There are not many drummers in classic rock history who have had such a vast and successful musical career as Chris Slade. To showcase the career of someone like Chris Slade, who has played with some of the most famous musical artists in history, one must start chronologically. The first single that I ever bought as a young kid in the 1960s was a Tom Jones single. I never thought that, as an eight-year-old, I would interview the man who played drums on that record almost sixty years later. Chris Slade began his career playing with Tom Jones on all those classic 1960s singles. Slade spent seven years with Jones touring the world when he was in his early twenties after joining Jones at only seventeen years old. After leaving Jones, Slade began working in a band whose lead singer was a young woman named Olivia Newton-John.
At the start of 1971, Chris Slade formed a band with Manfred Mann, Mick Rogers, and Colin Pattenden called Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. Chris stayed with the group for seven years, during which time they achieved a number one single with “Blinded by the Light,” a dramatic reworking of a song written by Bruce Springsteen.
After leaving Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Chris worked and recorded with Frankie Miller and Kai Olsson. His next engagement was a two-year stint with the legendary band Uriah Heep. Following that, he played drums on the famous I Assassin album for Gary Numan. Chris Slade also collaborated with Denny Laine on Laine’s fourth solo album, Anyone Can Fly, and toured with David Gilmour.
One of the most significant milestones in Chris Slade’s career was when he was invited to join AC/DC. He spent five years with AC/DC, touring with the band and recording the album Razors Edge with the group. After leaving AC/DC, Chris Slade would continue his marvelous rock and roll career by joining another huge band in the 80s supergroup Asia from 2000 to 2004. He would then move on and work with Michale Schenker before working once again with AC/DC.
In 2012, Chris Slade formed his own band, The Chris Slade Timeline. The band stands as a celebration of his phenomenal career performing the songs that have traveled along side him through his life’s timeline. The band’s new album, Timescape, will be released on July 19, 2024. You can check out Chris Slade’s website to order the CD.
Below is my interview with legendary drummer Chris Slade. Dont miss this!
Below is the Two Hour Interview with the legendary Chris Slade
Chris Slade: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024
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