Simon Wright, born on June 19, 1963, is a renowned English drummer, best known for his work with legendary rock bands AC/DC and Dio. Wright began playing drums at the age of 13, drawing inspiration from iconic drummers like Cozy Powell, Tommy Aldridge, and John Bonham. Over his career, he's also played with Rhino Bucket, UFO, and Operation: Mindcrime.

Wright's musical journey began with local band Tora Tora (not to be confused with the American glam metal band of the same name) before he joined the Manchester-based New Wave of British Heavy Metal group, A II Z, in 1980. Originally formed by guitarist Gary Owens, A II Z had a loyal Manchester following and was signed by Polydor Records during the NWOBHM movement. After recording a live album, *The Witch of Berkley*, Wright replaced Karl Reti on drums. Following the band's disbandment, he briefly played with Tytan, contributing to their debut album, *Rough Justice*. However, the band dissolved before the album's release.

At just 19, Wright made a major career leap by joining AC/DC in 1983, after Phil Rudd's departure. Encouraged by a friend, he answered an ad in the *Sounds* magazine, which famously read, "Rock Drummer Wanted. If you don't hit hard, don't apply." After impressing with his audition, he secured the gig and went on to record three albums with AC/DC: *Fly on the Wall*, *Who Made Who*, and *Blow Up Your Video*. Wright left AC/DC in 1989 to join Dio and was succeeded by Chris Slade.

While working with Dio, Wright also joined Rhino Bucket, replacing Liam Jason for their third album, *Pain*. He returned to the band in 2007 for their album *The Hardest Town*. Wright's tenure with Dio spanned two periods—1990 to 1991 and 1998 to 2010—during which he recorded four studio albums: *Lock up the Wolves*, *Magica*, *Killing the Dragon*, and *Master of the Moon*, as well as two live albums: *Evil or Divine - Live in New York City* and *Holy Diver - Live*.

Wright's drumming talents are featured on numerous albums, including those by UFO, the Michael Schenker Group, and John Norum. His career includes participation in several tribute albums: in 1998, he played on the AC/DC tribute album *Thunderbolt*, followed by a 2005 tribute to Iron Maiden, and a 2013 tribute to Dio, *This Is Your Life*. He is also credited for his performance on the track "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" from the 2006 album *Butchering the Beatles*, a heavy metal homage to The Beatles.

In 2008, Wright formed the supergroup Big Noize with Joe Lynn Turner, Phil Soussan, and Carlos Cavazo, performing for U.S. troops in Iraq and Kuwait. In 2013, he joined Geoff Tate's version of Queensrÿche, later rebranded as Operation: Mindcrime after Tate's split from the original band.

Wright continues to be an influential figure in the rock world. In 2018, he joined the Frontiers Records project, Dream Child, collaborating with guitarist Craig Goldy and other rock veterans. His legacy as a hard-hitting, passionate drummer endures, making him a respected name in the heavy metal and rock music scene.