Phil Rudd
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Phil Rudd | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis |
| Born | May 19, 1954 |
| Origin | Melbourne, Australia |
| Genre(s) | Hard rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Drums |
| Years active | 1970 - 1983; 1994 - present |
| Label(s) | Sony |
| Associated acts | AC/DC Buster Brown Coloured Balls |
| Website | www.acdcrocks.com |
| Notable instrument(s) | |
| SONOR drums Paiste cymbals |
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Phillip Hugh Norman Rudd (born Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis[1], on May 19, 1954) is an Australian drummer, best known for his membership in Australian rock band AC/DC. He held the position from 1975 until 1983, and again from 1994 to present. After the 1977 departure of bassist Mark Evans, he became the only Australian-born member of the band. He uses SONOR drums, Paiste cymbals, and Aquarian drumheads.
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[edit] Biography
Rudd played in several bands in Melbourne before joining Buster Brown with future Rose Tattoo vocalist, Angry Anderson. They went on to release one album, Something To Say, in 1975 but Rudd left in 1974 for a brief spell in the Coloured Balls with Lobby Lloyde. During 1975 he was told about AC/DC's rhythm section auditions by his former Coloured Balls bandmate Trevor Young. He asked ex-Buster Brown bassist Geordie Leach to accompany him, but Leach refused. Rudd tried out and was hired immediately[2]. He fitted in with the band very quickly and contributed his solid drumming style to great effect on the string of albums recorded from 1975 to 1983. The band relocated to the UK in 1976 and followed a heavy schedule of international touring and recording.
[edit] Sacked from AC/DC
In 1980 vocalist Bon Scott died. The band regrouped with vocalist Brian Johnson and recorded their most successful album, Back in Black. Rudd took Scott's death badly, but continued with AC/DC until he was fired from the band during the recording of the Flick of the Switch album in 1983. He had completed his contribution to this album, and although session drummer B.J. Wilson was drafted in to help complete the recording, Wilson's drum parts were eventually not used. Ex-Tytan drummer, Simon Wright, replaced Rudd, and helped the band record videos for two of the album's ten songs, "Flick of the Switch", and "Nervous Shakedown".
Rudd's sacking from the band was partly a result of his own problems with alcohol, and also growing conflict between him and band's rhythm guitarist, Malcolm Young, which eventually became physical. After being sacked from AC/DC, Rudd retired to Tauranga, New Zealand where he purchased a helicopter charter company.[3]
His decision to settle in New Zealand may have been due to his high profile. AC/DC fans began to regularly drive through streets Rudd had formerly lived on and approach people in an attempt to locate him.
On his period away from AC/DC, Rudd has said, "I raced cars, flew helicopters, became a farmer and planted some crops. I lived in New Zealand which was great; nice and quiet with nobody bothering me." Rudd also continued to play drums, "when I wanted to rather than when I had to" and built his own studio.[4]
[edit] Rejoining AC/DC
When AC/DC went touring in New Zealand in 1994, they called Rudd to see if he would like to "jam" with them. Rudd decided to accept their offer and was eventually rehired.
Since his return to the band, Rudd has contributed to AC/DC's Ballbreaker and Stiff Upper Lip albums.
Compared to the artists who served in his absence, his style of drumming is deemed the most compatible with the style of the other band members. For this reason, they were glad to welcome him back following Chris Slade's term as drummer. It should be noted that there was no ill feeling as a result of Slade's departure. The band praised Slade for his performance and technical ability, but maintained that a certain sound had been missing from AC/DC's music since the altercation in 1983.
[edit] Equipment
Rudd mainly uses SONOR drums, which he helped to develop, and Paiste cymbals.
He also has signature Drum Sticks, released by Easton Ahead.
[edit] References
- Walker, Clinton (1994), Highway to Hell: The Life and Times of AC/DC Legend Bon Scott, Verse Chorus Press, ISBN 0-283-06263-0
- Stenning, Paul; Johnstone, Rob (2005). AC/DC: Two Sides to Every Glory: The Complete Biography. Chrome Dreams. ISBN 1842403087.
- ^ Bio at www.everydrummer.com [1]
- ^ Engleheart, Murray AC/DC - Maximum Rock N Roll 2006 ISBN 0 7322 8383 3
- ^ "Metal Hammer & Classic Rock present AC/DC", Metal Hammer magazine special, 2005
- ^ "Metal Hammer & Classic Rock present AC/DC", Metal Hammer magazine special, 2005
[edit] External links
- ACDC.com official site
- ACDCRocks.com
- AC/DC profile page by Albert Music
- AC/DC profile page by Atlantic Records
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