AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd on New Zealand murder plot charge

[Bosonic]

Source: BBC

The drummer of the hard rock group AC/DC, Phil Rudd, has appeared in a New Zealand court on charges of attempting to arrange a murder.

Mr Rudd, who was born in Australia, has also been charged with possessing the drugs methamphetamine and cannabis, and of making threats to kill.

The musician's waterfront house in Tauranga, on New Zealand's North Island, was raided on Thursday morning.

...

Mr Rudd, 60, was released on bail after a brief appearance at Tauranga district court.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-29928698

[paper boy]

1. I bet I can guess who the two men are that he wanted dead.

[7962]

6. Who? Not his bandmates?

[paper boy]

18. They fired him before over drug and alcohol abuse

Sounds like he was strung out on meth and likely unfit for duty again so it could have been the handful of people capable of sitting in for him in time for the tour or his band mates or a couple of the people that he apparently owes 70 grand to. He was pissed off enough to try to have two people killed. It generally takes something pretty $ignificant to push someone to such an extreme. I have seen AC/DC many times. I saw them in Detroit on their last tour and it was an excellent show. If their tour doesn't fall apart now, I'll see them again. I still listen to AC/DC pretty regularly. This sucks.

[Bluenorthwest]

20. I saw them long ago in original form, as an opening act. I'd heard of them, but never heard them.

They took the stage before a crowd that did know them and who really wanted to see the headliner. They gave one of the best shows I have ever seen. The crowd went insane for them, and they for the crowd. They were great musicians and really generous performers and by the time they finished their set, the crowd belong to them. Encores were demanded and given. Chants for more went on and on. The headliner waited a full 45 minutes before daring to take to the stage. Because that stage had already been owned for the night and everyone knew it.
It was a hell of a thing to see.

[7962]

24. Gotta know: Who was the headliner that night?

[VScott]

29. The thunder from down under.

Saw them myself back in 78 with Bon Scott at the Paradise in Boston.

No other band, before or after, even comes close to their live performances in their
heydays... not by a long shot.

[lob1]

2. It would be ironic if the drummer for AC/DC got the electric chair.

[LeftInTX]

21. Haaaaaaaaaa

I shouldn't laugh, but that was good

[T_i_B]

3. Dirty Deads Done Dirt Cheap?

[underpants]

4. +

[Dr. Strange]

17. Orange is the new Back in Black

[7962]

5. What the hell???

[madokie]

7. I doubt the cannabis figures in this in any way

but I'd bet good money the methamphetamine damn sure did

If I was a better that is
I've seen that shit ruin many lives. People who otherwise were good people who succumbed to it

[kentauros]

9. I'll have to ask my girlfriend how bad meth use is in NZ.

She may not know as she doesn't pay much attention to the news, even living close to Tauranga. I know what drug-purchasing restrictions are like in the US, but not other countries...

[Lenomsky]

10. Meth/Ice is widely used ..

in NZ (and Oz) one of the major factors is the intense Customs procedures and thus seizures so prices are stratospheric for what I consider common drugs like cocaine, amphetamine etc

It's an island fortress although weed and opium seem accessible as home grown.

[kentauros]

13. Okay, thanks!

[allan01]

8. why is murder always the final solution?

[Orsino]

11. Thrill. Shoot to THRILL, Phil. n/t

[Botany]

12. He is on the Highway to Hell

n/t

[Tom Ripley]

14. He's a hell of a drummer (hits like a motherfucker)

[Orrex]

15. One supposes that he's plotting a jailbreak.

[groundloop]

19. Yep, and Thin Lizzy said it's gonna' be tonight

[7962]

25. And in jail he'll get a Whole Lotta Rosie!

Or he may just be givin' the dog a bone......

[jen63]

16. Shot Down in Flames n/t

[PeoViejo]

22. Back in the '60s in NZ

I walked into a Pharmacy (Chemist) to buy something. As I was checking out, I noticed a display of Codeine tablets right in front of the register. I asked the young Lady at the Register about requiring a Prescription. She replied that there were no restrictions for purchasing it, since there was no drug problem, and that if anyone were to get addicted, it would be treated as a medical issue, not a criminal one. Since Health Care is free there, there was no reason to resort to crime to maintain a habit or to acquire drugs. You just check-in to the Hospital and they supply you while they wean you off.

[arely staircase]

23. the police were listening in to

3624368

[Independent_Liberal]

26. Crazy!

The band has got to start looking for a new drummer.

[fingrin]

27. CHARGES WITHDRAWN

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd's charge of attempting to procure murder has been withdrawn.

Rudd, 60, appeared in the Tauranga District Court yesterday, charged with attempting to procure the murder of two men.

He was also charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis and threatening to kill.

Rudd's lawyer, Paul Mabey QC, said this afternoon the Crown solicitor withdrew the attempting to procure murder charge after a meeting between Mabey and police.

"The decision to charge Mr Rudd was made by the New Zealand Police without consultation with the Tauranga Crown solicitor," he said.

The Crown solicitor said there was insufficient evidence to justify the charge and has withdrawn the charge, Mabey said.

The Crown solicitor's office confirmed the charge had been withdrawn.

"The charge alleging an attempt to procure murder should never have been laid," Mabey said.

"The Crown solicitor's opinion was not sought."

[Old Nick]

28. How is this political news?

Can't help but ask, as I had a vastly more relevant thread locked in this forum earlier today.