Malcolm Young’s battle with dementia happened suddenly, according to music industry insiders.

Michael Browning, who managed AC/DC from 1974 to 1979, said while he hadn’t spoken to the band since he parted ways with them, he has friends who keep him in the loop.

Malcolm Young. Photo: AC/DC

“I have friends that are still involved and they keep me posted so I have known for a little while. I think it (Young’s illness) came on very suddenly,” Browning said.

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Fairfax Media reported on Friday that the 61-year-old rocker was in an aged care facility – Lulworth House in Elizabeth Bay, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs – being treated for dementia.

When AAP contacted the home to confirm if Malcolm Young was a resident there they said they couldn’t make any comments about “that person” at the moment.

The band released a statement on Wednesday revealing Young had retired from the band as they announced their forthcoming album, Rock or Bust, and that they would be touring next year without the guitarist.

Browning said he heard the 61-year-old rocker suffered from a stroke and knew he had dementia and was being looked after in a home.

“I didn’t know which one but I knew he was in a nursing home type place of some kind,” he said.

“It’s shocking it’s terrible. Sadly for AC/DC they’re losing their creator, their mentor he’s the genius behind the band.”

Browning said he would be interested to hear the band’s new record, due out on November 28, without Young’s input.

Young’s nephew, Steve Young, has stepped in to replace his uncle on the record and will play in his stead during the band’s tour.

“I’ll be interested to see how they shape up without Malcolm. I wish them all the best and hope they pull off a good album,” Browning said.

“It’s certainly a difficult one for them because he was the musical genius behind the band and difficult to imagine them without him, quite honestly. I’m sure he (Steve) will be fine in a live situation, as to where that leaves them on a recording level, who knows?” he said.

“Malcolm was the songwriter so that’s what potentially makes it difficult.”

Browning said it was a tough life out on the road as a rock star and he remembered Young drinking quite heavily in the early days.

“Most musicians were the same, with the exception of his brother Angus who didn’t touch a drop of alcohol in his life,” he said.

“I guess being on the road living that life and everything that goes along with it certainly takes its toll.”

News of Young’s illness first surfaced in April when AC/DC released a statement saying that he was going on a hiatus from the band.

“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,” the band said.

His bandmate, Brian Johnson, also revealed in July that Young was in hospital in an interview with Classic Rock magazine.

“We miss Malcolm obviously. He’s a fighter. He’s in hospital but he’s a fighter. We’ve got our fingers crossed that he’ll get strong again,” Johnson said.