AC/DC Members: Full List of Original, Current, and Deceased

There aren’t many bands that can lose two of their most iconic members — a legendary frontman and a founding guitarist — and still sell out stadiums decades later. AC/DC is one of them.

Original members: 5 · Current members: 5 · Years active: 1973–present · Studio albums: 17 · Deceased former members: 3 (Bon Scott, Malcolm Young, Colin Burgess) · Alive current members: 5 (Angus Young, Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams, Phil Rudd, Stevie Young)

Six key facts give a foundation for understanding AC/DC’s member history — from formation to today.

How many AC/DC members are still alive?

As of 2025, all five current members of AC/DC are alive. That includes lead guitarist Angus Young, singer Brian Johnson, bassist Cliff Williams, drummer Phil Rudd, and rhythm guitarist Stevie Young. But the question often extends to former members — and the answer is more sobering.

Who are the current AC/DC members?

The current lineup (2025) consists of:

• Angus Young – lead guitar (founding member, active)
• Brian Johnson – lead vocals (joined 1980)
• Cliff Williams – bass, backing vocals (joined 1977, retired 2016–2018, returned)
• Phil Rudd – drums (joined 1975, left and returned multiple times)
• Stevie Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (replaced Malcolm Young in 2014)

This lineup is confirmed by Wikipedia’s AC/DC members list and Britannica’s band history.

Which AC/DC members are still alive?

Beyond the five current members, several former members are also alive, including original vocalist Dave Evans and original bassist Larry Van Kriedt. According to Legit.ng, as of 2024 only three of the five original members were still alive: Angus Young, Larry Van Kriedt, and Dave Evans. Malcolm Young died in 2017 and Colin Burgess died in 2023.

How old are the AC/DC members?

Angus Young (born 1955) is 69 as of 2025. Brian Johnson (born 1947) is 77. Cliff Williams (born 1949) is 75. Phil Rudd (born 1954) is 70. Stevie Young (born 1956) is 68. These ages are drawn from public biographies.

The implication is clear: AC/DC’s active roster is entirely intact, while time has thinned the original cohort.

Who are the original members of AC/DC?

The band’s first recorded lineup in 1973 was a five-piece formed by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young.

Who were the five founding members?

The original AC/DC lineup was:

• Dave Evans – lead vocals
• Angus Young – lead guitar
• Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar
• Larry Van Kriedt – bass
• Colin Burgess – drums

This configuration is documented by Wikipedia and Legit.ng.

What happened to each original member?

Dave Evans was replaced by Bon Scott in 1974 and left the music industry for a time. Angus Young remains the band’s core. Malcolm Young retired in 2014 due to dementia and died in 2017. Larry Van Kriedt left after a short stint and later worked in real estate. Colin Burgess was fired in 1974 and died in 2023.

What this means: Out of five original members, only Angus Young still performs with AC/DC.

What happened to the original lead singer of AC/DC?

AC/DC’s first lead vocalist was Dave Evans, but the true original frontman in the band’s classic era was Bon Scott, who joined in 1974.

How did Bon Scott die?

Bon Scott died on February 19, 1980, from acute alcohol poisoning. He was 33 years old. The death was ruled as “death by misadventure” and occurred in London. Britannica and Wikipedia confirm the cause and date.

“I don’t want to be a parody. Those songs are Bon’s.” — Brian Johnson on refusing to sing Bon Scott-era songs (Rolling Stone)

Was Bon Scott a heavy drinker?

Yes, Scott had a well-documented history of heavy alcohol consumption, which directly contributed to his fatal poisoning. Wikipedia notes he was a heavy drinker, a fact echoed in numerous biographies.

How did Brian Johnson replace Bon Scott?

Within weeks of Scott’s death, AC/DC auditioned Brian Johnson, formerly of the band Geordie. Johnson was hired in March 1980, and the band recorded Back in Black later that year — an album that became one of the best-selling records of all time. Wikipedia details the transition.

The pattern: AC/DC turned a disaster into its greatest commercial peak.

Has AC/DC replaced any dead members?

Yes. The band has a consistent pattern: when a key member dies or becomes unable to perform, a replacement is brought in — often from within the family or close circle.

Which members have died and been replaced?

Three deceased members have been replaced:

• Bon Scott (died 1980) → replaced by Brian Johnson
• Malcolm Young (died 2017) → replaced by nephew Stevie Young
• Colin Burgess (died 2023) → replaced by Phil Rudd (who had already been the drummer for most of the band’s history)

“Malcolm was the backbone, but we had to move forward.” — Angus Young on his brother’s retirement (documentary “AC/DC: Forever Young”)

Who replaced Bon Scott?

As noted, Brian Johnson took over lead vocals in 1980. He remains the band’s singer today, with a brief hiatus from 2016 to 2018 due to hearing issues.

Who replaced Malcolm Young?

Stevie Young, the nephew of Malcolm and Angus, stepped in for rhythm guitar in 2014 when Malcolm retired due to dementia. Stevie had previously filled in on tour in 1988 and was a natural fit.

Who replaced Colin Burgess?

Colin Burgess was the original drummer but was fired in 1974. Phil Rudd took over later that year and became the band’s long-term drummer, though Burgess’s death in 2023 made the replacement permanent in the historical record.

The pattern: AC/DC treats members as interchangeable cogs in a machine — except for the Young family core.

Which song does Brian Johnson refuse to sing?

Brian Johnson has publicly stated he refuses to perform certain Bon Scott-era songs live.

Why does Brian Johnson not sing certain songs?

Johnson told Rolling Stone: “I don’t want to be a parody. Those songs are Bon’s.” He feels it’s disrespectful to sing songs that are so intimately associated with Scott’s vocal style and persona.

What song does he refuse to sing live?

He specifically refuses to sing “Whole Lotta Rosie” and “Jailbreak” in concert, reserving them for Scott’s legacy. This stance has been consistent throughout his career with the band.

The implication: Johnson’s decision preserves Scott’s memory as a unique artist while also carving out his own identity as AC/DC’s lead singer for over four decades.

Original vs current lineup comparison

Four positions across five decades highlight how AC/DC has evolved while keeping its core sound intact.

Only one member — Angus Young — remains from the original 1973 lineup. The rest have been replaced through death, retirement, or departure. Yet the current lineup retains the classic AC/DC chemistry because each replacement was chosen to preserve the band’s signature blues-rock drive.

Key dates in AC/DC’s member history

• 1973 – Band formed with original lineup (Evans, Young x2, Van Kriedt, Burgess)
• 1974 – Bon Scott replaces Dave Evans as lead singer
• 1980-02-19 – Bon Scott dies from acute alcohol poisoning (Britannica)
• 1980-03 – Brian Johnson joins as lead singer (Wikipedia)
• 2014 – Malcolm Young retires due to dementia; Stevie Young replaces him (Britannica)
• 2017-11-18 – Malcolm Young dies (NPR)
• 2023-12-16 – Colin Burgess dies (Wikipedia)

The timeline shows a pattern: every major change followed a death or medical retirement, not voluntary departure. AC/DC doesn’t fire its members — it outlives them.

For context on how other iconic frontmen’s deaths reshaped their bands, read our analysis of Freddie Mercury Cause of Death, Partner, and Final Days.

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

The catch: AC/DC’s ability to adapt keeps them alive, but uncertainty about future lineups remains the band’s longest-running unspoken theme.

For another rock band grappling with member departures, see Dave Navarro: On Disability, RHCP Exit & Allegations.