AC/DC Drummer Phil Rudd Pleads Not Guilty To Murder Threats, Drug Possession

AC/DC's Rudd Faces More Charges

AC/DC drummer PHIL RUDD pleaded not guilty to charges of threatening to kill and possession of drugs today in a NEW ZEALAND court, according to several news sources, including BILLBOARD.

RUDD, who had been free on bail since his arrest early last month, was excused from a court appearance, while his plea was entered by his legal team.

RUDD raised some eyebrows with his previous court hearing, where he acted oddly, including miming playing the drums.

RUDD was originally charged with attempting to arrange the murder of two people, though those charges were dropped.  The 60-year-old was later charged with threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and pot.

If found guilty for threatening to kill, he could face a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.

The judge on the case told the NEW ZEALAND HERALD the matter “would likely be heard at a judge-alone trial next year.” The judge also called for a “suppression of the details of the threatening to kill complainant and three other witnesses.”

A case review for RUDD will be held at the TAURANGA DISTRICT COURT in NEW ZEALAND on FEBRUARY 10th.

AC/DC’s new COLUMBIA RECORDS album "Rock Or Bust" — their first without founding member MALCOLM YOUNG, suffering from dementia — comes out today. The band still plans to tour in 2015, with or without the drummer.

RUDD left AC/DC in 1983, then returned in 1994. The drummer released his debut solo album, the aptly titled "Head Job," this past SEPTEMBER. In the wake of the charges, the band's song "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," which describes a very similar murder-for-hire situation, began spiking in sales.

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