Chris Slade, the Welsh drummer best known for his stint in AC/DC, has called time on his career after roughly 60 years behind the kit.
The 79-year-old broke the news in a video posted to social media on Saturday, August 22, pointing to lingering effects from a stroke he suffered around seven years ago as the deciding factor.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I’m announcing my retirement from drumming,” Slade said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “I’m near enough 80 years old. I’ve been drumming, professionally, since I was 16 with Tom Jones. I’ve had a good innings. And thank you all for coming to the shows. And I’d like to thank [the other members of my solo] band also, The Chris Slade Timeline, and all you lot for coming to the shows and having a good time. We know you have, ’cause you told us you have, which was, to get that feedback, is great. So please stay on The Chris Slade Timeline on Facebook, ’cause I’ll be posting, we’ll be posting stuff from now and again to try to keep you interested.”
Slade didn’t shy away from explaining the health toll behind the decision.
“So, what happened was that I had a stroke, as you probably know, about seven years ago — a small stroke, but it’s got worse,” he said. “And I’m afraid that has screwed me up. I’m really jealous of people like The Stones or Paul McCartney who are going well into their 80s, and I wanted to do that. But it looks like I can’t. So, as I say, with a heavy heart, it’s bye for now.”
Slade’s résumé stretches back to age 16, when he first picked up sticks professionally for Tom Jones. From there he became one of rock’s most reliable hired guns, logging time with Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (1971 to 1978, eight albums), Uriah Heep, David Gilmour, The Firm and Asia.
“For many fans, though, it’s his AC/DC tenure that stands out most. Slade manned the kit for the band from 1989 to 1994, drumming on 1990’s multi-platinum The Razors Edge, and later returned in 2015 to cover for Phil Rudd during the Rock Or Bust tour.
