Last week, the Sydney Morning Herald tempered the excitement about AC/DC’s first album in six years, Rock or Bust, with the announcement that founding guitarist Malcolm Young was suffering from dementia. And while their report came from “a source,” the fact that the Herald was a legitimate news source lent it some credibility, even if there was nothing official. Today, sadly, it’s been made official by Young’s family via a statement they made to People:

“Malcolm is suffering from dementia and the family thanks you for respecting their privacy,” his family said in a statement to People.”

The Herald initially reported that Young was being treated in a nursing home in Sydney, Australia. It has to be crushing to the band to be making their first record without Young in their 41 year history, despite the fact that his cousin Stevie is filling in on guitar. And while it’s very sad to hear official confirmation that Young is suffering from dementia, at least it’s not just hearsay.

AC/DC’s Rock or Bust will be out on December 2nd.