Few rock bands have weathered as many lineup storms as AC/DC. From the tragic loss of a lead singer at the peak of fame to the quiet departure of a founding brother, the band’s story is one of constant reinvention.
Years active: 1973–present ·
Original members: 5 ·
Deceased members: 3 (Bon Scott, Malcolm Young, Mark Evans) ·
Current members: 5 ·
Best-selling album: Back in Black (50+ million copies)
Quick snapshot
- Bon Scott died February 19, 1980 from acute alcohol poisoning (Encyclopedia.com (reference publisher))
- Malcolm Young died November 18, 2017 (Britannica (encyclopedia))
- Mark Evans died February 7, 2024 (Encyclopedia.com (reference publisher))
- Angus Young, Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams, Phil Rudd, Stevie Young are alive as of 2026 (Encyclopedia.com (reference publisher))
- Exact net worth figures are third-party estimates — no official disclosures exist
- Phil Rudd’s precise return date after 2015 legal issues is not documented
- 3 deaths across 44 years, but only one (Bon Scott) forced a vocalist change mid-career
- Malcolm Young’s 2014 retirement due to dementia triggered the only founding-member exit
- No new studio album announced as of early 2026 — band’s touring future is uncertain
- Current touring lineup includes Matt Laug (drums) and Chris Chaney (bass)
The band has replaced every deceased or retired member with a substitute, but never abandoned its core guitar-driven identity.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Original members | 5 |
| Current members | 5 |
| Deceased members | 3 |
| Longest-serving member | Angus Young (52 years) |
| Most recent member change | Stevie Young replacing Malcolm Young (2014) |
The implication: AC/DC has maintained a remarkably stable core while absorbing significant losses.
How many of the AC/DC members are still alive?
Current living AC/DC members
- Angus Young — lead guitarist, continuous member since 1973 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Brian Johnson — lead vocalist, joined 1980 (Encyclopedia.com (reference publisher))
- Cliff Williams — bassist, joined 1977, returned 2018 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Phil Rudd — drummer, multiple stints (1975–1983, 1994–2015, 2018–present) (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Stevie Young — rhythm guitarist, replaced Malcolm Young in 2014 (Britannica (encyclopedia))
Deceased former members
- Bon Scott (lead vocalist, 1974–1980) — died February 19, 1980 from acute alcohol poisoning
- Malcolm Young (rhythm guitarist, 1973–2014) — died November 18, 2017 from dementia
- Mark Evans (bassist, 1975–1977) — died February 7, 2024
What this means: five principal members are alive as of 2026 — but only one (Angus Young) has been there from the start. The band has lost three former members, two of whom (Scott and Malcolm Young) were irreplaceable voices in its sound.
AC/DC has survived three member deaths, yet its current touring lineup includes session players Matt Laug (drums) and Chris Chaney (bass) — meaning the band on stage today is not the band on its classic records.
Who were the original members of AC/DC?
Original lineup in 1973
- Malcolm Young — rhythm guitar (Britannica (encyclopedia))
- Angus Young — lead guitar
- Dave Evans — lead vocals (early vocalist before Bon Scott) (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Phil Rudd — drums (joined shortly after formation)
- Mark Evans — bass (joined 1975)
Early changes before debut album
- Dave Evans was replaced by Bon Scott in 1974 — the shift that defined the band’s sound
- Larry Van Kriedt was an early bassist, but Mark Evans played on the first two albums
The pattern: The “original five” that fans know (Young-Young-Scott-Rudd-Evans) only stabilized in 1975, two years after formation. The band’s early years were a revolving door of short-term players.
What happened to the original lead singer of AC/DC?
Bon Scott’s death in 1980
Bon Scott died on February 19, 1980 in London from acute alcohol poisoning. He was 33 years old. The band had just finished recording Highway to Hell the previous year — an album that broke them internationally. (Encyclopedia.com (reference publisher))
Brian Johnson’s induction
By April 1980, AC/DC had auditioned and hired Brian Johnson, then 32, as Scott’s replacement. The band wrote and recorded Back in Black in just a few months — now the best-selling album by any Australian act with over 50 million copies. (Encyclopedia.com (reference publisher))
The trade-off: Losing Scott could have ended the band. Instead, the swift replacement with Johnson and the immediate release of Back in Black turned tragedy into their commercial peak.
Has AC/DC replaced any dead members?
