FORMER AC/DC drummer Chris Slade has announced he is retiring from playing the instrument.
Slade, who turns 80 in October, chose a social media video to make the announcement, saying a “small stroke” several years ago played a key role in his decision.
“Hello everybody,” he said. “It’s with a heavy heart that I’m announcing my retirement from drumming. I’m near enough 80 years old. I’ve been drumming professionally since I was 16 with Tom Jones. I’ve had good innings.
“I had a stroke, as you probably know, about seven years ago. A small stroke, but it’s got worse and I’m afraid that has screwed me up.
“I’m really jealous of people like the Stones and Paul McCartney, who are going well into their eighties, and I wanted to do that, but looks like I can’t.
“So as I say, with a heavy heart, it’s bye for now.”
Slade famously played on Acadacka’s hit 1990 album The Razor’s Edge and the now evergreen standard, “Thunderstruck”. He returned in 2015 when Phil Rudd was unable to leave New Zealand due to legal issues.
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