Phil Rudd, the legendary drummer of AC/DC, has opened up about feeling abandoned by his former bandmates following his departure from the iconic rock group. He shared these feelings in an interview with Stuff.
Rudd reflected on the emotional toll of leaving the band and the sense of betrayal he experienced from those he considered family.
“There was a time when I thought it was the end of my world. I only knew life with AC/DC,” Rudd said. “Those people I thought loved me like a brother, they haven’t even picked up the phone.”
The drummer also touched on the loneliness he felt even during his time with the band, particularly after the death of original frontman Bon Scott.
“When Bon died, even in AC/DC I felt alone. But I was never alone,” he continued. “The people who like the music, it always humbles me, but makes me happy too.”
When asked about the possibility of reuniting with AC/DC, Rudd made it clear where his loyalties lie.
“People always ask me if I will play with AC/DC again. The only people I would do it for would be the fans,” he said. “And for Bon. I would do it for Bon.”
Rudd’s relationship with AC/DC has been marked by multiple departures over the decades. He was first fired from the band in 1983, only to rejoin in 1994 and continue as their drummer for years.
Blabbermouth reported that his most recent departure came in 2015 when he was sentenced to eight months of home detention in New Zealand after pleading guilty to charges of threatening to kill and drug possession. This led to his replacement by Chris Slade on the “Rock Or Bust” tour.
Despite his absence from touring, Rudd contributed to AC/DC’s 2020 studio album “Power Up.” Beatit.tv noted that Rudd is currently not touring with AC/DC. He is choosing instead to focus on personal matters, including caring for his partner Toni Wilson, who is battling stage four breast cancer.
As of late 2023, Metalwani covered Rudd’s live comeback with a local party band in New Zealand, playing AC/DC’s “T.N.T.” This performance reignited fans’ hopes for his return to the band.
The candid interview marks a rare public statement from Rudd about his complex relationship with the band that defined his career. It reveals both the deep wounds from feeling abandoned and his enduring connection to the fans and the memory of Bon Scott.
