Alexander Young

Alexander "Alex" Young (28 December 1938 – 4 August 1997), also known by his stage name George Alexander, was a Scottish rock musician. He was an elder brother of George Young, the rhythm guitarist and founding member of the Easybeats, as well as Malcolm and Angus Young, founding members of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC, and the uncle of Stevie Young, who is also a member of AC/DC.

Early life Alexander Young was born on 28 December 1938, in Glasgow, Scotland. Young's father, William Young (1911–1985), lived with his family at 6 Skerryvore Road in the Cranhill district of Glasgow. William worked first as a wheel boy in a rope works and then as a machine and saw operator in an asbestos and cement business. In 1940, he joined the Royal Air Force and served in World War II as a flight engine mechanic. After the war, he worked as a yard man for a builder and then as a postman. He married Margaret (1913–1988; maiden name also Young), who was a housewife.

The 'big freeze' of 1963 was the worst winter on record in Scotland with snow eight feet deep. A TV advertisement at the same time offered assisted travel for families for a different life in Australia. 15 members of the Young family left Scotland by aeroplane in late June 1963, including younger brothers William Jr. (1940–2011), George (6 November 1946 – 22 October 2017), Malcolm (6 January 1953 – 18 November 2017) and Angus (born 31 March 1955). Another brother, John (born 1937) migrated to Australia later in 1963. Young chose to remain in Scotland to pursue musical interests. Later, in 1967, Young formed and played bass in the London-based band Grapefruit, initially called "the Grapefruit", with three former members of Tony Rivers and the Castaways, John Perry, Geoff Swettenham, and Pete Swettenham.

Young was signed as songwriter with Apple Music Publishing Ltd. by Terry Doran, managing director of Apple Publishing, friend of the Beatles, and later manager of Grapefruit, during the summer of 1967.

In 1971, he released another single, "Sha-Sha"/"Universal Party", under the name Grapefruit with George Young and Harry Vanda.