How Axl Rose’s AC/DC Stay Really Went For Him

It’s been eight years since Axl Rose stepped in as the frontman for AC/DC, but the stories from his short-lived tenure continue circulating.

During a recent appearance on the On the Road to Rock podcast, AC/DC’s drummer at the time, Chris Slade, shared his thoughts on Rose’s performance. Slade said:

“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.”

Despite Rose’s clear respect for the band, AC/DC set strict expectations for his involvement. Slade recalled Rose’s words about the experience: “With AC/DC, I was sent to boot camp… If you screw up, Axl, you’ll get the boot.” Slade noted that it wasn’t his role to deliver this message, leaving that to “Angus [Young] and management.”

By all accounts, Rose took his role seriously and was on his best behavior during the 22 dates he performed with AC/DC. Brian Johnson had been sidelined due to severe hearing issues but was able to return in 2020.

Chris Slade Open to Rejoining AC/DC

Reflecting on his time with the band, Slade, who had two stints with AC/DC from 1989-94 and 2015-16, shared his thoughts on not being asked to rejoin for their recent tour. The band opted for drummer Matt Laug instead of Slade or longtime drummer Phil Rudd. “Would I have done it? Yes, I would do it – of course,” Slade said. “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 is currently focused on his own 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.