Hip Hip Hooray! as legendary drummer Phil Rudd celebrates his 71st birthday in true rock ‘n’ roll style — by dropping a surprise solo album. Titled Solid Ground, the record marks Rudd’s triumphant return to the spotlight and proves that age is just a number when it comes to delivering hard-hitting rock beats.
Rudd, best known as the thunderous backbone of AC/DC’s classic lineup, has kept a relatively low profile in recent years. But on his birthday, May 19, he reminded the world exactly why he’s considered one of rock’s most steady and powerful drummers. Solid Ground is his first solo effort since 2014’s Head Job, and it’s already generating buzz for its tight grooves, bluesy guitar riffs, and unapologetically raw production.
“I wanted to give my fans something honest — something real,” Rudd said in a press release. “It’s not about being flashy. It’s about rhythm, truth, and heart. I’ve lived a lot of life, and this album reflects that.”
The album features ten brand-new tracks, all recorded at his private studio in Tauranga, New Zealand. With Rudd not only handling drums but also co-producing the album, Solid Ground leans into his signature sound: driving beats, gritty vocals, and stripped-back, blues-infused rock. Longtime collaborator Geoffrey Martin returns on guitar, while Rudd steps up on vocals for several tracks — a rare but welcomed treat for fans.
Lead single “Time Rolls On” premiered on streaming platforms this morning, accompanied by a minimalist black-and-white video showcasing Rudd behind the kit in the studio. The song is a meditation on aging, change, and resilience — themes that clearly resonate with the veteran rocker as he enters his eighth decade.
“Phil’s still got it — that pocket, that timing, it’s all there,” said Martin in an interview. “He’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. He is the wheel. Rock and roll doesn’t work without guys like him.”
Rudd’s career has seen highs and lows, from worldwide success with AC/DC on albums like Back in Black and Highway to Hell, to personal and legal struggles that kept him out of the spotlight for stretches of time. But Solid Ground is not a comeback — it’s a reaffirmation. It’s the sound of a musician who has nothing to prove but everything to say.
AC/DC fans have already started speculating whether this solo release might be a prelude to another reunion or farewell tour, especially after the band’s reassembly in 2020 for the Power Up album. Rudd remained coy when asked about AC/DC in a recent radio interview: “I’m always up for playing, mate. If the lads call, I pick up.”
In the meantime, Solid Ground stands as a birthday gift not only to Rudd himself, but to fans who have followed him through decades of thunderous rhythms and headbanging anthems. At 71, Phil Rudd proves that rock doesn’t retire — it just gets better with age.
Solid Ground is now available on all major streaming platforms, with a limited-edition vinyl release set for June.
Happy Birthday, Phil. Rock on.
