Former AC/DC drummer Simon Wright recently shared details about his time with the band during an interview on Rock Interviews Series YouTube. At one point, the host mentioned Angus Young’s supposed regret about having Yngwie Malmsteen as the opening act for the band’s ‘Fly on the Wall Tour’ in 1985–1986.
Asked if they had any real issues with Malmsteen’s performances during the tour, Wright explained, “No, not at all. No. You know, Angus is Angus, and Yngwie is Yngwie, and never the twain shall meet. They play totally different styles. I mean, no, that never came up. He wasn’t worried about anything. Angus was never worried about anything.”
AC/DC was touring in support of their ‘Fly on the Wall’ album during the 86-date tour, while Malmsteen was promoting his debut solo album ‘Rising Force’ and his second record, ‘Marching Out.’
Although their musical styles were very different, Malmsteen was a fan of Angus Young’s guitar playing. Earlier this year, the guitarist revealed to Guitar World, “We might sound very different, but I love this guy with a passion. When it comes to straight-up rock ‘n’ roll where you mean every note you play, Angus is the man. I’d even go as far as saying he’s kinda underrated as a guitar player. He’s super-tasty and always sounds good.”
He added, “He’s a dear friend of mine, too. And so is Brian Johnson, who doesn’t live far from me, either!”
This summer, Young returned to the stage with AC/DC for the first time in eight years to celebrate their 50th anniversary with a tour. The Pretty Reckless opened for them during the European leg. The final show took place on August 17 in Dublin, Ireland.