CHRIS SLADE was “not bitter at all” because AC/DC did not ask him to return

Welsh drummer Chris Sladewho has played with everyone over the last 60 years, from Tom Jones To MANFRED MANN, THE COMPANY And AC / DCsays he was not bitter about the latter band’s decision, Matt Laug to sit behind the drums for the Brian Johnson-Front outfit on AC / DC‘s Spring/Summer Tour 2024.

AC / DC has not provided an explanation for the absence of the band’s long-time drummer Phil Ruddwho rejoined AC / DC for the recording of the group’s comeback album, “Turn on”which came out in November 2020.

“I was not bitter when Phil came back (for the ‘Turn on’ album) or whatever – or (they) didn’t use me, let’s put it that way,” Slade told Real Music With Gary Stuckey in a new interview (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). “People would say, ‘Oh, he’s bitter. Listen to the way he talks.’ I wasn’t bitter at all – not in the slightest. I’ve probably gotten used to it now.

“When I lived in California, I knew Matt Laug as a drummer”, Chris continued. “So I was glad that I knew the guy who was going to be there. And I knew he was a nice guy. I knew he was very capable and that he could do exactly what Angus (Young, AC / DC guitarist). I just heard a rumor that Philis coming back. I don’t know. But that’s a rumor, and this AC / DC Rumors are…you never know.”

When asked if he would play again with AC / DC if the band asked him to join again, Slade said: “Yes, I would. I would. I’m still playing with (THE CHRIS SLADE) TIMELINE. I play every week. We play shows. Last Saturday we were in France, in Lyon. In two weeks we’re going to Italy. We were in Poland about two months ago, in Chechnya, in East Germany. We work all over Europe. We were in Spain a couple of years ago. We haven’t been there since. And so I play with my guys, and I’m pretty happy with that. It’s a really, really great band. And I don’t have to go back with them. AC / DCto be honest, but if they wanted to, Angus knows that he could ask me at any time.

“I can’t imagine that happening,” Slade “To be honest, I couldn’t imagine it happening the second time. People kept asking me, ‘Have you heard anything? Have you heard anything yet?’ Friends and family. And I said, ‘Look, they’re not going to call. OK?’ That was before ‘Rock or bust’. ‘They won’t call. They’ve had enough of me. They won’t call.’ And then I was traveling in Switzerland with TIMELINE. Ring, ring, and it is a AC / DC. (Laughs) And this is three months after these rumors started going around. And I was shocked. I spoke to the manager for about half an hour and I said, “Yes, of course I would do that.” And at the end I said, “Can I ask you a question? Did that come from the guys? Did that request come from the guys?” He said, “Of course it came from the guys. I wouldn’t make that call without their consent.” Which is true. But I still wanted confirmation that it was the guys who had made that offer to come back. So I stayed there for another two, three years.”

Rudd was displaced from AC / DC when he was sentenced to eight months of house arrest by a New Zealand court in 2015 after pleading guilty to charges of threatening to kill and drug possession. He was replaced on the band “Rock or bust” Tour from Sladewho was previously AC / DCDrummer from 1989 to 1994, played on the album “The Knife’s Edge”.

Ruddwhich is on all but three AC / DC‘s 18 previous studio albums, toured in support of his 2014 solo debut, “Head job”It was the release of this album that indirectly led to RuddThe drummer was said to have been so angry with a personal assistant about the way the record was promoted that he threatened to have the man and his daughter killed.

Slade originally followed Simon Wright In AC / DC‘s lineup, which arrived in time to play “The Knife’s Edge”. When Rudd returned in 1995, Slade was kicked out and had a bad feeling about it for a while.

Slade promotes the new album by THE CHRIS SLADE TIMELINE, “Timescape”which will arrive on July 19th.