Back in 2014, AC/DC shocked the world by announcing the departure of founding member and guitarist Malcolm Young. Dementia due to a stroke was the cause of Malcolm's leave, but in a new article by Q Magazine, it's been revealed that Malcolm had battled lung cancer and was equipped with a pacemaker to regulate a heart condition.

It's astounding that Malcolm Young's health issues had remained a secret for so long, but after his family's incredible persistence to keep Malcolm's dementia quiet from the public, the tight-lipped response is not quite as surprising.

Malcolm was reportedly diagnosed with lung cancer around the conclusion of the band's 2008 tour in support of 'Black Ice.' Early detection was the key to Malcolm's successful recovery, allowing the guitarist to beat the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths of men and women worldwide thanks to an operation.

After Malcolm's cancer scare, it was discovered he was suffering from an unspecified heart condition. Malcolm went under the knife once again, leaving with a new pacemaker implanted in his chest. “This is typical Malcolm,” AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson explains, “He got a hold of my hand and went… (bangs repeatedly on his chest) 'Pacemaker. F—ing good, mate.' He scared the s— out of us! And there’s a twinkle in his eye, he was tickled pink. It’s like he was showing us a new fuzzbox or something!”

Brother of Malcolm and fellow AC/DC guitarist, Angus Young, spoke to GMI Rock about what Malcolm has endured. “Besides the mental side with the dementia, he had physical problems also," says Angus. "He had a lung operation, which was pretty critical, but he got treatment for that because they got to it. It was like a cancer. So they got that early and then later on he had also a heart problem. So it was like everything hit him at once. The physical side of him, he got great treatment for all that so he’s good with all that, but the mental side has deteriorated. He himself had said, ‘I won’t be able to do it anymore.’”

As always, we hope for Malcolm Young's best possible recovery and quality of life.

AC/DC since recorded their first album without Malcolm, 'Rock or Bust,' with the departed guitarist's nephew Stevie Young manning the axe. AC/DC will also begin touring the world in May, following a headlining spot at the 2015 Coachella Festival.

AC/DC's Brian Johnson + Angus Young Discuss Malcolm Young's Absence

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