Phil Rudd, the drummer in the Australian rock band AC/DC, was arrested Thursday morning and charged with trying to hire someone to commit murder, threatening murder and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis, the New Zealand news site SunLive reported.
The arrest took place during a police raid at his home in Tauranga, New Zealand, on Thursday morning. Mr. Rudd, 60, made a brief appearance at the Tauranga District Court, where he was charged and released on bail. The judge, Louis Bidois, ruled that the identity of the intended victims, and other details of the case, could not be released.
Mr. Rudd, who did not enter a plea, is expected to appear in court again on Nov. 27 – the day before AC/DC is scheduled to release its latest album, “Rock or Bust.” The group had also announced plans to promote the album with a tour. Those plans do not appear to be imperiled by Mr. Rudd’s legal problems.
“We’ve only become aware of Phil’s arrest as the news was breaking,” the group said in a statement posted on its website. “We have no further comment. Phil’s absence will not affect the release of our new album, ‘Rock or Bust,’ and upcoming tour next year.”
Mr. Rudd’s arrest is the second blow to the band this fall. In late September the group announced that its rhythm guitarist, Malcolm Young, who founded the group in 1973 with his brother and the band’s lead guitarist, Angus Young, was retiring because of illness.
Mr. Rudd joined AC/DC in 1974, and was fired in 1983, after drug and alcohol abuse led to a physical altercation with Malcolm Young. He rejoined the band in 1994. There may have been trouble brewing between Mr. Rudd and his bandmates even before his arrest, however. On Oct. 30 a group portrait was posted on the band’s Facebook page, in which Mr. Rudd does not appear.