This certainly isn’t the type of news AC/DC wants out leading up to their first album in 6 years. Drummer Phil Rudd has reportedly been charged with attempting to procure a murder.
According to Stuff.co.nz, Rudd was charged after police raided the drummer’s home in Tauranga, New Zealand this morning. He is also charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis and threatening to kill. Police said Rudd would appear in the Tauranga District Court this afternoon. Fans may recall that Rudd had been previously convicted for cannabis possession four years ago, though the charges were eventually dropped.
However, making these charges even more intriguing is the fact that Rudd has been conspicuously missing from AC/DC’s recent efforts in support of their new album Rock Or Bust (due out December 2). More specifically, Rudd was not only missing from the band’s filming of two new music videos, but also from the band’s newest promo shot. Singer Brian Johnson reportedly told fans at the video shoot that Rudd was unable to participate due to an undisclosed “family emergency,” though his absence from the photo shoot was never addressed. Whether there is any connection between Rudd’s recent legal trouble and conspicuous absence in the band remains unknown. If these recent events are any indication that Rudd’s role in the band is in jeopardy, then it’ll be the second big shakeup to AC/DC’s lineup this year.
Obviously this story is still developing, and we’ll keep you posted as more is revealed.
UPDATE: Stuff.co.nz now reports that Rudd was charged for trying to have two men killed. Rudd appeared in the Tauranga District Court earlier today, but was quickly released on bail. He entered no plea to the charges and will reappear in court on November 27, while ordered to have no contact with the man he allegedly tried to hire to carry out the murder. If found guilty, Rudd could face a maximum of ten years in jail.
Stuff.co.nz also posted the following photos of Rudd in court and arriving by police car:
Meanwhile, SunLive has also posted the following footage from Rudd’s court hearing:
We’ll keep you posted as more develops.
