Angus McKinnon Young

Angus plays live in The Razors Edge album, 1995 (Google Images)

Many things changed in the 50's. Culture was taking a whole new twist around every corner. Whether it was hair length, style of dress, or general attitude toward tradition, everything started to shift. Among some of the greatest changes in every day life was the beginning of a whole new genre of music called Rock N Roll. One of the most popular well known artists who boosted this new phenomenon was the lead guitarist for hard rock band, ACDC, Angus Mckinnon Young. Because of his bold impact on this era, he's my hero.

Angus(right) plays in Sydney, Australia 2008

Angus Mckinnon Young was born on March 31, 1955. He lived in Glasgow, Scotland for the first five years of his life until he moved to Australia in 1959. Angus never excelled in school as he was constantly in the office meeting with the school's director and his parents. He dropped out of high school his sophomore year at the age of 15 to work odd jobs for friends. No matter what he was doing, he always had his hands on a guitar. Angus played his older brother George's guitar day and night as a result of the habit. When the older sibling moved out, his mother, Mary, decided to buy the young guitarist his own acoustic model, similar to George's, which he dedicated all his time to.

Angus created and is known for his crazy on stage performances such as "The Spasm", where he throws his body to the floor and spins in every direction kicking and screaming, all the while playing each individual scale with precise timing and accuracy. This image of an energized rock band could be what led them to sell more than 22 million copies worldwide, of a single album alone called "Back In Black" in 1980. Mr. Young wrote another successful album "Highway To Hell" in 1979 just before the death of lead singer Ronald Bon Scott in 1980. After his death, Angus encouraged the band to stick together and compose more music and that is exactly what happened. After the brief pause, the band compiled an astounding fifteen additional albums for their loving fans over the following three decades.

Mr. Young plays Live at outdoor concert, 1990

Angus McKinnon Young is a great person I look up to because he has taken the whole picture of rock (my favorite genre) and mastered it in a way that no one else could do. His technique is unique and difficult in that he combines blues and rock guitar as well as rhythms and sounds that are distinctly uncommon. I truly look up to him for all of the great guitar riffs he has fabricated through the endless hours he has poured into practicing of the instrument. He has impressed and inspired millions in live concerts worldwide. Through this, he has proven the value of good music and good times through his all out love of the music.

Live at Donnington, 1990

With a total of twenty albums, thousands of live performances, and over one hundred and fifty million albums sold across the globe, this great musician has a distinguished and respected position in the world of music. Through much work he has held a band together and written great rock symphonies that will go down in the records of Rock N Roll history forever. With every ounce of his energy that he expelled through his guitar, he impacted the entire world of Rock. Because of his amazing devotion and focus, he became a global icon. As a musician, these are the reasons Angus Young is my hero.