In a move that has rock fans buzzing, Chad Smith is reportedly stepping behind the drum kit tonight (May 15) to perform with Paul McCartney on Saturday Night Live. According to SPIN, Smith will fill in for longtime McCartney drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., whose absence has not yet been explained.
The news is especially surprising because Laboriel Jr. has been a constant presence in McCartney’s band since October 2001 and is believed to have never previously missed a live performance during that time. Naturally, fans are wondering whether this is simply a one-night substitution — or the beginning of something bigger.
A Perfect Fit Behind the Kit
While the pairing may seem unexpected at first glance, Smith and McCartney already share musical history. In 2024, McCartney made a surprise appearance during a covers performance hosted by producer and musician Andrew Watt alongside Smith at the legendary Stephen Talkhouse in the Hamptons.
The intimate venue held only around 200 fans, creating what Smith later described as a surreal moment.
“The people there were losing their minds. It’s a real once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
Smith has also paid tribute to McCartney musically before. In 2020, he joined forces with Josh Homme to record a reimagined version of McCartney’s song “Lavatory Lil” for the tribute project McCartney III Imagined.
McCartney’s Busy New Era
McCartney has remained creatively active well into his 80s. His upcoming album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, produced by Watt, is scheduled for release on May 29 and marks his first studio album in six years.
Meanwhile, Smith himself continues to stay everywhere in the rock world at once. He reportedly appears on the forthcoming The Rolling Stones album Foreign Tongues, also produced by Watt. Earlier this week, Smith was spotted at New York’s Gramercy Theatre alongside Stone Gossard watching U.K. rock trio Tigercub perform.
More Than a One-Night Appearance?
Tonight’s SNL performance raises plenty of intriguing questions for fans:
- Is Chad Smith simply filling in for one night?
- Could he appear in future McCartney performances?
- Is Abe Laboriel Jr. temporarily unavailable, or is something changing within McCartney’s touring lineup?
- And perhaps most importantly — will Smith reunite with Will Ferrell for another hilarious drum-off callback to their famous Tonight Show rivalry?
Whatever happens, one thing is certain: seeing Chad Smith backing Paul McCartney on live television is the kind of rock-and-roll crossover fans live for. With two generations of legendary musicians sharing the stage, tonight’s Saturday Night Live performance could become one of the year’s most talked-about musical moments.