Yesterday, rumors abounded on the internet claiming that the famed rock group AC/DC was on the verge of retirement due to the failing health of one of its band members. Today, the band released a statement assuring fans that, while one of the band members is suffering from ill health, the band is not ready to retire quite yet.

The rumors were fueled when a person, codenamed “Thunderstruck”, emailed a radio station in Perth, Australia with “insider” news concerning the status of the band: “I have extremely good contacts in Europe that are very close to AC/DC. I have it on very good authority that one of the band members is quite ill and has returned to Australia with his family… AC/DC members have previously made a pact that no band members will be replaced should someone need to leave the band. No more is currently being said, however the particularly ill member of AC/DC’s son has stated that AC/DC may well be over,” read the email.

RUMOUR FILE-more details from 'Thunderstruck' this morning-ACDC's MALCOLM YOUNG & his family have moved back to Oz because he is very sick

— News Talk 6PR 882 (@6PR) April 14, 2014

In response to yesterday’s rumor mill, AC/DC took to Facebook to squash any more stirrings of the band’s demise:

In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, AC/DC front-man Brian Johnson reassured fans that the band is still intent on remaining active, stating, “We are definitely getting together in May in Vancouver. We’re going to pick up some guitars, have a plonk, and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens, we’ll record it.”

Earlier this year, AC/DC had announced intentions to put together a 40th anniversary tour which would include playing in 40 venues in 40 different days. While Malcolm Young’s ill health may postpone, or even cancel, that tour, the band is not commenting either way.

“That would be a wonderful way to say bye bye. We would love to do it. But it’s all up in the air at the moment,” stated Johnson. However, the lead-singer would go on to add that, “I wouldn’t like to say anything either way about the future. I’m not ruling anything out. One of the boys has a debilitating illness, but I don’t want to say too much about it. He is very proud and private, a wonderful chap. We’ve been pals for 35 years and I look up to him very much.”

The only thing that is certain is the fact that if AC/DC does record another album or goes on tour again, they will remain as successful as always. The band released its 15th studio album in 2008, entitled “Black Ice”, selling 5.3 million albums within one year and topping the charts in 29 different countries.

Images via Wikimedia Commons and Facebook