# Simon Wright (musician)
**Simon Wright** (Simon J. Wright, born 1963 in Oldham, Lancashire, England) is an English hard-rock drummer best known as [Phil Rudd](https://www.edgepedia.org/phil-rudd)'s replacement in AC/DC from 1983 to 1989 and as a longtime drummer for Dio[1](https://www.acdc.com/simon-wright-talks-joining-acdc/) • [2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143). He went on to record four studio and two live albums with Dio, play with Rhino Bucket and UFO, and perform with Dio Disciples, the officially endorsed Dio tribute band[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/) • [4](https://drumstickhalloffame.nl/en/simon-wright/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1963, Oldham, Lancashire, England[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143) |
| AC/DC tenure | Joined in 1983 at age 20, shortly after the recording of *Flick of the Switch*; left in 1989 (or around 1989/90 by other accounts) to join Dio[1](https://www.acdc.com/simon-wright-talks-joining-acdc/) • [5](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-on-his-departure-from-ac-dc-i-really-lost-my-enthusiasm-for-things) • [4](https://drumstickhalloffame.nl/en/simon-wright/) |
| Selection | Chosen from roughly 700 auditions as a relatively unknown drummer trying out at a London studio, unaware which band was hiring[6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-looks-back-on-his-time-with-ac-dc-in-new-episode-of-beyond-the-thunder-podcast) |
| Dio recordings | *Lock Up the Wolves* (1990), *Magica* (2000), *Killing the Dragon* (2002), *Master of the Moon* (2004), plus the live albums *Evil or Divine – Live in New York City* and *Holy Diver – Live*[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/) |
| Other bands | Rhino Bucket (1993–1996, 2007–2009, 2011, 2012), UFO (mid-1994 to mid-1998), Queensrÿche (2013–2014), Dio Disciples (2011–present)[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143) • [3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/) |
| Influences | Self-taught from age 13; cites Cozy Powell, John Bonham, and Tommy Aldridge[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143) • [7](https://musiclegends.ca/simon-wright-interview-2021/) |
## Early life and career beginnings
Wright was born in 1963 in Oldham, Lancashire, England[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143). He was self-taught, received his first drum set at thirteen, and names [Cozy Powell](https://www.edgepedia.org/cozy-powell), John Bonham, and [Tommy Aldridge](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-aldridge) as his influences[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143) • [7](https://musiclegends.ca/simon-wright-interview-2021/). His first professional engagement came at sixteen, touring with [Girlschool](https://www.edgepedia.org/girlschool) on the British leg of a tour while he was in the Manchester metal band A-II-Z[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143).
With A-IIZ he recorded three songs: the 45 "I'm The One Who Loves You" (a [Russ Ballard](https://www.edgepedia.org/russ-ballard) song) backed with "Ringside Seat," and an unreleased track, "Flames"[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/). He then played in Tytan; on Tytan's album *Rough Justice* (1995) he recorded two tracks, with former [Judas Priest](https://www.edgepedia.org/judas-priest) drummer Les Binks playing the others[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/). AllMusic lists his memberships as A II Z, Dio, and AC/DC, with activity from the 1970s onward in pop/rock[8](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/simon-wright-mn0000990240).
## AC/DC years (1983–1989)
In 1983 [Malcolm Young](https://www.edgepedia.org/malcolm-young) dismissed drummer Phil Rudd during the recording sessions for *Flick of the Switch*, leaving AC/DC without a drummer[6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-looks-back-on-his-time-with-ac-dc-in-new-episode-of-beyond-the-thunder-podcast). After roughly 700 auditions, Wright, then a 20-year-old largely unknown outside the British hard-rock scene, was chosen; he tried out at a London studio without being told in advance which band was holding the auditions[1](https://www.acdc.com/simon-wright-talks-joining-acdc/) • [6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-looks-back-on-his-time-with-ac-dc-in-new-episode-of-beyond-the-thunder-podcast). He was never formally told he had the job: after overhearing tour planning he asked Malcolm Young, "Does this mean I'm in the band?" and received the reply, "Yeah, it looks like it, doesn't it?"[6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-looks-back-on-his-time-with-ac-dc-in-new-episode-of-beyond-the-thunder-podcast).
Wright joined in time for the *Flick of the Switch* touring cycle and held the drum chair through the rest of the 1980s, headlining the [Monsters of Rock](https://www.edgepedia.org/monsters-of-rock) festival with the band[5](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-on-his-departure-from-ac-dc-i-really-lost-my-enthusiasm-for-things) • [6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-looks-back-on-his-time-with-ac-dc-in-new-episode-of-beyond-the-thunder-podcast). On the relative commercial performance of *Fly on the Wall*, Wright pointed to the climate after *Back in Black* and *For Those About to Rock*, the arrival of grunge, and the change in production now that "Mutt" Lange was no longer producing; he still called it a good album[5](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-on-his-departure-from-ac-dc-i-really-lost-my-enthusiasm-for-things).
His exit came around Malcolm Young's departure on the *Blow Up Your Video* tour. Wright said the band was "deeply concerned" about Malcolm during the tour, and he never recorded another AC/DC album after Malcolm's return[6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-looks-back-on-his-time-with-ac-dc-in-new-episode-of-beyond-the-thunder-podcast). On how long he had served, the record is split: Blabbermouth characterizes the tenure as six years ending in 1989, while Wright himself says he had been with the band "about 7 or 8 years" when he felt the time was right to "branch out" and spread his wings[5](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-on-his-departure-from-ac-dc-i-really-lost-my-enthusiasm-for-things) • [3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/). The Drumstick Hall of Fame places the departure "around 1989/90" and says he left on his own initiative[4](https://drumstickhalloffame.nl/en/simon-wright/).
