The legendary classic rock group AC/DC have had no shortage of clientele issues as of late. First, guitarist Malcolm Young was forced into early retirement due to his tragic struggle with dementia. Now, it looks as though the group have also lost drummer Phil Rudd, who has been arrested and charged with attempting to procure a murder.
In news reminiscent of As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis, the 60-year-old Rudd was arrested Thursday morning (November 6) in New Zealand and charged under the allegations that he hired a hitman, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. According to the charges, Rudd had attempted get two men killed. The names of those men, though, have yet to be released.
While details are relatively scarce, reports that police raided Rudd's home in New Zealand early in the day and also found him in possession of marijuana and methamphetamine, leading him to also be charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis and threatening to kill.
He appeared in New Zealand's Tauranga District Court in the afternoon, though entered no plea to the charges and will reappear in court in three weeks.
Meanwhile, AC/DC are set to release their latest album, Rock or Bust, via Columbia Records on December 2. They're also set to embark on a world tour shortly thereafter, though details have not been revealed just yet.
That said, the remaining members of the group likely won't be springing Rudd from the slammer in a jailbreak. In fact, something fishy has been going on for a little while. As Blabbermouth reported last month, Rudd has been absent from all of the group's recent press photos.
UPDATE: AC/DC have now issued the following statement: "We've only become aware of Phil's arrest as the news was breaking. 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."
In news reminiscent of As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis, the 60-year-old Rudd was arrested Thursday morning (November 6) in New Zealand and charged under the allegations that he hired a hitman, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. According to the charges, Rudd had attempted get two men killed. The names of those men, though, have yet to be released.
While details are relatively scarce, reports that police raided Rudd's home in New Zealand early in the day and also found him in possession of marijuana and methamphetamine, leading him to also be charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis and threatening to kill.
He appeared in New Zealand's Tauranga District Court in the afternoon, though entered no plea to the charges and will reappear in court in three weeks.
Meanwhile, AC/DC are set to release their latest album, Rock or Bust, via Columbia Records on December 2. They're also set to embark on a world tour shortly thereafter, though details have not been revealed just yet.
That said, the remaining members of the group likely won't be springing Rudd from the slammer in a jailbreak. In fact, something fishy has been going on for a little while. As Blabbermouth reported last month, Rudd has been absent from all of the group's recent press photos.
UPDATE: AC/DC have now issued the following statement: "We've only become aware of Phil's arrest as the news was breaking. 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."
