Former AC/DC Drummer SIMON WRIGHT: 'I'm No PHIL RUDD'

November 21, 2018

Simon Wright, who played drums for AC/DC in the 1980s, spoke to Illawarra Mercury about how having actually been a member of the band afforded him a unique perspective on performing the group's material as part of the "Let There Be Rock - Orchestrated" show, which launches in Australia.

"One thing I did come away from AC/DC [with] is that it's about the feel," the drummer said. "It sounds simple, but it's not about the technicality of it. It's about the swing and the feel of it. I do it to the best of my ability, but I'm no Phil Rudd."

Wright, who joined AC/DC after the departure of Rudd in 1983, also commented on the rumors that Phil and vocalist Brian Johnson are both back with AC/DC and working on new music, after the two were caught on camera together outside a Vancouver recording studio last summer. It would be AC/DC's first release since the death of founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young in 2017.

"I'm hoping they'll be back with another album and a tour — that would be awesome," Wright said.

"With all the problems they've had, obviously with Mal leaving us, and all that crazy stuff with Phil Rudd. I guess they've patched that up, but I don't know anything other than what we all see on the Internet.

"I think it would be nice if they came back and they did an album for Mal, just to kind of put a dot behind that conversation. Because Mal was just the engine room and creator of that band. It's such a tragedy."

Wright, currently of DIO DISCIPLES and also known for his work in DIO, RHINO BUCKET and UFO, lasted in AC/DC for six years. Wright, a then-unknown drummer whose first credits included Manchester, England metal outfit A II Z, joined AC/DC in time for the touring cycle for "Flick Of The Switch" and played with the Australian rockers throughout the '80s before leaving to join DIO in 1989.

Titled in recognition of AC/DC's fourth Australian album released in 1977, "Let There Be Rock – Orchestrated" features AC/DC songs performed by an international band, backed by a 30-piece symphony orchestra.

The group also includes Tim "Ripper" Owens (ex-JUDAS PRIEST),Steve Balbi (NOISEWORKS, MI-SEX),Joel McDonald (ROSE TATTOO),Paul Christie (MONDO ROCK) and rock vocalist Cynthia Gallie.

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