Phil Rudd sentenced to 8 months house arrest

The former AC/DC drummer pleaded guilty to drug possession and threatening to kill.

Published 9th Jul 2015

He made the threats to kill after the failure of his solo album ‘Head Job’, which was released last year. He originally denied the charges until changing to a guilty plea in April.

Rudd will be monitored 24 hours a day at his New Zealand beachfront mansion. Whilst he recorded the drums for AC/DCs latest album 'Rock or Bust', the band have been touring without him since legal proceedings began, with Chris Slade returning as their drummer instead.

He was sentenced at Tauranga District Court in New Zealand, with Judge Thomas Ingram telling him, "A 40-year career in a rock band is a long time and it seems to me that throughout that career, beyond any shadow of a doubt, you have always known the probable consequences of drug consumption and conviction for drug and anti-social offending."

Rudd refused to comment outside the courtroom (beyond swearing at the media) and he is expected to appeal against his sentence, as confirmed by his lawyer Craig Tuck.

Meanwhile, AC/DC played brought their Rock or Bust World Tour to a sold out Wembley Stadium last weekend. You can see our photos here!