Phil Rudd Gives First Interview Since November Arrest: 'I'm Going Back to Work with AC/DC'

Despite all his current legal issues, Phil Rudd said in his first interview since being arrested in November that he will be resuming his duties as drummer for AC/DC. The longtime percussionist was charged with threatening to kill and drug possession. A murder-for-hire charge was dropped. Rudd, who played on AC/DC's new album, Rock or Bust, told ONE News that the charges against him are 'ludicrous,' Blabbermouth reports.

"This has just been a big ball of cheese and all the rats are gathering and having a piece, that's just life, but that's not who I am," Rudd said. "I'm going back to work with AC/DC. I don't care who likes it or who doesn't."

A man recently told the New Zealand Herald that Rudd hired him to act as a bodyguard. The drummer offered $200,000 and a car in exchange for his services. The source said that he was not hired to murder anyone. He said Rudd seemed like a good person and that the whole incident was blown way out of proportion.

"Everyone listens to the wrong people. They should listen to me. I'm a good guy, and I'm a pretty good drummer, by the way," Rudd added. "Ask Angus [Young]. He'll tell you."

Young actually did comment on Rudd's musicianship recently. The guitarist said that the drummer did a "great job" on the new record, but the band had to continue without him as the legal issues work themselves out.

"It's unfortunate, because he's a great drummer. He's been with us ... We go way back. But it was just making it difficult for us. What do we do? You can't plan anything. If anyone says, 'You wanna do this?' It was making it too difficult to go forward."

Rudd plead not guilty to the threatening to kill and drug possession charges. He's due back in court in February.

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Phil Rudd, AC/DC, Angus young