George Young dead: Songwriter, Easybeats member and AC/DC producer dies aged 70

Harry Vanda, Geroge Young, Little Stevie Wright, Dick Dimonde and Gordon Fleet of Australian rock band The Easybeats (Getty)

Pioneering Australian songwriter George Young has died aged 70.

Young, the brother of AC/DC's Angus and Malcolm Young, was a member of the Easybeats and co-wrote the band's hit "Friday On My Mind".

Born in Scotland in 1946, he migrated to Australia with his family as a teenager, forming The Easybeats after he met Dutch-born artist Harry Vanda in Sydney.

After the band broke up in 1969, Vanda and Young would embark on a songwriting career that saw the pair produce dozens of hits.

They became two of Australia's best-known songwriters, with Young's work including "Love Is In The Air" and "Yesterday's Hero" for John Paul Young.

The news was confirmed by David Albert, CEO of Alberts record company, early on Monday 23 October.

"It is with great sadness that Alberts acknowledge the passing of George Young," hje said in a statement.

"A consummate songwriter, trailblazing producer, artist, mentor and extraordinary musician, George was above all else a gentleman who was unfailingly modest, charming, intelligent and loyal, a man with a wonderful sense of humour.

"George was a pioneer who, with close friends Harry Vanda and Ted Albert, created a new sound for the Australian music industry, He will be missed."

AC/DC said in a separate statement that the band would not exist without Young's "help and guidance".

"As a musician, songwriter, producer, advisor and much, much more, you could not ask for a more dedicated and professional man," the band said.

"You could not ask for a finer brother. We will always remember him with gratitude and hold him close to our hearts."