AC/DC’s Ultimatum to Axl Rose

It’s been eight years since Axl Rose memorably joined AC/DC, and stories continue to emerge about his brief tenure with the band.

Chris Slade, the drummer for AC/DC during that period, reflected on Rose’s involvement during a recent appearance on the On the Road to Rock podcast. “Axl, I think, honestly, he did a great job – tremendous job. He’s not Brian [Johnson], and he wasn’t trying to be Brian – and he also was not trying to be Bon. He’s got a lot of respect for Bon Scott. I know he has – and AC/DC,” Slade shared.

Though Rose’s reverence for the band was clear, AC/DC made sure to establish some boundaries regarding his participation. “With AC/DC, I was sent to boot camp,” Slade recalled Rose saying. The ultimatum: “If you screw up, Axl, you’ll get the boot.”

Slade made it clear that he wasn’t the one who delivered the message, noting that “Angus [Young] and management” took care of that part.

By all accounts, Rose maintained exemplary behavior during the 22 dates he fronted AC/DC. Johnson had been sidelined due to serious hearing issues but managed to make a return in 2020.

Slade had two separate stints in AC/DC, from 1989-94 and 2015-16. Recently, the band made another change behind the kit, replacing longtime drummer Phil Rudd for their recent tour cycle. Slade was not offered the gig, which ultimately went to Matt Laug, but he insisted there were no hard feelings.

“Would I have done it?” Slade pondered. “Yes, I would do it – of course. Angus probably wanted a change and thought maybe I couldn’t do it. I’m the same age as Brian. So, you can’t be ageist and say ‘Oh, Slade’s too old now,’” he added with a laugh.

Slade’s latest project, the Chris Slade Timeline, recently released their debut album. One half of the LP consists of original material, while the other features new versions of songs Slade played with other artists, including AC/DC.