Drummer Chris Slade (AC/DC, David Gilmour) Announces Retirement

Yesterday (Aug. 22), revered Welsh drummer Chris Slade – who’s played with AC/DC, David Gilmour and many other celebrated artists – announced “with a heavy heart” that he’s retiring from drumming due to his age and past medical struggles.

Chris Slade’s Retirement Announcement

The 79-year-old Slade’s video was posted on the Facebook page for his solo band, The Chris Slade Timeline, and it began: “Hello, everybody. It's with a heavy heart that I'm announcing my retirement from drumming.”

Slade further explained:

I'm near enough 80 years old. I've been drumming since I was – professionally since I was 16 with Tom Jones. I've had a good innings, and you know, thank you all for coming to the shows. I'd like to thank the [Chris Slade Timeline] band also . . . 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.

He also mentioned that he “had a stroke, as you probably know, about seven years ago,” and while it was “a small stroke,” it’s “got worse.”

“I'm afraid that has screwed me up,” he continued. “I'm really jealous of people like The [Rolling] Stones or Paul McCartney, who are going well into their 80s. 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."

You can view Slade’s entire message below:

Last month, Slade posted another video to the same Facebook page – which you can watch below – announcing that his band couldn’t play Italy’s Brudstock Festival on July 25 due to a serious injury:

[The band] drove all the way from U.K. to Italy to do [the gig]. . . . Unfortunately, being a very old man, I fell over and I’ve hurt my ribs very badly. So, I have to go to hospital to fix [them] and what can I say? We are devastated as a band, but we can’t make the gig in Brudstock. It is devastating; it’s the only time I’ve ever canceled a show in 15 years [of the Timeline]. We are terribly sorry. I am devastated, and . . . any old person . . . will tell you that when you fall when you’re very old, you can’t do anything about it. You fall where you lay, and it was on a very hard floor, and unfortunately, the floor won. . . . I can’t life my arms to play drums. That’s the whole thing about it. I couldn’t even hold some drumsticks. So, I will say, I’m terribly sorry. Have a good gig anyway and terribly sorry again.

Undoubtedly, that incident also played a part in Slade’s decision to retire.

Of course, everyone at Loudwire wishes Slade a happy and healthy retirement.

Reactions to Slade’s Retirement

Endearingly, Slade’s retirement has been met with overwhelming understanding, support and the like.

For example, one Facebook user replied:
Chris, was amazing you played at Battle of Lewes last year. You met old friends and were incredible.
Thank you for taking us through your timeline of very special moments in your career.
Take care - you are a true legend of rock.
Thank you!

Another person similarly championed Slade’s contributions to rock and metal:

A well deserved retirement. There are plenty of things for you to do. You have a wealth of knowledge and what stories you could capture in a book or on social media! You have played with tons of artists and know just about everyone. But the best part of your "timeline" is drumming for my guys in AC/DC and TWICE no less! We love you and so appreciate you Chris. You are a true gentleman and will always be part of the AC/DC Family.

More About Slade’s Career

As already mentioned, Slade’s decades-spanning career included stints with AC/DC and David Gilmour.

In particular, and in addition to various unofficial releases, he played on one AC/DC studio record – 1990’s The Razors Edge – as well as a couple of live releases (1992’s Live at Donington and AC/DC Live) and the song “Big Gun” from 1993’s Last Action Hero. As for Gilmour, Slade appeared on the 1984 concert film Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour.

Beyond that, Slade played on Tom Jones’ 1965 debut LP (Along Came Jones) plus several other collections. He also lent his talents to works by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band throughout the 1970s, as well as material by Uriah Heep, Asia, Gary Numan, Denny Laine and Damage Control.

In 2024, he released the debut album from The Chris Slade Timeline – Timescape – which largely earned positive reviews from critics and casual fans.

Which of Slade’s performances are your favorite? Let us know!

Also, check out our list of 11 rock and metal bands that still saw success with their third singer (including AC/DC) below!