AC/DC's Phil Rudd pleads guilty to threatening to kill
He also admits drug possession charges
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has pleaded guilty to charges of threatening to kill and drug possession.
The 60-year-old appeared at court in Tauranga, New Zealand today where he admitted he planned to “take out” a former employee after his solo album flopped.
Rudd, who had previously denied the charges, also admitted possessing cannabis and methamphetamine.
Another charge of attempting to procure murder was withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.
The rock veteran was arrested last November over an incident on 26th September when Rudd allegedly phoned a man he knew and threatened to kill him.
The Tauranga court was told today that the incident happened a month after his he sacked a string of employees when his first solo record ‘Head Job’ nose-dived in the charts.
He allegedly offered an associate £100,000 and “a motorbike, one of his cars or a house”, which the person assumed as payment for carrying out a request.
"As a result of threats made by the defendant, the victim was genuinely very fearful for his safety", the court summary read.
Police found 0.71g of methamphetamine and 130g of cannabis in Rudd’s possession when they searched his home in relation to the threatening to kill charge.
Speaking outside court, his lawyer Craig Tuck told the press: "This matter essentially revolved around an angry phone call, that was it."
Rudd has been bailed until his next court appearance in June.
Rudd has had two spells of drumming for AC/DC from 1972 until his sacking in 1983 and 1994 to present.
Although he’s still officially a member of AC/DC he has not participated in band activities since the recording of ‘Rock or Bust’ and has been replaced by Chris Slade on the current tour.