Wales. Later, in 1970, he moved back to Scotland.

Music Career

Starting Out in Music

Stevie Young started his first bands, The Stabbers, Prowler, and Tantrum, in the late 1970s. These bands were formed in Hawick, Scotland.

In the 1980s, Stevie made two albums with his rock band, Starfighters. This band was formed in 1980 in Birmingham, England. Starfighters were chosen to open for AC/DC's Back in Black UK Tour in 1980. They also opened for Ozzy Osbourne in 1982.

Starfighters broke up in 1983 but got back together in 1987. When that didn't work out, Stevie formed a new band called Little Big Horn. Malcolm Young, Stevie's uncle, helped produce their demo tape. This band also broke up because they couldn't get a record deal. However, they did record a session for a radio show called Friday Rock Show on BBC Radio 1. Stevie later formed another band called Up Rising, which also split up.

In 2009, Stevie was part of a Birmingham rock band called Hellsarockin. When Starfighters' bassist Doug Dennis passed away in 2011, the remaining members of Starfighters played at his memorial. Stevie's son, Angus, played bass guitar.

From 2013, Stevie and Pat Hambly from Starfighters played in a blues trio. They were joined by singer Martin Wood and called themselves Blue Murda. Later, Stevie's son, Angus, joined Blue Murda on guitar. John Malan also joined on bass guitar. This Angus is the grand-nephew of AC/DC's Angus Young. He was also briefly a member of an AC/DC tribute band called AC/DC UK.

Joining AC/DC

Stevie Young has a long connection to AC/DC. He, Angus, and Malcolm all went to the same school when they were growing up in Sydney in the 1960s.

In the late 1970s, Stevie and his brother Fraser sometimes traveled with AC/DC on tour. They were even photographed with Angus and Malcolm backstage in 1979 during the Highway to Hell Tour.

During AC/DC's 1988 US tour for their album Blow Up Your Video, Stevie filled in for Malcolm. Malcolm took a break from the band to focus on his health. Many fans didn't even realize Malcolm had been replaced. This was because Stevie looked a lot like him at the time. Malcolm returned to the band and stayed until he retired in 2014.

In July 2014, AC/DC's singer Brian Johnson confirmed that Stevie Young had recorded with the band. He was working on their new album Rock or Bust, again taking the place of his uncle Malcolm, who was unwell. In September, it was officially announced that Stevie would replace Malcolm permanently. It was later shared in a Rolling Stone interview that Angus had asked Stevie to join as early as January 2014.

Stevie was also part of AC/DC's 2020 album, Power Up. He played rhythm guitar and sang backing vocals again. Angus Young said that Stevie was very important in helping to put together all the guitar riffs for the record.

Musical Gear

Stevie Young often plays Gretsch Jet Firebird guitars. His first one was a black, left-handed Firebird. It was changed to have extra fret inlays and the neck pickup was removed. It also had an extra jack slot and a Burns tailpiece. This guitar was given to him by Malcolm Young. Stevie used it when recording with Starfighters in the early 1980s.

Stevie also got another Firebird from Malcolm Young. This guitar was very similar to Malcolm's main Gretsch. It also had the neck pickup removed and the finish taken off. It has a Burns tailpiece. This was Stevie's main guitar on AC/DC's Rock Or Bust World tour.

Stevie uses specific guitar strings. For his high E string, he uses a 0.011 gauge string. However, when playing AC/DC songs, he uses the same string thickness as Malcolm. This is a 0.012" gauge with a wound G string.

For the Rock or Bust tour, Stevie used Marshall Amplifiers. He used them with Celestion Creamback and Classic Lead 80 speakers as part of his touring setup.

Family Life

Stevie Young has three children: Lewis, Angus, and Stevie (III). His son, Stevie (III), has a reggae band called Young Culture. Stevie's brother, Gus "Goose," plays keyboards in this band. Goose also plays in different tribute bands.

Music Albums

With Starfighters

• Starfighters (1981) Jive Records
• In-Flight Movie (1983) Jive Records

With AC/DC

• Rock or Bust (2014)
• Power Up (2020)

Images for kids

• 

  Stevie Young performing in 2024

See Also

In Spanish: Stevie Young para niños