A Scots relative of AC/DC’s Young brothers has told how the band’s long-anticipated homecoming gig could be their last – after seeing them 40 times.
Bryce Redburn has spent his entire life following the iconic rock band founded by his Glasgow-born cousins Angus and Malcolm Young, visiting them backstage at some of their biggest shows and at home in Australia when he was a boy.
Now the 51-year-old, who lives just a few streets away from where his dad’s first cousins grew up in Cranhill, is preparing for what he believes could be the band’s last ever performance when they return to the stage in Scotland for the first time in a decade for a massive end-of-tour celebration at Murrayfield stadium.
Fans went wild after the band – famous for hits like Thunderstruck and Highway to Hell – announced this week they are set to play their only UK show in August and thousands were set to scramble for tickets when they go on sale today.
Dad-of-one Bryce, who has a VIP pass getting him backstage access to all the band’s shows, said: “I’ve been to see them in so many places but nothing is better than a home gig. I can’t wait for Edinburgh.
“I’ve been going since I was three and have seen them about 40 times.
“It’s been my life all these years and I will be in Edinburgh no matter what because I think this will be the last.
“I find all the gigs emotional. Every time they finish I think, ‘am I going to see them again?’
“It’ll be a sad day in Edinburgh for sure because I don’t think they will do any more.”
AC/DC have sold more than 200 million albums and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
The Young brothers were born and raised in Glasgow before moving to Australia in 1963, where the iconic band was formed in 1973.
The group – who had Angus-born Bon Scott as their singer when they hit the big time – will play 12 dates across 10 countries before concluding their tour at Murrayfield stadium on August 21.
Bryce is recovering from a mini stroke and says it has affected parts of his memory but his first and fondest memories are spending time with the band with his late dad, George.
He said: “I’ve been going since I was three. I actually fell asleep at the first gig.
“I’ve been six times to Australia when I was younger and would go to visit Angus there.
“I have Christmas cards from Angus and his wife Ellen phones quite a bit now to check how I am.
“I have Malcolm’s jacket, Bon’s scarf and lots of letters and photos from over the years which mean a lot to me.
“Last time I spoke to Ellen she said Angus had broken his teeth eating some chicken and he needed to get them fixed for tour.
“Angus is more quiet than me. He still gets nervous before a show.
“He’s always busy but we always find 20 minutes and have a talk. We talk about how we’re doing and he asks about Rangers.
“He and his wife are good people.
“I most recently saw them in Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam and Germany.”
Malcolm, rhythm guitarist for the band, died from dementia in 2017 at the age of 64.
Bryce proudly bears his infamous cousins signatures on his leg, which he had made permanent with a tattoo – along with the band’s iconic lightening bolt logo on his arm.
He said: “It was a sore one when Malcolm passed away. He was the louder one and would always have a laugh with you and rip you for the hotel you were staying in when you went to a gig. I miss Malcolm.”
When Bon Scott died of alcohol poisoning in 1980, he was replaced as lead singer by Brian Johnson.
Johnson has previously spoken of the band’s “big connection” with Scotland.
The upcoming Power Up tour is named after the band’s latest studio album – their first since Malcolm’s death.
Johnson previously said they “really wanted to do something for Malcolm – just to make him proud”.
Bryce said: “I’m so lucky to be a fan and family. I grew up with them.
“I used to get ripped on my way to school because nobody liked the music then and it wasn’t a young thing and I had my AC/DC tshirt. Now everyone wants a ticket.
“I was there when they last played Scotland at Hampden in 2015. It was fantastic but this gig will be really amazing.
“Angus is 69 now. I don’t want them to stop. I just can’t imagine them not playing anymore.
“They’re a working class band who have always been humble, good people.
“They’ve been my life all these years and really mean a lot to me.”
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