Phillip Hugh Norman Rudd (born Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis, on May 19, 1954 in Melbourne, Australia) is the drummer for 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.
Biography
Rudd played in several bands in Melbourne before joining The Coloured Balls, with future Rose Tattoo vocalist, Angry Anderson. They soon changed their name to ‘Buster Brown’ and released one album, Something To Say, before Rudd left in late 1974 to join AC/DC. 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.
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 leader Malcolm Young, which eventually became physical. After leaving AC/DC, Rudd retired to Tauranga, New Zealand where he purchased a helicopter charter company.
It is assumed that his decision to settle in New Zealand was 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.
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. AC/DC’s former bassist Mark Evans was recently quoted comparing Rudd to the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards, in that they were both “born to play” for their respective bands.
