Chris Slade, born October 30, 1946, in Pontypridd, Wales, is a rock drummer who has enjoyed a long and varied career. His musical journey can be traced back to 1963; Chris came from the same village as fellow Welshman Tom Jones and played drums in the singer’s backing band, The Squires, for seven years. His first real success came in 1965 when ‘It’s Not Unusual’ was recorded. Chris subsequently toured with Tom Jones all over the world before quitting in 1969 to join a group called “Toomorrow” whose vocal attraction was an Australian blonde called Olivia Newton-John.
He became a founding member of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band in January of 1971. He was to spend seven years with the band, recording eight albums and achieving three UK Top Ten singles in the process: ”Joybringer’ (No. 9, October 1973), ‘Blinded By The Light’ (No. 6, September 1976 & a multi million selling #1 in the USA) and ‘Davy’s On The Road Again’ (No.6, June 1978).
banner5“An Earth Band without Chris Slade would be like a bird without wings”– BARRY WINTONS
After the Earth Band era, Chris recorded two albums in 1979, first with Frankie Miller, and next with Kai Olsson, before joining Uriah Heep in time to play on their ‘Conquest’ album in 1980 + 2 years in the band. After that, Slade teamed up with Gary Numan to make the I Assassin album & touring, playing with Pino Palladino on Bass. Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs included Slade in The Mick Ralphs Band – that same line-up also toured as the band for Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour on his About Face Tour all through 1984. After the close of that tour he teamed up with Jimmy Page, Paul Rodgers and bassist Tony Franklin to form “The Firm” at the end of 1984. The Firm, produced two excellent albums for Atlantic in 1985 and 1986 that gave them a few radio hits including “Radioactive” and “Satisfaction Guaranteed.”
the-firm-promo-band-pic-chris-slade
“The all important drum seat was filled by Chris Slade of Manfred Mann’s Earth band and Tom Jones’ fame. But Jimmy (Page) had to wait until Chris came off the road from the Dave Gilmour tour. Jimmy didn’t mind, Chris was a monster drummer and well worth the wait..”
– TONY FRANKLIN
Then Chris joined up with Gary Moore on a temporary basis, taking over from Cozy Powell just four days before the start of the 1989 ‘After The War’ tour. It was at one of Gary Moore’s gigs in The UK that Malcolm Young saw Chris Slade play. After the tour it was Chris’s intention to put together a band with ex-Aerosmith guitarist Rick Dufay. But the call from AC/DC scuppered those plans as he was destined to tour and record with them over the course of the next five years, playing on their acclaimed “Razors Edge” Album, and giving a killer performance on their concert DVD “Live from Donington”.
Chris_Slade_And_Angus_Young
After his stint with AC/DC Chris joined up with 80’s prog-rock band “Asia”, who (even with the many personnel changes over the years) had still been managing to churn out some excellent music. Chris recorded with them on their 2000-2004 studio recordings, “Aura” and “Silent Nation”, and put forth his “trademark” energy-filled live performances on all the subsequent tours that ensued.
Chris_Slade_Asia
“We would just like to add that we wish Chris all the best and he will always remain a friend of Asia.”– GEOFF DOWNES
Having parted ways with “Asia” in 2005 to pursue other musical ventures, and his new line of personalized “Drums” and “Drum Jewelry”, Chris made an album with English power trio “Damage Control” featuring Pete Way of “UFO” and Robin George.
“We are over the moon…we now have a world class drummer!.”– ROBIN GEORGE
Slade then worked with legendary guitarist Michael Schenker of UFO and MSG off and on between 2005 and 2010 as well as touring extensively worldwide.
As if he wasn’t busy enough around the world with sold out shows in Brazil, Europe, Russia and USA, former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade has launched a new band ‘THE CHRIS SLADE TIMELINE’ to mark 50+ years as a professional rock drummer.
The band is set to tour the UK and Europe throughout 2013 and beyond, with dates being added all the time. For this new project, Slade took on phenomenal vocalists STEVE GLASSCOCK and PAUL “BUN” DAVIS with the added stunning musical techniques of guitarist JAMES CORNFORD and keyboard and guitar player MICHAEL J. CLARK with ANDY CROSBY on Bass you most certainly have a band to be reckoned with and worthy to mark Slade’s illustrious musical career.
This is a totally new concept for Slade and as the band name suggests will include performances from a varied set list from Tom Jones, Manfred Mann’s Earthband, Uriah Heep, The Firm, ASIA, MSG, David Gilmour, Gary Moore along with a fair degree of AC/DC numbers and many surprises to be unwrapped along the way.
Whilst on the road in Switzerland, Timeline’s trajectory was rudely interrupted by a call for Slade to rejoin AC/DC in 2014. He was once again within the AC/DC Family and resumed his usual position of sitting down at the back of arguably the most famous band in the world playing to 80,000 people a night on the ROCK OR BUST Worldwide Tour which included a personnel change of AXL ROSE replacing BRIAN JOHNSON for part of the tour.
During this tour, “Timeline”, took a hiatus, but as soon as possible Slade and Timeline were reunited and continue to this day to tour the world.
