FORMER AC/DC DRUMMER PHIL RUDD PLEADS GUILTY TO THREATENING TO KILL AND DRUG CHARGES
Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening to kill.
He’s entered the same plea over possession of cannabis and methamphetamine, after previously pleading not guilty to all charges.
Rudd, who was arrested in November last year, made his latest court appearance in Tauranga, New Zealand, today. The 60-year-old faces up to seven years in jail if he’s convicted. His lawyer will argue against conviction at a sentencing hearing on June 26.
The court heard how Rudd was furious that the launch of his solo album Head Job “did not go well” and sacked a number of his staff.
He called an associate, said he wanted one former employee “taken out,” and offered $200,000, a car, a bike or a house – which the associate understood to be payment.
Rudd later called the intended victim and said: “I’m going to come over and kill you.” He made two further calls but the victim hung up, feeling “genuinely very fearful for his safety.”
The drugs charges stem from the police raid on Rudd’s house on November 6. A number of containers of controlled substances were found in his bedroom, pool room and hallway, while he had a bag of meth in his pocket, crumbs of cannabis on his coffee table and another bag of cannabis on his couch.
Craig Tuck, his legal representative, said: “This matter essentially revolved around an angry phone call – that was it. We will be arguing about that in June.”
He noted that an original charge of attempting to procure a murder had been “immediately dropped” after the raid, and added: “Today we have seen another charge dropped.”
AC/DC brought former drummer Chris Slade back for their world tour in support of latest album Rock Or Bust. In December Rudd insisted: “I’m going back to work and I don’t care who likes it and who doesn’t.” Guitarist Angus Young last year told how Rudd had put the band in a “difficult” position during album recording sessions.
source: classicrock.teamrock.com
Phil Rudd? I’ll be “Damned.”
Breaking Phil! That meth is one mutha !
Welcome back to the band full time Chris!
“philling him softly”
There was a friend of mine on murder
And the judge’s gavel fell
Jury found him guilty
Gave him sixteen years in hell
He said “I ain’t spending my life here
I ain’t living alone
Ain’t breaking no rocks on the chain gang
I’m breakin’ out and headin’ home”
Gonna make a jailbreak
And I’m lookin’ towards the sky
I’m gonna make a jailbreak
Oh, how I wish that I could fly
All in the name of liberty
All in the name of liberty
Got to be free
Jailbreak, let me out of here
Jailbreak, sixteen years ah
Jailbreak, had more than I can take
Jailbreak, yeah
He said he’d seen his lady being fooled with
By another man
She was down and he was up
Had a gun in his hand
Bullets started flying everywhere
And people started to scream
Big man lying on the ground
With a hole in his body
Where his life had been
But it was all in the name of liberty
All in the name of liberty
I got to be free
Jailbreak, jailbreak
I got to break out
Out of here
Heartbeats, they were racin’
Freedom, he was chasin’
Spotlights, sirens, rifles firing
But he made it out
With a bullet in his back
Jailbreak, jailbreak
Jailbreak, jailbreak
Jailbreak, jailbreak
Jailbreak, jailbreak
Jailbreak, jailbreak
I love Phil and I absolutely love what he brings to AC/DC. But what did he expect his album to do in today’s world? Go triple platinum? If he would have kept himself together the AC/DC tour may have brought more attention to his album and he could have sold it at their merch booths.
Angus might be the captain, but Phil is the best engine to drive the ship.
I love Phils drumming and he is an integral part of the classic acdc sound. But these guys are all in their 60s They don’t have time to deal with this nonsense. They could hardly get him to show up to record their latest record. Taking a chance and bringing him out on the road on what could be their last tour Could have been disastrous. And it’s not like he’s just smoking a little weed. Crystal Meth? That’s about as nasty as it gets. Just look at Phil. He’s a mess. He’s got all the classic look of a tweaker. Kudos to Angus and the boys for sending him packing. Welcome back Chris. You are a class act. Can’t wait to bring my son to see the worlds greatest Rock and roll band for his first concert at Gillette Stadium! God bless ac/dc!