AC/DC’s Ultimatum to Axl Rose

It’s been eight years since Axl Rose joined AC/DC, yet stories from his brief stint continue to captivate fans. Chris Slade, AC/DC’s drummer at the time, recently reflected on Rose’s tenure during an 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 said.

Though Rose’s reverence for the band was clear, AC/DC ensured strict involvement guidelines were in place. Slade recalled Rose saying, “With AC/DC, I was sent to boot camp.” The ultimatum was simple: “If you screw up, Axl, you’ll get the boot.” Slade noted that it was “Angus [Young] and management” who communicated this message, not him. By all accounts, Rose was on his best behavior during the 22 dates he fronted AC/DC. Johnson was sidelined because of serious hearing issues but made a return in 2020.

Reflecting on his time with the band, Slade spoke candidly about his stints with AC/DC from 1989-94 and 2015-16. Recently, the band made a change, replacing longtime drummer Phil Rudd for their recent tour cycle. Slade was not offered the gig, which 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, laughing.

Meanwhile, Slade has kept busy with his latest project, the Chris Slade Timeline, which recently released their debut album. The album features a mix of original material and new versions of songs Slade played with other artists, including AC/DC.

Source: On the Road to Rock Podcast