AC/DC – producers of 17 albums, all with the same distinctive sound, and indisputably rock and roll legends. Unfortunately that isn’t enough to keep you safe from the long arm of the law, something drummer Phil Rudd found out the hard way in New Zealand yesterday.

Tauranga District Court was the scene of a rather chastising experience for Rudd, the band’s on-again off-again drummer since 1975. He was facing charges of threatening to kill his is former bodyguard and possession of rather large quantities of methamphetamine and cannabis. The most sobering moment for Rudd below from Stuff:

…the Crown suggesting AC/DC didn’t want Phil Rudd, the defence saying he was integral to the band’s sound and the Judge pointing out that, hey, Queen replaced Freddie Mercury.

That’s a blow to the ego right there, that’s kind of like saying ‘hey, you just bang some sticks on things, you’re not special’. So what about this threatening to kill the bodyguard spiel then?

He sacked several workers but seemed particularly displeased with the victim, a bodyguard who’d become his personal assistant.

He rang an associate who was holidaying in Australia and said he wanted the man “taken out”, offering $200,000, a motorbike, a car or house as payment.

He later rang the victim and threatened to come around and kill him, [Prosecutor] Pollett said.

A few more pot shots from the judge about Rudd’s drumming skills? Don’t mind if I do:

“AC/DC are still going without you”…

There was no clear evidence before the court that Rudd would have been touring with AC/DC anyway.

“Your place in the band for the moment does not exist, and will not exist until you address your addiction issues.”

So how did the judge rule? Rudd got off pretty lightly, ordered to remain in his house at all times and threatened with jail time if he breached any of the terms of his detention, including the use of drugs.

He won’t be going to jail but he will be going home with his tail between his legs. Judge One, Rudd’s Ego Zero.

[source:stuff]