Former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade expressed his views on not being a part of the 2024 touring lineup, noting that he would definitely accept had he been invited in Matt Laug’s stead.
The Welsh drummer has proven to be a reliable member of the legendary Australian rock band during his original tenure lasting from 1989 to 1994, and when Angus Young & Co. came calling again in 2015 after Phil Rudd found himself under house arrest, Slade jumped right back in to help out his former bandmates.
However, when AC/DC needed a drummer for their continuing 2024 “Power Up” tour, Slade was not approached, and the role was instead given to Matt Laug. When asked in a new interview with Clint Switzer of On The Road To Rock if he had any unfavorable thoughts about Angus Young’s decision, the drummer stated (transcription via Blabbermouth): “No. You know what? Would I have done it? That is the next question. I would say yes, and I would certainly do it. Angus probably wanted a change and assumed I couldn’t do it. I am the same age as Brian [Johnson]. So you can’t be ageist and say, ‘Slade’s too old now,’ because [Angus] is a spring chicken himself.
As for his successor Matt Laug, Slade said:
“I know Matt Laug, by the way. I used to know him when I lived in California. So I used to see Matt and talked to him many times. We have mutual friends who had a band in a place called Pancho’s in Manhattan Beach in California. And they used to play every Friday. So I used to go and sometimes sit in, but always went to see them, watch them. And they’re a fantastic band. And Matt was one of the drummers that sat in. So I saw him a few times down there, and we talked and he told me about… Alanis [Morissette] offered him the tour in the beginning, ‘Jagged Little Pill’ tour, and he wanted to concentrate on his studio work in L.A. So he said ‘no’ to Alanis. So he might’ve learned his lesson this time.
