Who should be AC/DC’s new drummer?

Who should be the new drummer in AC/DC?

Should it be former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade? Former Police drummer Stewart Copeland? Onetime-only Led Zeppelin drummer Jason Bonham? San Diego's Ilan Rubin, of Nine Inch Nails, Paramour and Angels And Airwaves fame?

We pose these questions in the wake of legendary Australian rock band AC/DC this week vowing to mount its upcoming concert tour without Phil Rudd, its embattled drummer. (More on that in a moment.)

But first, here's our look at some likely candidates to replace Rudd, starting with apparent frontrunner Bob Richards (who fills in for Rudd on AC/DC's two new music videos). Tell us who your favorite is to replace Rudd on drums in the band, and why, in the Comments section below.

Bob Richards

Age: 49

Background: Has played with Man, Shogun, The Wild Family and the Adrian Smith Band.

Pro: Was selected by AC/DC to fill in for Rudd on drums in early October, when the band filmed videos in England for two songs from its new album, "Play Ball" and "Rock or Bust's" title track.

Con: Not well known outside of the U.K., and not a household name there, although that may not be a factor in the band's decision-making process. An unknown face might be an asset.

Chris Slade

Age: 68

Background: In addition to his five-year, three-album stint with AC/DC, Slade has played with Tom Jones, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, the Jimmy Page-led The Firm, Uriah Heep, David Gilmour and Asia, among others. Currently plays in Chris Slade Steel Circle, an AC/DC cover band.

Pro: Did well during his tenure in AC/DC and was popular with its fans.

Con: Quit in 1994, when the band told him it was contemplating bringing Rudd back into the lineup.

Ilan Rubin

Age: 26

Background: This San Diego drum phenom was only 11 when he performed at the 1999 edition of the Woodstock festival in New York. At 15, he joined the Welsh rock band Lost Prophets. He currently divides his time between drumming in Nine Inch Nails, Angels And Airwaves and his own band, The New Regime. Rubin has also recorded and toured with Paramore.

Pro: A first-rate young player with equal skill and energy. "Ilan is not only one of my favorite drummers in world, but one of my favorite people," says Paramore singer Hayley Williams. "We'd love for Ilan to come back any time."

Con: May not be familiar to AC/DC's audience or the band's members, the youngest of whom (lead guitarist Young) is 33 years older than Rubin.

Rudd was arrested Nov. 6 in New Zealand, on charges of a murder-for-hire plot and making threats to kill, as well as for possession of methamphetamine and pot. The murder-for-hire allegation was dropped later the same day, but he still faces the other charges made against him.

The members of AC/DC were quick to distance themselves from their longtime drummer, telling reporters that Rudd's behavior was erratic as the band was making its new album, "Rock or Bust." On Nov. 6 on its Facebook page, the band stated: "Phil’s absence will not affect the release of our new album 'Rock or Bust' and upcoming tour next year."

Rudd's next scheduled court appearance is Nov. 27. Unless all remaining charges are suddenly dropped, or a plea bargain is quickly reached, it would appear a court trial will follow.

In the meanwhile, AC/DC appears ready to move on. On Tuesday's Sirius Radio broadcast of "The Howard Stern Show," the band's lead guitarist, Angus Young, and lead singer, Brian Johnson, were asked if Rudd was still a member of the band.

"Well, we’ve got to resolve that,” Young replied.

Stern half-jokingly advised Young and Johnson: "If you do fire him (Rudd), do it gently."

Johnson, a Florida resident, then indicated it did not appear Rudd would not be rejoining the band any time soon.

“I don’t think we need to do any firing,” the singer said. “I think the situation is going to take care of itself. He has gotten himself into a pickle. There is nothing we can do about it. We are talking about criminal charges here. We are talking about judges, we are talking about juries (saying): 'You're not getting your passport back.' We are going to go on tour. Nothing is going to stop us.”

Young and Johnson joked with Stern about Rudd, saying: "Well, Howard, with rock drummers, they come with a safety belt and a straitjacket."

Young also noted that changing drummers is nothing new for AC/DC.

“In the past," he told Stern, "we had good drummers, people who worked with us."

In fact, in the tradition of Spinal Tap, AC/DC has no fewer than 8 drummers have performed with AC/DC, beginning with original band member Colin Burgess, who joined the band in late 1973 and was fired within a few months, allegedly for being drunk on stage. He is now 68.

Burgess was followed, briefly, by Ron Carpenter, Noel Taylor, Peter Clack and Russell Coleman. Rudd joined in early 1975 and remained in the band until 1983, when he was replaced for six years by Simon Wright. In 1989, Wright was in turn replaced by Chris Slade for about five years, after which Rudd rejoined the band. (This list does not include the three other drummers, including Procol Harum veteran B.J. Wilson, who recorded with the AC/DC over the years, but did not perform live with the band.)

Who, then, should replace Rudd when AC/DC hits the road to tour next year? That's assuming, of course, Rudd isn't cleared of all charges and opts to bury the hatchet -- and vice versa -- with Young, Johnson and bassist Cliff Williams -- and reappears to claim his drum throne in the band.

Time, always a key to good drumming, will tell.