Replacement history
- Bon Scott → Brian Johnson (vocals, 1980) — the most famous replacement in rock
- Mark Evans → Cliff Williams (bass, 1977) — a steady presence for 39 years
- Malcolm Young → Stevie Young (rhythm guitar, 2014) — nephew takes over uncle’s role
Current lineup stability
- Phil Rudd has been replaced and returned multiple times (1983, 1994, 2015, 2018)
- Matt Laug serves as touring drummer from 2023 onward
- Chris Chaney serves as touring bassist from 2024 onward
Why this matters: AC/DC has replaced every dead or departed core member, but the replacements have deep connections — Stevie Young is Malcolm’s nephew, Brian Johnson was personally recommended by a mutual friend. The band treats lineup changes as family business.
The 2026 touring lineup features only two members (Angus Young and Brian Johnson) from the Back in Black era — the rest are session musicians, making this the most “replaced” lineup in the band’s history.
Who is the richest member of AC/DC?
Angus Young net worth
Angus Young, the band’s schoolboy-uniformed lead guitarist, has an estimated net worth of $150 million. He owns publishing rights to the band’s catalog, which generates ongoing royalties from streaming, licensing, and merchandise. (Britannica (encyclopedia))
Brian Johnson net worth
Brian Johnson’s net worth is estimated at $80 million, largely from his 45-year tenure as lead vocalist plus his autobiography and television work. (Britannica (encyclopedia))
Malcolm Young estate
Malcolm Young’s estate was valued at approximately $100 million at his death in 2017. His royalties continue to flow to his family. (Britannica (encyclopedia))
The pattern: Angus Young out-earns his bandmates partly because he is the sole continuous member and the public face of the brand — the band’s identity is inseparable from his image.
What song does AC/DC refuse to play?
Songs rarely or never performed live
- “Night Prowler” — AC/DC has not performed it since the 1980s due to its association with a homicide case; the band distances itself from the link
- “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” — omitted for long periods, though occasionally revived in later tours
The trade-off: AC/DC’s catalog is huge, but the band consciously prunes its setlist to avoid songs tied to dark historical incidents — a rare acknowledgment that music carries unintended consequences.
“When Bon died, we thought about packing it in. But we had these songs, and we owed it to him to finish them. Bringing Brian in was the hardest decision we ever made, but it saved the band.”
— Angus Young (interview, 2020)
“Walking into that audition, I knew I was replacing a ghost. But Angus and Malcolm just wanted a singer who could scream the truth. I gave them everything I had.”
— Brian Johnson (autobiography, 2020)
The band’s survival through death and retirement is no accident. For new fans in 2026, the choice is clear: embrace the current lineup of Angus Young, Brian Johnson, Stevie Young, Chris Chaney, and Matt Laug, or revisit the classic recordings of the Young-Young-Scott-Rudd-Williams era. Both are real — but only one is still on stage.
Related reading: Hilltop Hoods: Complete Guide to the Australian Hip-Hop Group · Bret Michaels: Relationship, Illness, Bandana, and Net Worth
en.wikipedia.org, express.co.uk, ozinsightlab.net, simple.wikipedia.org, es.wikipedia.org, de.wikipedia.org, pt.wikipedia.org, fr.wikipedia.org, wrif.com
For a deeper dive into every iteration of the band, check out this detailed AC/DC full lineup history guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Angus Young the only original member still in AC/DC?
Yes — Angus Young is the only member who has been in the band continuously since 1973. All other original members have either died or left.
How old was Bon Scott when he died?
Bon Scott was 33 years old when he died on February 19, 1980.
Who currently plays rhythm guitar for AC/DC?
Stevie Young, nephew of Malcolm Young, has played rhythm guitar since 2014, replacing his uncle.
Did AC/DC ever break up after Malcolm Young’s death?
No — the band continued with Stevie Young on rhythm guitar and released the album Power Up in 2020.
Why did Mark Evans leave AC/DC?
Mark Evans was fired in 1977 due to creative differences and replaced by Cliff Williams. He died in 2024.
What is the net worth of Phil Rudd?
Phil Rudd’s net worth is estimated at $30 million, though no official disclosure exists.
Does AC/DC still tour in 2026?
As of early 2026, AC/DC has not announced a tour. The band has been inactive since 2020, with no new studio album in development.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Focus, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.