Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd doesn’t think that the band should retire.
AC/DC has gone through a lot of upheaval in the last few years that have left guitarist Angus Young as the only original active member.
– April 2014 – Malcolm Young stopped playing with the band amid reports that he was seriously ill. By September, he had officially retired due to suffering from dementia. Malcolm and Angus’ nephew Stevie Young stepped in.
– November 2014 – Phil Rudd was charged with trying to procure a murder and drug possession in New Zealand. Phil had to pull out of all touring in support of the album Rock or Bust due to the charges and not being able to leave the country. Former band drummer Chris Slade took over.
– March 2016 – Vocalist Brian Johnston was advised by doctors to permanently retire from performing or risk permanent deafness. Axl Rose took over the frontman duties for the balance of the Rock or Bust tour but a regular replacement was not announced.
– July 2016 – Cliff Williams stated his intention to retire and, at the end of the Rock or Bust tour, he made it official.
So the question then became, would AC/DC continue as an operating band. Word was that Angus Young and Axl Rose would move forward with three new musicians. They are expected to start work on a new AC/DC album in 2017 when the Guns N Roses tour commitments conclude.
Rudd recently appeared on The Rich Davenport Rock Show where he was asked if Angus should retire the band. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Angus has never played better [than he did] on the Rock Or Bust album. He’s playing fucking great. What’s he gonna give it up for? That’s like fucking Napoleon not finding somewhere else to fucking conquer.”
