You got a lady and you want her gone
But you ain’t got the guts
She keeps naggin’ at ya night and day
Enough to drive you nuts

Pick up the phone, leave her alone
It’s time you made a stand
For a fee I’m happy to be
Your back door man

– “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, by AC/DC

In a bizarrely close-to-home incident of life imitating art, the drummer for AC/DC has been arrested on charges of attempting to procure a murder.

Phil Rudd, who has been the drum man for the legendary rock group for most of its existence, appeared Tauranga District Court in New Zealand Thursday afternoon facing a count of attempting to procure the murder of two men, said Bay of Plenty district’s police spokesperson, Kim Perks.

To add insult to injury, Rudd is also charged with threatening to kill, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cannabis.

Rudd left the court on bail and was driven away by his wife. Photos in the New Zealand press showed Rudd shoeless and looking like he had just been pulled from bed. His attorney tried unsuccessfully to prevent media from taking pictures of him, saying they would represent him “at his worst.”

As a band, AC/DC is still reeling from the loss of founding member and chief lyricist of the band, Malcolm Young. Young played rhythm guitar behind his more recognizable younger brother Angus’ lead guitar. Malcolm is known to fans as the engine behind the band. Malcolm went into retirement in September when he took up residence in a care facility in Sydney, suffering from dementia.

Rudd spoke of the band’s future at the time, promising that they would keep on playing and not break up, as some predicted. “It’ll never happen. Angus (Young) will never retire and as long as Angus never retires I won’t retire either,” he said. Malcolm’s newphew Stevie Young is now touring with the band.

AC/DC have a new album due out later this month, ironically titled Rock or Bust. Rudd himself has recently released his first solo album, titled Head Job.

Concrete shoes, cyanide, TNT
Neck ties, contracts, high voltage