Millions of AC/DC fans from around the world have been speculating for over a month now about the possibility that the band has replaced drummer Phil Rudd. Those rumblings were turned into a roar today on the band’s social media, with fans weighing in en masse on AC/DC forums and sites across the web. So…what caused all of this ruckus?
The two-minute ‘behind the scenes’ look at the making of the video for the song “Play Ball” from their upcoming studio album, Rock Or Bust (releasing December 14, 2014) that the band released today. Check it out, if you haven’t seen it already…
AC/DC – Play Ball (Behind The Scenes):
[embedplusvideo height=”500″ width=”525″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1ugLnZl” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/mnlHr39BHNE?fs=1&vq=hd720″ vars=”ytid=mnlHr39BHNE&width=525&height=500&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=1&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=” id=”ep5563″ /]
As we viewed the video, we saw some things that we already knew and have been reported upon. But red flags were flying everywhere for a myriad of reasons and we have some questions, probably along with the rest of you.
We suppose it was the blatant reality of seeing the video that has stirred up all of this emotion. Everyone here at RockRevolt™Magazine are huge AC/DC fans, and we’ve had the same sense of bittersweet feelings mixed with a fist-pumping “HELL YEAH” at the excitement of a new album and huge tour in 2015.
As amazing as the new song “Play Ball” sounds, visually this is a markedly different band with the absence of Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar) due to illness, and now Phil Rudd (drums) from the video – it just really hit home.
It was announced in September of this year that Young is suffering from dementia, and his nephew Stevie Young would be filling in for his Uncle. Lead singer Brian Johnson remarks that , “Stevie is doing a brilliant job to stand in Malcolm’s place,” and states that the band aims to “fulfill Mal’s wishes of making music.”
Therefore, not seeing Malcolm Young in the clip was extremely sad, but not a big surprise.
We also were aware that Phil Rudd was absent for the video shoots on October 3 and 4 for the band’s songs “Play Ball and “Rock Or Bust.” Reports vary from calling him a “no-show” to being “called away at the last-minute” to having “a family emergency.” None of those things have been officially verified by anyone.
We all knew Rudd wasn’t going to be in the full video, so we didn’t expect to see him in a clip. We get it. But it was still shocking to see another drummer behind the kit, and it obviously hit people hard with the realization that the rumors just may be more than rumors.
AC/DC fans were fretting over Rudd’s absence back in October, as soon as the word spread via a report from Bob Fiddaman, who was on the set of the “Rock Or Bust” video.
Fiddaman wrote that, “Unfortunately, AC/DC drummer, Phil Rudd, had been called away at the last minute, his place being filled by Bob Richards (Shogun, Adrian Smith Band The Wild Family, Man and most recently Celtic Pride).”
Interestingly, Fiddaman and the 500 fans in attendance at the “Rock Or Bust” set thought they were going to be seeing the shooting of the video for “Play Ball” but he writes, “The video for that song, however, was recorded at Black Island the day before with no fan participation.”
Wait…Phil Rudd was called away BOTH days at the last minute before two video shoots for the band’s first two singles to be released from their new album and they went ahead and shot them anyway? Does that make sense?
How, and more importantly, why did AC/DC have a replacement drummer already in place for these videos, well over a month before Rudd’s arrest on November 6, 2014 for allegedly trying to hire a hitman to kill two men in late September?
Granted, the charges were withdrawn the next day (November 7) after a Crown Solicitor reviewed the case and concluded that “there was insufficient evidence to justify the charge.”
However, Rudd must return to court on November 27, where he still faces one charge of threatening to kill as well as possession of meth and marijuana. That could pose a real problem for touring if he is convicted on the possession charges alone, as international travel is quite difficult with that on your record – rock star or not.
AC/DC issued a statement the day of his arrest, saying, “We’ve only become aware of Phil’s arrest as the news was breaking. We have no further comment. Phil’s absence will not affect the release of our new album, ‘Rock Or Bust’, and upcoming tour next year.”
That’s kind of ODD verbiage, isn’t it? They used the words PHIL’S ABSENCE – not “We’re confident that this unfortunate event will not affect the release….” How did the band KNOW that his ABSENCE would have no effect on their touring schedule in 2015?
Is it because they’ve already replaced him with Bob Richards?
From the looks of it, Richards seems very much at home behind the kit in the clip from the set of “Play Ball” and we’re betting he will look just as comfortable on the “Rock Or Bust” video when it’s released.
Granted, Phil Rudd could have been called away at the last minute for the video shoots. Fine. We’ll “Play Ball” with that (pun intended), but we have to ask: Why did the band take publicity shots without him as well? When the band posted the below new promo shot without Rudd via their Facebook Page on October 16, fans went apeshit. Out of the almost 1300 comments, probably 1000 were asking “Where’s Phil?”
Left to Right: Cliff Williams, Brian Johnson, Stevie Young, Angus Young
All of these things coupled together raise some serious questions. After all, this is AC/DC! Not some indie band on a budget paying student videographers and photographers with beer and sandwiches! They can do whatever the hell they want!
It would stand to reason that if a band mate truly had “something come up at the last minute” you wouldn’t bring in someone to “act” at playing the drums on the first two videos in over five years for your new album, sans a beloved member (Malcolm Young). It just doesn’t make sense.
It only stands to reason if Rudd had something so dire come up to cause his absence, then from a personal, financial, fan and loyalty perspective that they would have rescheduled the video shoots and promotional photography shoot. Why did they do all that minus Phil Rudd – unless Phil Rudd is no longer in the band?
We suppose this just leaves yet more unanswered questions to ponder. But one thing is for sure…Bob Richard’s CAN play the shit out of the drums…not just “act” (Phil Rudd did record “Play Ball”) as referenced above. Here is Richard’s with Man in one helluva solo:
Bob Richard’s BANANAS Solo (Man)
[embedplusvideo height=”525″ width=”500″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1swvIRi” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/BDqUy5hvkOY?fs=1&vq=hd720″ vars=”ytid=BDqUy5hvkOY&width=500&height=525&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=1&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=” id=”ep2208″ /]
Again, as true AC/DC fans, our heads are hoping that perhaps Bob Richards got the world’s greatest “Hey man…what are you doing today and tomorrow?” question ever and sat in for the videos on behalf of Phil Rudd. But, our hearts are truly wondering exactly what the fuck is going on.
Stay tuned…
By: Valerie King, Co-Founder/Editor in Chief
Me (far left) & friends backstage with Phil Rudd at The Omni – Atlanta, GA
1980 – Back In Black Tour
