So apparently Chris Slade thinks that he is still AC/DC’s drummer, despite Phil Rudd being back behind the kit for the band’s forthcoming album.
The 73-year-old Slade was called in to play drums for AC/DC’s “Rock Or Bust” world tour after stickman Phil Rudd was arrested for drug possession and threatening to kill an employee. Since then, AC/DC has apparently finished recording a new album, with Rudd sitting behind the kit in the studio.
Slade recently spoke to Rolling Stone to address the question of his status, saying: “To my absolute knowledge, and this is me being absolutely honest, I am the current drummer in AC/DC. [Laughs] It may sound deluded to some people. I’ve said that before in interviews and people have gone, ‘The man is deluded. He’s lost it. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.’
“Nobody has ever called me and said, ‘By the way, you’re not the current drummer’ or, ‘By the way, Phil’s been in the band for three years,'” he continued. “Nobody has ever said that. As far as I’m concerned …God, I’m philosophical enough to realize that Phil may well be back in the band. I have no idea. I had no idea last time when they called me before ‘Rock Or Bust’. I’m open to all possibilities. That’s the way people should be, open-minded.”
Ever since AC/DC completed touring for their 2014 album “Rock Or Bust” four years ago, fans have been wondering the status of the band after the passing of guitarist Malcolm Young, and the then departure of bassist Cliff Williams and singer Brian Johnson.
In February 2019, a photo surfaced on social media suggesting that Williams has also returned to AC/DC and will appear on the rumored comeback album.
A September 2018 report from JAM! magazine cited a “reliable source inside the AC/DC camp” as indicating that the band was recording a new LP which will utilize previously unreleased guitar tracks from Malcolm Young on all the songs.
“That could happen,” Chris told Rolling Stone. “We all know about technology. I’m certain that Malcolm and Angus talked in great depth about this before he passed and before he was really, seriously ill. I’m sure there was a master plan. Of course, you throw away plans. Plan A turns into Plan Z. Personally, my gut feeling is that Angus is not going to retire. There could quite possibly be another album. I’m pretty certain there will be. Who is on it? I have no idea. Will Cliff come out of retirement? Who knows? If he’s had enough fishing for a while, maybe he’ll want to come back to rock and roll.”
Optimism is always a good thing Chris. But we wouldn’t hold out on picking up any other gigs in the meantime. Just a hunch.