AC/DC Drummer Phil Rudd Pleading Guilty to Death Threat, Drug Charges

For the last year AC/DC has been performing without Phil Rudd at drum kit because he fell into some legal issues that aren't going away anytime soon. Don't expect an AC/DC return because Rudd is expected to plead guilty on charges relating to an incident where he threatening to kill a former employee while also being in possession drugs. When the charges were first brought up he originally plead not guilty.

The New Zealand Herald says Rudd is set to appear in court on June 26th. The plan is for his lawyer to change the not-guilty conviction.

Angus Young said he was shocked by the arrest. While he was shocked, he also claimed that he and Rudd had a few blowouts with eachother.

"When we were recording, it was quite difficult to just get him in the studio," Young told the Huffington Post. "When we were in London when we were starting up to do the video shoot and stuff and it was the same then. He didn't show, you know? That's something we've got to resolve. Phil's got to sort himself out."

Rudd had been hoping to return to AC/DC back in December but it looks like that won't be happening. During an interview with New Zealand's One News, Rudd said he is going to "work with AC/DC" and he didn't care who "likes it or doesn't like it."

Rudd's replacement has been former member Chris Slade. When Rudd missed out on the two weeks in Coachella and then the Grammy's ceremony, Slade more than stepped up for the band.

For now, Rudd has to lay back and hope these charges won't lead to a crippling sentence. This is a rough one to get out of and drumming probably won't be the endgame for Rudd. Sky News reports that Rudd could be sentenced at a minimum of seven years.

A photo posted by AC/DC (@acdc) on Dec 11, 2014 at 8:16am PST