“Were you the first official member of AC/DC to quit?” That’s the question posed to former AC/DC drummer, Simon Wright, during the latest episode of AC/DC Beyond The Thunder, a podcast that features high-profile guests who’ve been influenced by, or in this case involved with, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, AC/DC.
In 1983, AC/DC were in fact, without a drummer. When founder, Malcolm Young, decided to serve up a one-way ticket to longtime stickman and human metronome, Phil Rudd, during the Flick Of The Switch recording sessions, one of the best-selling bands in the world had seemingly lost its beat. 700 auditions later, a relatively unknown teenager by the name of Simon Wright strolled into a London studio, unaware that he was trying out for a once-in-a-lifetime gig to replace the mighty Phil Rudd.
“Phil Rudd’s a phenomenon,” admits the now 59-year old veteran stickman, “It’s just the way he plays. He’s got this built-in groove. I just tried to dial in with him.”
Simon got the job. Although, he wasn’t officially told so. Following his audition, he overheard AC/DC already discussing tour plans when he leaned over to Malcolm Young, and asked, “Does this mean I’m in the band?” The de facto bandleader shot the new drummer a look and said, “Yeah, it looks like it, doesn’t it?”
From his early upbringing just outside Manchester, England, to being shot into the stratosphere headlining the Monsters of Rock festival with AC/DC, all the while keeping the band’s heartbeat alive throughout the 80’s, Wright drums up plenty of stories during this exclusive 2-part episode.
During Part 1, Wright reflects on everything from Eddie Van Halen jamming with Angus Young backstage, going to dinner with an “intense” Stephen King, listening to unreleased AC/DC demos, and witnessing the first time Stevie Young would replace his uncle, Malcolm Young, while tackling alcoholism during the late eighties.
“We were all deeply concerned about him,” says Wright of Malcolm’s departure on the Blow Up Your Video tour. “I’m just so glad it finally got solved and he came around again.” Wright would never record another album with AC/DC after Malcolm’s return.
Part 2 follows up on Simon Wright’s second act, sitting behind the drum kit for even more rock ’n' roll heroes, including Ronnie James Dio, Michael Schenker & UFO, John Norum of Europe, Geoff Tate's Queensrÿche and the recently formed Metal Gods with Tim “Ripper” Owens, the ultimate ode to Dio & Judas Priest, now touring Australia throughout the month of October.
Fans of the podcast can listen to this new episode and more at BeyondtheThunder.com.
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AC/DC Beyond The Thunder is a podcast which features professional actors, authors, athletes, chefs, CEOs, comedians, musicians, media hosts, wrestlers, even war heroes, all paying homage to one of the greatest bands of all time, AC/DC. Guests have included Slash, Hall of Fame MLB pitcher Trevor Hoffman, SNL comedian Jim Breuer, US Military War Hero Mike Durant from the film ‘Black Hawk Down’, pro wrestler Chris Jericho, classically trained Croatian duo 2CELLOS, as well as Eddie Trunk, Dee Snider, Dweezil Zappa, Scott Ian, Lemmy, Chris Slade, Mike Fraser, Hell’s Belles, Darryl DMC McDaniels and many, many more. From archival interviews to all new guest episodes, AC/DC Beyond the Thunder is now in its third season with over 200,000 streams.
