AC/DC Drummer Phil Rudd Rearrested in New Zealand
UPDATE: Rudd has pleaded not guilty to breaking detention rules, according to The Associated Press and will return to court in November.
Just 10 days after AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd was sentenced to eight months of home detention after pleading guilty to threatening to kill a former employee, Rudd was rearrested Sunday in New Zealand for unspecified reasons. Rudd’s lawyer Craig Tuck confirmed that the drummer was back in jail awaiting a Monday court appearance for a bail application. However, both Tuck and local police wouldn’t comment on the nature of Rudd’s arrest until after that court hearing, Stuff.co.nz reports.
“All I can say is he has been arrested and will be appearing on Monday… in the Tauranga District Court,” Rudd’s lawyer Craig Tuck told news agencies following his client’s new arrest. “That’s all I can say for now and that’s all I am telling everyone who is calling.” A spokesperson for the Bay of Plenty police added,”[Phil Rudd’s] lawyer has previously indicated to police that media attention is not helpful. We are not making any comment until after tomorrow morning’s court appearance.”
While the exact nature of Rudd’s latest legal problem wasn’t revealed, the New Zealand Herald reports that Rudd had prostitutes at his home at the time of arrest.
Rudd was sentenced July 9th to eight months of strict home detention at the drummer’s Tauranga, New Zealand mansion, where he would be monitored 24 hours a day. At his sentencing, judge Thomas Ingram expressed concerns about Rudd’s drug problems – he had also pled guilty arrested for marijuana and methamphetamine possession – but warned Rudd that any violation of his home detention could result in jail time.
“I stone cold guarantee that’s where you’ll end up,” Ingram said. “I’m not your headmaster; I’m not your father. I’m a judge.” He also told Rudd, “There is simply no place to hide,” and also warned that the drummer could go to prison if caught with drugs or alcohol. As part of the sentence, Rudd was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation program.
“Queen replaced Freddie Mercury,” Ingram told Rudd at the sentencing. “AC/DC are still going on without you. Your place in the band for the moment does not exist, and will not exist until you address your addiction issues.”
After Rudd was ordered to eight months of home detention, his lawyer promised to appeal the “manifestly excessive” sentence.