DAVE GROHL Pays Tribute To MALCOLM YOUNG: 'Thank You For The Songs And The Feel And The Cool'

FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl has paid touching tribute to Malcolm Young.

The AC/DC co-founder died earlier today (Saturday, November 18) surrounded by family after a long battle with dementia.

In a note posted on the FOO FIGHTERS Facebook page, the former NIRVANA drummer wrote: "37 years ago, my friend Larry Hinkle and I went to see a midnight movie on a Friday night at the Uptown Theater in Washington D.C. It was 1980. We were 11 years old. The movie was 'Let There Be Rock'. And it changed my life.

"That film, a live AC/DC performance from Paris [in] 1979, is everything that live [rock] and roll should be. Sweaty. Loose. Loud. A relentless performance from the perfect band. It was the first time I lost control to music. The first time I wanted to be in a band. I didn't want to play my guitar anymore, I wanted to smash it.

"Thank you, Malcolm, for the songs, and the feel, and the cool, and the years of losing control to your rock and roll. I will do just that tonight, for you.

"Malcolm Young RIP."

Malcolm Young struggled with the onset of dementia for a period of time prior to being admitted to full-time nursing care in Sydney, Australia beginning in 2014.

He was replaced in AC/DC by Stevie Young, nephew of Malcolm and AC/DC guitarist Angus Young.

Malcolm Young last performed live with AC/DC on tour in June 2010 at a concert in Bilbao, Spain.

Malcolm's death comes just weeks after his brother George Young, guitarist for THE EASYBEATS and AC/DC producer, died at age 70.

Malcolm is survived by his wife, two children and three grandchildren.