AC/DC has just announced the end of the Rock Or Bust tour with two New Zealand dates: December 12th at Westpac Stadium in Wellington and December 15th at Western Springs in Auckland. Tour manager Garry Van Egmond has confirmed to the Bay Of Plenty Times, drummer Phil Rudd would not be playing in any of the New Zealand concerts, despite the fact that he currently lives in Tauranga.

"Chris Slade will be on drums - he replaced Phil when he left the band some years back and he has been playing in the Rock Or Bust tour worldwide."

As to whether Rudd had permanently left AC/DC Van Egmond said he could not answer that and did not know the answer.

He said there was: "no confirmation that Phil has left the band permanently. All I can say is that Phill will not be playing in the New Zealand concerts."

Read more at Bay Of Plenty Times.



Earlier today,  SunLive, the sentencing of Phil Rudd has been adjourned until next month. The former AC/DC drummer was due to be sentenced in Tauranga District Court on June 26th after pleading guilty to one count of threatening to kill, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cannabis.

Australia’s A Current Affair caught up with Phil Rudd early last month in an exclusive report that can be viewed at this location. This is the first time Rudd has spoken since he admitted to possession of drugs and threatening to kill a former employee.

About being in contact with the band, Rudd says he’s “I’m very disappointed. I tried to get in touch with Angus (Young), but I’ve had no contact with him. They haven’t called me. You know who your friends are. That’s life.”

About the prospect of going to jail, Rudd is hopeful that it will be “discharge without conviction.”

Rudd has been on bail since he was arrested after police executed a search warrant at his Bureta, New Zealand home on November 6th, 2014.

AC/DC are currently on their Rock Or Bust tour with former drummer Chris Slade on the drum stool. “I’m sure they are having a great time," Rudd says. "I’m sure it sounds great. I wish I was there. And I’m not the only one.”

Rudd was charged over an incident on September 26th, 2014 where - according to a police summary - Rudd rang a man he knew and threatened to kill both him and his daughter, according to News.com.au. This was consistent with another phone call made by Rudd earlier that morning. The drug charges were laid after police executed a search warrant at Rudd's home on November 6th. Police say Rudd had 0.71g of methamphetamine and 130g of cannabis in his possession. He was also charged with attempting to procure a murder when he appeared in court in November, but this was dropped by the crown solicitor the following day.