( CNN ) -- AC/DC rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young is ill and is `` taking a break , '' the band posted on its website Wednesday . But the hugely popular group will continue , AC/DC said in the statement . `` After forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC , guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health . Malcolm would like to thank the group 's diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support , '' the statement said . `` In light of this news , AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family 's privacy be respected during this time . The band will continue to make music . '' Young , 61 , formed the group in 1973 in Sydney , Australia , with his brother Angus . The statement did not reveal what his illness was , though rumors have swirled since an e-mail was sent to a Perth , Australia , radio station earlier this week . Mark Gable , a fellow musician , told Australia 's ABC Radio that Malcolm Young `` is sick . ... It 's not just that he is unwell , it 's that it is quite serious . '' Gable 's remarks were reported in the Sydney Morning Herald . The hard-rocking group , whose albums include the multimillion-selling `` Back in Black '' and `` For Those About to Rock ( We Salute You ) , '' quickly rose in the music world thanks to their terse riffs and tireless touring . Lead guitarist Angus Young , then and now , is known for wearing a schoolboy uniform on stage . Bon Scott , who sang lead for the band in the '70s , died in 1980 just as `` Highway to Hell '' became AC/DC 's breakthrough album . He was replaced by Brian Johnson , who sang on AC/DC 's biggest chart hits , including `` You Shook Me All Night Long '' and `` Thunderstruck . '' The group has continued putting out million-sellers to the present day . AC/DC 's most recent studio album , `` Black Ice '' ( 2008 ) , debuted at No . 1 in 29 countries -- including the United States -- sold 6 million copies and produced the Grammy-winning track `` War Machine . '' It was the second biggest-selling album of the year . Malcolm Young 's guitar has been a major part of the AC/DC sound -- a sound often slammed by rock critics but beloved by fans of hard rock and heavy metal . Other guitarists , including Megadeth 's Dave Mustaine , rank him highly . Young has said he 's proud of the band 's straightforward , powerhouse crunch . `` People can go out and hear R.E.M . if they want deep lyrics , but at the end of the night , they want to go home and get f***** ! That 's where AC/DC comes into it , '' he once said . AC/DC is one of the biggest-selling bands in music history , ranking 10th on the Recording Industry of America list with more than 70 million albums sold .
AC / DC lead guitarist Malcolm Young is ill , says the band . 61-year - old Young is ` ` taking a break , '' but the band will continue . Questions have swirled about AC / DC 's future . It is one of top sellers of all time .