Chris Slade, Former AC/DC Drummer, Announces Retirement From Drumming

Chris Slade, the Welsh drummer best known for two separate runs with AC/DC, announced his retirement from drumming in a video posted to Facebook on August 22, 2026. “It’s with a heavy heart that I’m announcing my retirement from drumming,” Slade said in the clip, adding that he is “near enough 80 years old” and has drummed professionally since age 16, when he started out with Tom Jones.

Slade explained that the decision comes down to his health. He said he suffered a small stroke about seven years ago and that its effects have since worsened, leaving him unable to continue performing the way he wants to.

• Slade served in AC/DC from 1989 to 1994, appearing on the band’s 1990 album “The Razor’s Edge.”
• He rejoined AC/DC in 2015 for the “Rock or Bust” tour after Phil Rudd faced legal trouble.
• Phil Judd became AC/DC’s drummer in 2020, and Matt Laug drummed for the band’s 2024 tour.
• Slade launched his solo act, The Chris Slade Timeline, in 2013, releasing its most recent album, “Timescape,” in 2024.

What Chris Slade Said About Retiring

In his announcement, Slade thanked fans for turning out to shows over the years and expressed gratitude to his bandmates in The Chris Slade Timeline. He asked supporters to keep following the band’s Facebook page, saying updates would continue to be posted there even though his own drumming has come to an end.

Slade also pointed to musicians who have kept working into their eighties, saying he felt envious of acts like The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney for still performing at that age. He said he had hoped to do the same but that his health no longer allows it. “So, as I say, with a heavy heart, it’s bye for now,” he said.

Chris Slade’s Career With AC/DC and Beyond

Slade’s history with AC/DC spans two stretches: an initial run from 1989 to 1994 that produced “The Razor’s Edge,” and a return in 2015 for the “Rock or Bust” tour after Phil Rudd was sidelined by legal issues. Phil Judd later took over on drums for AC/DC in 2020, and Matt Laug handled drumming duties for the band’s 2024 tour in Slade’s place.

Beyond AC/DC, Slade’s resume includes stints with Tom Jones, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, The Firm, Asia, Uriah Heep, and work alongside Jimmy Page and David Gilmour. His career dates back to 1963, starting with seven years in Tom Jones’ backing group, The Squires. In 1969 he joined a band called Toomorrow, whose lineup included Olivia Newton-John, and in March 1972 he became a founding member of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, staying six years and recording eight albums that produced three UK top 10 singles.

In a July 2024 interview, Slade addressed AC/DC’s choice of Matt Laug over him for that year’s tour, saying he wasn’t disappointed by the decision. He noted that he is the same age as AC/DC singer Brian Johnson, making it hard for guitarist Angus Young to justify the move on the grounds of age.

Slade has also spoken previously about working on an autobiography, describing the manuscript as essentially finished after roughly 20 years of writing but still in need of being organized into a final form. He suggested the book could end up being released across multiple volumes.

More Info

• Drummer Chris Slade (AC/DC, David Gilmour) Announces Retirement | Loudwire
• Former AC/DC Drummer CHRIS SLADE Announces His Retirement From Drumming: With A Heavy Heart, Its Bye For Now | Blabbermouth
• AC/DC legend announces hes retiring from music six years after being fired from the band for a second time | The Sun Showbiz
• "It’s with a heavy heart that I’m announcing my retirement from drumming." Former AC/DC man Chris Slade calls time on career at 79 | Louder / Classic Rock
• Former AC/DC Drummer Chris Slade Announces Retirement | Metal Injection
• Bye For Now: Former AC/DC Member Chris Slade Announces Retirement From Drumming | American Songwriter