## Dio and the 1990s
Wright joined Dio in early 1990. [Ronnie James Dio](https://www.edgepedia.org/ronnie-james-dio), an old friend, called and asked him to help in the studio because drummer [Vinny Appice](https://www.edgepedia.org/vinny-appice) had left the band[9](https://www.dio.net/biography/personal/SimonWright.html). The timing was tight: Wright was supposed to return to AC/DC in February 1990 to begin work on a new album, but stayed with Dio instead[9](https://www.dio.net/biography/personal/SimonWright.html).
Across two stints with Dio (1990–1991 and 1998–2010) he recorded four studio albums, *Lock Up the Wolves* (1990), *Magica* (2000), *Killing the Dragon* (2002), and *Master of the Moon* (2004), and two live albums, *Evil or Divine – Live in New York City* and *Holy Diver – Live*[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/) • [2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143). On *Master of the Moon* he also received songwriting credit on tracks 7 and 9[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143). A measure of the trust Dio placed in him came in 1992: Ronnie offered Wright the [Black Sabbath](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-sabbath) drum chair for *Dehumanizer*, but [Geezer Butler](https://www.edgepedia.org/geezer-butler) and [Tony Iommi](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-iommi) turned down the option[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143).
The 1990s also took him through other bands. He joined Rhino Bucket in 1993 and recorded *Pain* (1994); in mid-1994 he took a break to join UFO, after a call from their manager Bella Piper, and stayed until mid-1998, when the Dio band disbanded after Ronnie accepted an offer to return to Black Sabbath and Wright re-joined Dio[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/). With Rhino Bucket he later recorded *Pain and Suffering* (2007) and *The Hardest Town* (2009)[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/).
## Later projects and Dio Disciples
Wright played on [Geoff Tate](https://www.edgepedia.org/geoff-tate)'s Queensrÿche album *Frequency Unknown* (2013), appearing on the tracks "Cold" and "In the Hands of God"[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/). Metal Archives lists a [Queensrÿche](https://www.edgepedia.org/queensryche) tenure of 2013–2014, and he has also drummed for Operation: Mindcrime and for Metal Gods, a band with singer Tim "Ripper" Owens[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143) • [7](https://musiclegends.ca/simon-wright-interview-2021/) • [6](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-looks-back-on-his-time-with-ac-dc-in-new-episode-of-beyond-the-thunder-podcast).
Since 2011 he has played with Dio Disciples, the officially endorsed Dio tribute band[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143) • [3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/). For a hologram tour he used a click track to synchronize his playing with recordings of Ronnie James Dio's voice[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/). His own website identifies him as the former drummer for AC/DC, Dio, and UFO[10](https://www.simonwrightdrums.com/).
## By the numbers
Wright's career divides into a handful of long tenures and many short ones. His AC/DC stint lasted six years by Blabbermouth's count, or about seven to eight years in his own telling[5](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-on-his-departure-from-ac-dc-i-really-lost-my-enthusiasm-for-things) • [3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/). His Dio service, in two stints totaling roughly thirteen years (1990–1991, 1998–2010), produced four studio and two live albums[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143) • [3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/). Rhino Bucket accounts for three albums across four separate listing periods (1993–1996, 2007–2009, 2011, 2012)[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143) • [3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/). His documented recording career runs from the A-IIZ single in the early 1980s, when Metal Archives lists his tenure as 1981–1982, through Dio Disciples from 2011 to the present[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143).
## Discography
A sourced, dated list of recordings featuring Wright:
- **A II Z**: "I'm The One Who Loves You" / "Ringside Seat" (45), plus the unreleased track "Flames"[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/)
- **Rhino Bucket**: *Pain* (1994), *Pain and Suffering* (2007), *The Hardest Town* (2009)[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/)
- **Tytan**: *Rough Justice* (1995), two tracks[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/)
- **Dio**: *Lock Up the Wolves* (1990), *Magica* (2000), *Killing the Dragon* (2002), *Master of the Moon* (2004), *Evil or Divine – Live in New York City*, *Holy Diver – Live*[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/)
- **Queensrÿche (Geoff Tate)**: *Frequency Unknown* (2013), "Cold" and "In the Hands of God"[3](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/)
## References
1. [Simon Wright Talks Joining AC/DC, AC/DC Official Site](https://www.acdc.com/simon-wright-talks-joining-acdc/)
2. [Simon Wright, Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Simon_Wright/15143)
3. [Simon Wright, Steel Mill Interview, K.K. Downing's Steel Mill](https://kkdowning.net/steelmill/simon-wright-interview/)
4. [Simon Wright, Drumstick Hall Of Fame](https://drumstickhalloffame.nl/en/simon-wright/)
5. [Simon Wright On His Departure From AC/DC, Blabbermouth](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-on-his-departure-from-ac-dc-i-really-lost-my-enthusiasm-for-things)
6. [Simon Wright Looks Back On His Time With AC/DC, Blabbermouth](https://blabbermouth.net/news/simon-wright-looks-back-on-his-time-with-ac-dc-in-new-episode-of-beyond-the-thunder-podcast)
7. [Simon Wright Interview 2021, Music Legends Online](https://musiclegends.ca/simon-wright-interview-2021/)
8. [Simon Wright, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/simon-wright-mn0000990240)
9. [Simon Wright personal information, Tapio's Ronnie James Dio Pages](https://www.dio.net/biography/personal/SimonWright.html)
10. [Simon Wright Drums, official website](https://www.simonwrightdrums.com/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Hard rock and glam metal › Hard rock drummers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license