Phil Rudd chastises himself for his AC/DC dismissal: 'I shot myself in the foot.'
Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has pinned the blame wholly on himself for his dismissal from the band.
Rudd was replaced by Chris Slade for AC/DC’s Rock or Bust World Tour due to his ongoing legal problems that stemmed from a police raid on his home in November 2014
Pleading guilty to threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis, Rudd was sentenced to eight months’ home detention in July 2015 and ordered to pay NZ$120,000 (£70,000) in reparation.
Reflecting upon the turbulent time in his life and his subsequent dismissal from AC/DC, Rudd told Music Radar: "I was just being a fing dhead. I shot myself in the foot.
“You make your own bed, mate. You make your own mistakes and you have to deal with them and that is what I have done. Hindsight is 20/20."
Having previously said he doesn’t rate Axl Rose, elsewhere in the interview Rudd admitted he was impressed with the singer after watching YouTube footage of AC/DC shows from last summer.
“I watched some clips the other day of Axl singing with the boys,” Rudd said. “I was surprised; it wasn't too bad. I was quite surprised, I thought he did quite well and that's not an easy gig, mate, it's not an easy gig at all.
“AC/DC is a tough gig for everyone in the band. I saw Angus jamming with Guns N' Roses as well. Apart from watching those clips though, I don't know what's going to happen or what's going on with the band."
Revealing that he had spoken to “a couple of the guys” in AC/DC recently, Rudd added that he was uncertain about what their future holds in the wake of Brian Johnson and Cliff Williams' exit: "I can't say what's on the horizon for AC/DC, I can't really say.
“That's not my thing to say. I have seen, though, that Guns N’ Roses are playing over here in Wellington (New Zealand) soon and they have a big tour all over the world. I wonder whether Angus will be happy to see Guns N’ Roses going out on a big tour which means that AC/DC can't go out on tour. We will see. You'd need a crystal ball to know what's going to happen there."
Phil Rudd headlines Bonfest, The International Bon Scott Rock Festival, on Friday 28th April in Kirriemuir, Scotland.