Phil Rudd – AC/DC Drummer In Handcuffs, Yet Again, After Coffee Shop Rumble

Phil Rudd has been arrested again.

The drummer for the rock band, AC/DC, was handcuffed and placed in a police car early Thursday morning. Phil Rudd was taken by police to the Tauranga police station in New Zealand where he currently resides. Rudd appeared in court where he was cited for breaching the terms of his bail after an incident in which he had an angry confrontation with a potential witness in his upcoming trial.

An eyewitness spotted Phil Rudd being placed into a police car in handcuffs according to Stuff on the morning (New Zealand time) of December 4. The confrontation with what has been described as a “potential witness” happened outside a coffee shop in a shopping center. The publication described the man Phil was arguing with as a “huge guy” who is reportedly Phil’s former security guard. The guard reportedly made it clear he wanted nothing to do with Rudd.

“I don’t work for you anymore.”

Rudd reportedly got “confrontational” with the man. The New Zealand Herald says that the guard gave Phil another warning.

“Back up. I don’t wanna break your face.”

When Rudd still wouldn’t relent, the potential witness apparently shoved the AC/DC drummer in the chest, causing Rudd to fall over backwards. After that, eyewitnesses claim that Phil “went nuts.”

The large potential witness pushed Rudd down again and tried to leave the scene by getting into his car. Rudd’s current bodyguard tried to restrain the AC/DC drummer, and Phil reportedly starting kicking and fighting with his own bodyguard.

Someone called the authorities. The New Zealand Herald quoted another eyewitness at the scene who described Rudd’s appearance outside the coffee shop.

“He was out and bloody dancing around and carrying on and… he was led back to the cop car and was driven away.”

In court, Phil Rudd was reportedly “nearly incoherent” as he mumbled through answers to the questions the judge asked him. Phil Rudd’s lawyer explained to the judge that the encounter with the potential witness outside the coffee shop had been a “chance meeting.” Rudd’s bail was reinstated with one further condition – that Phil not consume any illegal drugs while awaiting trial in February on the charge of “threatening to kill” another man for alleged possession of meth and cannabis. The original charge against Phil Rudd, the charge of soliciting a hitman to commit a murder, has been dropped.

Phil Rudd played drums on the newly released AC/DC album, Rock or Bust, however, the band has stated that Rudd needs to “sort himself out” before continuing to play with the band in the future. AC/DC has announced a 2015 tour regardless of whether or not Phil Rudd is sitting behind the drums.
[Image via New Widimi]