Veteran drummer Chris Slade revealed in a recent interview with WalesOnline how surprised he was to be asked to take Phil Rudd’s position in AC/DC not just once, but twice.
Slade’s first stint with AC/DC was cut short despite his popularity with the band. He was informed that the band planned to rejoin with former drummer Phil Rudd during the production of “Ballbreaker.” Slade left the band in good standing, honoring their choice. But his relationship with AC/DC continued after his departure.
Rudd’s legal issues in 2015 made it possible for Slade to rejoin AC/DC for the “Rock or Bust” global tour. The drummer, however, was least prepared for this:
“People kept asking me, and I kept saying: ‘They’re not going to call, they’re not going to call,’ and it went on for months. Then I was on the road with Timeline and got the ring ring.”
He answered the call from management with great excitement. It seems that Slade’s previous bandmates also wanted him to return:
“I said: ‘Of course’. I asked if the band had asked me [to come back], and the manager said: ‘Of course’ [and] that he wouldn’t be asking me if they hadn’t wanted it first. I used to visit the band sometimes when they were in London, but I haven’t seen them much since. Probably a few years.”
However, history was repeated in 2020 when Rudd rejoined the group, which resulted in Slade’s second exit.
Slade Had a Successful Career With AC/DC
After drummer Simon Wright left AC/DC in 1989, Slade’s tenure with the band officially started. He remembers that out of a hundred applicants, his audition for the band was not flawless in his opinion, yet he was selected. He later re-joined the group for their global tour and 1990 album “The Razors Edge,” which featured the smash song “Thunderstruck.”
Beyond AC/DC, Slade has had a prosperous career. He performed with The Firm in the middle of the 1980s, was a founding member of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, and spent six years with the English rock ensemble Asia until 2005. In addition, he headlined the AC/DC tribute group Chris Slade Steel Circle and is the leader of The Chris Slade Timeline, a band that spans the entirety of his musical career.
The same topic was asked again in a 2021 interview: how did Slade feel about being removed twice, by Rudd? The drummer then said when asked if he had ever discussed becoming an official member of the band with his fellow musicians. This is the narrative that you may read.
What’s in Store for AC/DC?
Launching the High Voltage Dive Bar in Indio in October 2023 and joining drummer Matt Laug for a performance at the Power Trip music event are two of AC/DC’s recent endeavors. The group also generated buzz about a potential 2024 tour, which included a confirmed June 12, 2024, date at Munich’s Olympic Stadium as well as an appearance at the Rock in Rio event.
Nevertheless, the band’s official website currently has no formal announcements.