Overview

George Redburn Young (6 November 1946 – 22 October 2017) was a Scottish-born Australian musician, songwriter and record producer. He first came to prominence as a founding member and guitarist of the 1960s Australian rock band the Easybeats. Later, together with his bandmate Harry Vanda, he formed the songwriting and production partnership commonly known as Vanda & Young, which produced major pop and rock hits and worked with emerging Australian acts.

Musical career and the Easybeats

Arriving in Australia as a child, Young helped establish the Easybeats in Sydney during the mid-1960s. The group combined catchy melodies and hard-driving rhythms at a time when Australian rock was beginning to reach international audiences. With Vanda, Young co-wrote some of the band’s best-known material and helped shape the group’s sound as lead and rhythm guitarist.

Songwriting and production: Vanda & Young

After the Easybeats disbanded, Young and Harry Vanda continued as a creative duo. Their collaboration encompassed composition, arrangement and studio production. They penned songs that became international hits and wrote material for other artists; a notable example is "Love Is in the Air," which became a global pop success when recorded by singer John Paul Young (no relation). Another signature composition is the Easybeats’ anthemic "Friday on My Mind," widely regarded as a landmark Australian rock single.

Work with AC/DC and production role

George Young also played a crucial role behind the scenes in Australian rock. He and Vanda served as producers and mentors for several acts signed to the Albert Productions stable, notably working on early records by AC/DC, the hard rock band formed by his younger brothers Malcolm Malcolm Young and Angus Angus Young. Their hands-on approach in the studio helped shape the raw, powerful sound that became AC/DC’s trademark.

Notable songs and credits

  • "Friday on My Mind" — co-written for the Easybeats
  • "Love Is in the Air" — written with Vanda and popularized by John Paul Young
  • Production and songwriting work for Australian artists and emerging rock acts

Legacy and later life

George Young’s influence on Australian popular music is significant: as a songwriter he helped craft memorable pop and rock melodies; as a producer he contributed to the formative recordings of one of the world’s most famous hard rock bands, and as a performer he helped bring Australian rock to international attention. He died in Australia on 22 October 2017 at age 70. His younger brother Malcolm Young, a founding member of AC/DC, died a few weeks later. For further reading on the Easybeats and related history, see resources associated with the Easybeats, AC/DC, and profiles of Malcolm Young and Angus Young.