Even now, the image of Angus Young rushing across the stage with his Gibson SG hanging low, his knees storming forward, and his tie flapping still gives me a rush of raw electricity. However, you remember more than simply the loudness or the show. It’s because of his size. Angus is noticeably shorter than most of the people who have come to characterize the rough edges of rock, standing only 1.57 meters (5 feet 2). Amazingly, though, that size has never at any point appeared to be a drawback. If anything, it’s been turned into something quite powerful—a visual beat that goes well with each riff he uses.
Angus does more than just play guitar when he performs. He duckwalks from one area of the stage to another as he lunges into his solos like an adrenaline-pumping boxer. He moves with remarkable clarity and astonishing quickness because to his small and nimble build. Angus attacks his guitar with a kinetic intensity that makes every performance feel completely unscripted, even when it isn’t. This is in contrast to other guitarists who hover over their instruments.
| Name | Angus McKinnon Young |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 31 March 1955 |
| Nationality | Australian (born in Scotland) |
| Height | 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) |
| Signature Style | Schoolboy outfit, duckwalk, high-energy solos |
| Primary Role | Lead guitarist & co-founder of AC/DC |
| Notable Ranking | #38 – Rolling Stone’s 250 Greatest Guitarists (2023) |
| Hall of Fame Inductee | Yes – With AC/DC in 2003 |
| Spouse | Ellen van Lochem (married since 1980) |
| External Reference |
He has never attempted to hide his height, nor is it a secret. For many years, it has been a component of his public persona. Curiously, though, it never takes center stage in the story. Rather, it highlights his performance, producing an unforgettable contrast between his size and the size of his voice. When combined with his perpetually youthful schoolboy attire, the energy he pours via his fingers and feet feels twice intensified. Every move he makes feels both cunning and skillful, making it difficult not to smile.
By the time Angus picked up a guitar at the age of five or six, his family was already heavily involved in music. He was born in Glasgow and grew up in Sydney. Malcolm, his older brother, provided the band’s solid rhythm and structural framework. Malcolm would go on to co-found AC/DC. Angus became the flame that danced just above it with his erratic stage demeanor and scathing solos. Their dynamic was especially avant-garde in terms of both presence and music. Malcolm remained motionless, firm and rooted. Angus moved as if he had learned to play the blues.
Both fans and critics have praised Angus’s performances for their enduring impact over the years. In 2003, he and his bandmates were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Kerrang! named him a “Legend,” and Australian Guitar Magazine named him the Best Australian Guitarist of All Time. Even though those honors acknowledge his impact, they don’t fully convey the emotional impact of seeing him perform live. There is more to electricity than just technique. It all comes down to intent—channeling something unadulterated and aging and rejuvenating it.
Offstage, Angus leads a remarkably peaceful and dependable existence despite his extravagant stage persona. Since 1980, he and Ellen van Lochem have been wed. They are childless. They split their time between residences in the Netherlands, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Despite being a habitual smoker, he has never been a drinker. He is more interesting since he never exactly fits the rock clichés. Angus appears to save all of his craziness for the music, strikingly resembling some jazz greats who are sober yet use their instruments to express pandemonium.
Margaret, his sister, first proposed the schoolboy suit as a gimmick. However, it eventually developed into a sort of armor that was uniquely his and visually memorable. It enhanced the theatricality of AC/DC’s performances without ever devolving into mockery, especially when combined with his size. It was and still is a really creative approach to creating an identity, and it still has the same impact in 2026 as it had in the 1970s.
Over the years, Angus has mentioned a variety of influences. Of course, Chuck Berry is a huge influence, both physically and musically. Berry’s showmanship is responsible for the duckwalk, crowd work, and sense of rhythm. However, Angus combined that inspiration with the harsh edge of bands like The Kinks and The Who, as well as the grit of blues musicians like Freddie King and Muddy Waters. The end product is a sound that is immensely adaptable, brutally effective, and deceptively basic.
In the conventional sense, he is not a technical wizard. He won’t be letting go with sweeping scales or arpeggios. But what you will hear is intent. Every solo, every chord, and every bend is performed with intention. His playing is flawless. It is direct, slender, and especially muscular. This is an important lesson for aspiring musicians: intricacy is not necessary to be captivating. You must be dedicated. You must be clear.
Recently, while watching old AC/DC material, I became aware of something I had not previously valued. Angus frequently has distant, inward-focused eyes when he performs. He seems to be focusing on the precise form of the note in his mind rather than merely the one beneath his fingers. His physical energy seems to be an extension of something more abstract, like sound escaping from a tightly coiled spring, because of that concentration and that inside fire.
There have been lineup changes, personal losses, and even health worries during AC/DC’s lengthy career. But Angus was still there. Being the sole constant member, he embodies the spirit of AC/DC as much as its sound. And that spirit, which has been markedly enhanced by decades of touring and improvement, is still relevant on all continents.
Long after their greatest financial success, AC/DC continues to pack venues. Legacy is a part of that. Nostalgia is a part of it. However, Angus himself makes up a big part. His performances are still incredibly effective—no distractions or fluff, just pure electricity delivered with a distinct stomp and grimace.
