Angus Young’s opinion on Phil Rudd as a drummer

The first musicians that come to mind when we talk about AC/DC’s unique sound are surely the brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Then, many fans might mention the vocalists Brian Johnson and Bon Scott, who were also essential to the band’s identity.

But someone who often tends to be forgotten and overlooked is the band’s longtime drummer, Phil Rudd. He played on almost all of their most acclaimed albums and has been described by many of his peers as one of the most underrated drummers in the world. Over the decades, Angus Young has given his opinion on many of the artists he has played with, including Phil Rudd.

What is Angus Young’s opinion on Phil Rudd as a drummer

Often called the driving force behind AC/DC’s music, Phil Rudd is highly admired by Angus Young. The guitarist said that playing with him always makes him play even better. “Phil, he has a unique gift, it’s a natural thing that he… Put it this way, the first time ever Phil ever got behind the drums and played, I said to Mal: ‘When that guy starts driving and you’re doing a guitar solo, man… You’ve gotta play harder.”

“I have to lift the game. I have to really belt into it, because I can’t be heard once he starts cracking that (laughs). He’s got a unique drive and he just seems to have a natural thing, you know. He says he looks to my little legs going (during the show) and he goes: ‘I know what you’re gonna do (laughs)’ (…) I know him, going back from the early years and all the way through and it is that, he’s just so natural,” Angus Young told Let There Be Talk in 2020 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).

A few decades ago, in 1995 when Phil returned to the band, Angus said a similar thing, explaining that Rudd could almost read his mind when they were playing together. “When he had other drummers, like Chris Slade (who’s) a great drummer, they had to copy that style, what was said (in his playing). Phil Rudd does it so well, so it’s good that he wanted to do it again. (He’s got a) very natural style.”

Angus Young continued:

“You can play a song and he automatically, it’s like he is reading your mind. You don’t have to arrange it or direct it. (I feel the difference) very much (playing with him) because you can play and (he will) pick up straight away. You don’t (even) have to look (at him). For Rock and Roll is very good, because it’s a groove, a rhythm,” Angus Young said in an interview for French TV at the time (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).

During the conversation with Let There Be Talk, Brian Johnson also talked about Phil and recalled a joke the drummer told him. “You know, he (Phil Rudd) said to me: ‘You gotta watch out for them ‘dental drummers’. I said: ‘What’s a dental drummer?’ He said: ‘You know, the kind they say how they’ll fill it’ (laughs). Because he’s whole thing is just keeping the beat. I don’t know what it is. He hits the beat, you think he’s gonna fall from the stool before (he) just hits right where it’s supposed to swing, you know, a roll, whatever you wanna call it. He’s just natural and it gets you everytime. He’s great, we love him,” Brian Johnson said.

Alongside AC/DC’s former bassist Mark Evans, Rudd is the only other Australian member of the band’s classic lineup. Angus, Malcolm, and Bon were actually born in Scotland and grew up in Australia, while Cliff Williams and Brian Johnson were born in England. He is also one of the tallest members the band has had, standing at 1.68 m (5’6″). Angus Young is the shortest, at 1.57 m (5’2″).

What Angus Young said about Phil Rudd’s legal troubles

Although he was not part of all the albums released by AC/DC and was out of the band for a couple of years twice, Rudd is the only classic member of the band who came back. He first joined the band in 1975, being part of all their classic albums until 1983, leaving after recording “Flick of the Switch”. During that time, he was replaced by Simon Wright (1983 to 1989) and Chris Slade (1989 to 1994).

The praised 1995 album “Ballbreaker” marked his return to the group and he since then he was part of all their releases. However, he didn’t always toured with the band. Although he recorded the album “Rock or Bust” in 2014 with the band, he was replaced by Chris Slade during their tour and promotion. Because before the album was released he was arrested and charged with attempting to procure a murder, threatening to kill and possession of drugs in New Zealand, where he lives.

At the time, Angus Young told Howard Stern that he was shocked to hear about what happened. But he also laughed at the situation. “Howard, with Rock drummers, they come with a safety belt and a straitjacket, you know what I mean (laughs). I fell out of bed, actually (When I heard about that). My wife woke me up. She said ‘Hey, Phil’s being up to no good’ (laughs),” Angus Young said (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).

The drummer was sentenced to 8 months of home detention and ordered to pay 120.000 New Zealand dollars. After AC/DC’s hiatus because of Brian Johnson’s hearing problems, when the band returned to the studio he was once again invited to join them. He was part of “Power Up”, released in 2020.

Phil Rudd said he wasn’t invited to tour with AC/DC after “Power Up”

Phil Rudd recorded “Power Up” with the band and was part of all the videoclips to promote the album. However, when they finally returned to the stage in 2023, he didn’t take part in it. Although he didn’t say directly it was the reason for his absence, he revealed to New Zealand’s Stuff in 2024 that his partner had terminal breast cancer. That led fans to believe that was the reason why he didn’t take part in the tour.

However, talking with the same New Zealand publication, in 2025, Rudd said that he wasn’t invited by them to play. ‘There was a time when I thought it was the end of my world. I only knew life with AC/DC. Those people I thought loved me like a brother, they haven’t even picked up the phone. But to me AC/DC was always Bon. My favourite album is Highway to Hell. My favourite song – his song Touch Too Much.’ The interviewer says: “Rudd stops, choked up whenever he talks about (Bon)”.

Then the drummer continues: “When Bon died, even in AC/DC I felt alone. But I was never alone. The people who like the music, it always humbles me, but makes me happy too. People always ask me if I will play with AC/DC again. The only people I would do it for would be the fans. And for Bon. I would do it for Bon,” Phil Rudd said. During the same interview, Rudd talked about shows he was doing with the Auckland Philarmonia and the guitarist EJ Barnes. He praised her saying she was “way better than Angus“.