George Young (rock Musician) - Career

Career

Born in the east end of Glasgow, Scotland, his father was William Young (1911–1985), and his mother Margaret (1913–1988) (her maiden name was also Young); emigrated to Australia in 1963. George's older brother Alex was later a member of the group Grapefruit. When the Young family emigrated to Sydney, Australia in 1963, Alex Young chose to remain in Britain to pursue musical interests. In 1967, Alexander formed and played bass in the London-based band Grapefruit—initially called "The Grapefruit"—with three former members of Tony Rivers and the Castaways, John Perry, Geoff Swettenham, and Pete Swettenham.

Starting his career in Sydney, and attending Sefton High School as his secondary school, George Young first achieved international success in the 1960s as the rhythm guitarist in the band The Easybeats; Young co-wrote nearly all of their songs, first with singer Stevie Wright, then later with lead guitarist, Harry Vanda. In 2007, the Australian Musician magazine selected the meeting of Vanda and Young in a Sydney migrants hostel in 1964 as the most significant event in Australian pop and rock music history.

After the band dissolved in 1970, Vanda & Young concentrated on writing and producing pop and rock songs for other recording artists, and under various stage names, most notably Flash and the Pan. One such recording studio based group was their own Marcus Hook Roll Band, with brothers, Malcolm and Angus Young.