Former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade announced his retirement from drumming in a video message shared on Facebook.
The announcement addressed his decision to step away from performing after a long career, citing health issues that have progressively affected him. In the video, Slade explained the circumstances behind his retirement and thanked his fans and bandmates for their support over the years.
“Hello, everybody. It’s with a heavy heart that I’m announcing my retirement from drumming,” Chris Slade said. “I’m near enough 80 years old. I’ve been drumming professionally since I was 16 with Tom Jones. I’ve had a good innings. And thank you all for coming to the shows. And I’d like to thank [the other members of my solo] band also, The Chris Slade Timeline, 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 went on to explain the health issue that led to his decision.
“So, what happened was that I had a stroke, as you probably know, about seven years ago. A small stroke, but it’s got worse,” he said.
Slade closed the message by reflecting on peers who have continued performing into their 80s, expressing regret that he is unable to do the same.
“And I’m afraid that has screwed me up. I’m really jealous of people like The Stones or Paul McCartney who are going well into their 80s, and 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,” he said.
Slade said fans can continue to follow updates from The Chris Slade Timeline on Facebook, where he plans to keep sharing news going forward.
His decision to step back closes out a drumming career that spans more than six decades. That career touched some of rock’s biggest names.
Slade’s professional journey began in Wales, where he grew up not far from Tom Jones. He landed the drummer’s seat in Jones’s backing band as a teenager, appearing on the singer’s early albums before branching out into other projects. That early grounding with Jones set the stage for a career defined by constant reinvention across genres and lineups.
In 1971, Slade became a founding member of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, a role that further established his reputation as a versatile and reliable drummer. He later spent time with Uriah Heep, adding another respected rock outfit to his resume before his most famous association took shape.
Slade’s connection with AC/DC came in two separate stints, the first in the early 1990s and the second beginning in the 2010s. This cemented his place in the band’s history across different eras. Between those periods, he also worked with other high-profile acts, broadening a discography that few drummers of his generation can match.
The stroke he referenced in his retirement video occurred roughly seven years ago and was initially described as minor. Its effects, however, worsened over time. This gradually limited his ability to perform at the level he once did and ultimately factored into his decision to step away from the drums for good.
