By: Morgan Hays, Staff Writer
The classic rock band AC DC originally released the album Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap in 1976 in Australia. [1] It is another country, however, where the latest AC DC “dirty deed” news comes from: Phil Rudd, the drummer for the band, was arrested in New Zealand on November 5, 2014, and charged with (in Australian terms) “attempting to procure a murder . . . possession of methamphetamine, [and] possession of cannabis.” [2] Rudd, 60 years old, allegedly took measures to try and take a hit out on two men, whose names have been suppressed. Authorities believe the incident occurred on or around September 25 or 26, 2014. A preliminary hearing was originally scheduled for later this month on November 27, and spokespersons for the group were under the impression that, if convicted, Rudd could serve up to ten years in a New Zealand prison. [3] Mysteriously, the Attempting to procure murder charges were then dropped as of early Friday, November 7, 2014.[4] Authorities reportedly dropped the charges due to “insufficient evidence.”[5] The possession charges, however, still remain.[6]
According to the Crimes Act 1961, New Zealand law defines Rudd’s offense as “Counseling or attempting to procure murder.”[7] Under this law, any person “who incites, counsels, or attempts to procure any person to murder any other person in New Zealand, when that murder is not in fact committed” is guilty of the offense.[8] Under United States law, this type of charge would likely be similar to a federal charge of Solicitation to commit a crime of violence.[9] Solicitation to commit a crime of violence is defined as being a person who:
[w]ith intent that another person engage in conduct constituting a felony that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against property or against the person of another in violation of the laws of the United States, and under circumstances strongly corroborative of that intent, solicits, commands, induces, or otherwise endeavors to persuade such other person to engage in such conduct.[10]
This is not the first run in any member of AC DC has had with the law—in a 1991 show in Salt Lake City, Utah, three teenage fans were crushed by a crowd surge in the standing room only section. [11] The dispute was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. [12]
Phil Rudd joined AC DC to play the drums for the band in 1975 a remained a member until 1983. Rudd then re-joined the band in 1994. [13] Along with many best-selling albums and successful tours over the last few decades, AC DC was declared to be the 9th Best-Selling artist ever in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2009. [14] The Band was set to release a new album in December 2014 titled “Rock or Bust.” A world tour was also being planned.[15] Unfortunately, the lead guitarist and founding member of AC DC, Malcolm Young, suffered a stroke mid-2014, and has now been diagnosed with dementia. Young, through his representatives, recently released a statement confirming that he will be leaving the band due to his fast-deteriorating health. [16]
Diehard AC DC fans will likely continue to follow this bizarre story, as will the rest of the music industry, to try and understand why the star may have chosen to undertake such a sinister, dirty deed, and why the charges were then so suddenly dropped due to insufficient evidence.
[1] Chuck Eddy, Rolling Stone Online ACDC Biography, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/ac-dc/biography (accessed Nov. 6, 2014).
[2] Jason Newman, AC/DC’s Phil Rudd Arrested for Attempting to Procure a Murder, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ac-dcs-phil-rudd-arrested-for-attempting-to-procure-a-murder-20141105 (accessed Nov. 6, 2014).
[3] Id.
[4] Kory Grow, Murder-For-Hire Charge Dropped Against AC/DC’s Phil Rudd, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/murder-for-hire-charge-dropped-against-ac-dcs-phil-rudd-20141106 (accessed Nov. 10, 2014).
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Crimes Act, 1961 (New Zealand), no. 43.
[8] Id.
[9] 18 U.S.C.A. § 373 (West).
[10] Id.
[11] Chuck Eddy, Rolling Stone Online ACDC Biography, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/ac-dc/biography (accessed Nov. 6, 2014).
[12] Id.
[13] Id.
[14] Id.
[15] Justin Moyer, Report: AC/DC’s Malcolm Young Has Dementia, Won’t Return to Band, http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/09/26/report-acdcs-malcolm-young-has-dementia-wont-return-to-band/ (accessed Nov. 6, 2014).
[16] Id.
