MOSCOW, November 6 (RIA Novosti) – Phil Rudd, the drummer of legendary rock band AC/DC, has been charged in New Zealand after trying to have two men killed, the BBC reported.
The 60-year old rocker appeared in a New Zealand court on Thursday afternoon, where he was charged with attempting to procure the murder of two men. He may be sentenced to as many as 10 years in jail, Canada’s CBC News said.
The judge did not reveal the names of the men Rudd intended as his victims, the BBC reported.
Following the court ruling, Rudd has been released on bail, but he is expected to appear in court again on November 27, the BBC reported.
In addition to attempting to have two men killed, Rudd was also charged with possession of methamphetamine and cannabis, said Kim Perks, the Bay of Plenty district’s police spokesperson, according to CNN.
AC/DC was founded in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who named their band after the abbreviation for “alternating current, direct current”. The Australian band is famous for hard rock hits such as Highway to Hell, You Shook Me All Night Long, Back in Black, Hell’s Bells, and perhaps most prophetically in light of the recent arrest, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. AC/DC was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
