AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd charged with possession of drugs and threatening to kill, sentenced to home detention

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd is under House Arrest. The Australian musician was arrested for possession of drugs and threatening to kill. Rudd, 61 had pleaded not guilty but he changed his plea later, in April. Police officials investigating his threat to “take out” a former employee found a stash of amphetamines and marijuana in his possession.

Rudd could face up to seven in years jail. The Tauranga judge who was handling Rudd’s case warned him about this. He said Rudd could face up to seven years in jail if he continued his drug habits. Rudd has been sentenced to eight months home detention after he pleaded guilty to the charges.

Rudd was charged after he made telephone calls stating he wanted his employees “taken care of”. Rudd had fired several employees last year after he was unable to produce his solo album, Head Job. In September, the same year, he called an associate and said he wanted the employees taken care of.  According to earlier reports, Rudd also offered the same associate NZ$200,000, a car or a house and a motorbike. The associate interpreted this as compensation for carrying out the request.

Rudd also reportedly called his employee and threatened to kill him, he said, "I'm going to come over and kill you." He also threatened to kill the victim’s daughter. However, both the charges were dropped.  Rudd’s lawyer dismissed the threats as being “just an angry phone call.”

When the police raided Rudd’s house, they found the amphetamines and marijuana. Rudd’s lawyer said that Rudd would bear some consequences for the drugs found. This means Rudd won’t be able to tour with the rest of his music group, AC/DC.

The judge handling this case, Thomas Ingram dismissed Rudd’s request to be discharge without conviction. He said, "Some of the affidavit material put before me suggests that you are integral to the band's sound and you are an iconographical member of the band.”

"That point doesn't persuade me completely. Queen have replaced Freddie Mercury and it's clear that the band is currently touring without you”, Ingram said.

Along with the 8 month long house detention, Rudd paid compensation and reconciled with the victim.

Rudd, who left the band in 1983, after 8 years of playing for them had joined them again in 1994. He is currently not a member of AC/DC pertaining to his legal problems surrounding this case.  AC/DC released a statement saying that another drummer would accompany them while they are on tour. Angus Young, the guitarist for AC/DC spoke about Rudd in an interview, saying “He's not the Phil we've known from the past."

Former drummer Chris Slade announced he would be touring with the band on their New Zealand and Australia tour, after he was seen with the band during the Grammy Awards in 2014. The same year, his children, who are believed to be from his unknown Ex-wife, talked about Rudd, painting him as a family man. 

Fans have expressed their sorrow about Rudd's sentence on Twitter.