Former Kinks guitarist and vocalist Dave Davies has offered support for AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young, following news that the latter was taking a break from the band due to ill health. “Never give up,” Davies wrote in a Facebook post. He recommended that Young remember all the “important ‘tricks'” he’d learned and to exercise his hands and fingers, asking Young to imagine “playing your best solos ever in your mind before you go to sleep daily.”

In another post, Davies – who suffered a stroke a decade ago – explained why he felt he needed to make a public statement about the Australian hard rocker. “I have no idea exactly what physical state Malcolm Young is in, but the public sending out negative vibes about the whole thing is not going to help at all,” he wrote. “It really does not help by people taking a negative view that his career is over. Part of the healing process is convincing the brain and mind that it is capable of anything. I wish him well.”

He also added a personal touch about his own experiences from overcoming an ailment. “I was afraid my first shows last year might have been my last, but sometimes you have to have blind faith with the support of people around you, which I was fortunate to receive,” Davies wrote. “Positive thoughts and encouraging support of others are paramount in the healing process.”

Last week, AC/DC said that it would be making an album without Young with plans to go into a Vancouver studio in May. However, the band declined to reveal the specific illness that has affected Young. “We’re going to pick up some guitars, have a plonk, and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas,” frontman Brian Johnson told the Daily Telegraph. “If anything happens, we’ll record it.”