Portal:AC/DC/Selected biography/9

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Chris Slade (born Christopher Rees, October 30, 1946, in Pontypridd, Wales) is a rock drummer who has worked with many different musicians, including Gary Numan, Tom Jones, Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann's Earth Band. In the early 1980s, Slade played with Paul Rodgers in The Firm and also with David Gilmour on many other projects. Slade arguably received his highest exposure in 1989 when he was asked to join the Australian hard rock band AC/DC after Simon Wright had departed. Angus and Malcolm Young, AC/DC's founding members, initially hired Slade temporarily, but later he was asked to become a full-time member. Slade played drums on The Razor's Edge and also on the tour. The Young brothers, however, asked Slade to leave after four years with the group and reinstated former drummer Phil Rudd, claiming that Rudd had demonstrated a "groove" more fitting their style of rock. Slade's departure, however, was amicable; Angus Young stated, "Chris was probably the best musician in the band. We hate to lose him, but getting Phil back is worth asking him to leave." (more...)