Lars Brandle of Billboard reports:
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has entered a not-guilty plea to charges of threatening to kill and possession of drugs.
The 60-year-old has been on bail since his arrest early last month in New Zealand. He was excused from appearing in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday, and his plea was entered by his lawyer.
A dishevelled-looking Rudd was initially charged in November with trying to procure a murder. The charge was soon dropped, but Rudd still faces charges of threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis. The first of those charges carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.
According to the New Zealand Herald, Judge Tom Ingram said the matter would likely be heard at a judge-alone trial next year. Details on the “threatening to kill” complainant and three other witnesses remain suppressed on the judge’s orders.
The veteran rocker made headlines in late November when he arrived late for a court appearance, clowned around by jumping on the back of one of his security guards outside the courthouse, and sped off in a black sports car.
Rudd was turfed from the group in 1983 but returned in 1994. He was conspicuously absent from recent band publicity photos and was missing from their October 3rd video shoot for Play Ball. Instead, Bob Richards sat behind the kit.
AC/DC’s Rock or Bust was released last week in the Australia, and in the States today (December 2nd). A 2015 tour will follow, with or without the services of Rudd.
source: billboard.com
7 Responses
Rock or Bust is solid. Go get you a copy!!
Exactly! It’s AC/DC, how can you not love it?! Rock Or Bust, in AC/DC we trust! 😉
The boys never fail me…
It’s just good old, straight ahead rock and roll AC/DC style!
lars brandle, c’mon. who’s his boss, kel verdon?
Listened to “Rock or Bust” several times today. Ordered the CD through Amazon using Eddie’s banner to support the podcast. Love that Amazon gives you the instant MP3 download as well, so that you don’t have to wait days for the CD to arrive in the mailbox.
Not to sound blasphemous but if Phil was such a pain in the ass to work with during the recording of the album, Brian and Angus should had just canned his ass and bring in a session drummer. The drum beats were so simple, even Meg White could had filled in for Phil. I still believe Phil is done with AC/DC, regardless of how his legal and personal situation works out.
Thanks for the support for the podcast via Amazon!