AC/DC Drummer Phil Rudd Pleads Not Guilty to Death Threat Charges and Possession of Weed, Methamphetamines

Phil Rudd, the drummer for rock band AC/DC, plead not guilty on Tuesday to charges of drug possession and threatening murder after his arrest last month, reports The New York Times.

The plea was entered by Rudd's lawyer, the BBC reported; the drummer did not appear in court.

Rudd, 60, was arrested Nov. 6 at his home in Tauranga, New Zealand, and charged with attempting to hire someone to murder two people and making death threats. The attempt to hire a hit man charge was dropped because of a lack of evidence, according to The New Zealand Herald.

The other charges of threatening to kill a third person and possession of cannabis and methamphetamines remain.

Rudd could face seven years in prison if he is convicted of making death threats. He remains free on bail. His hearing is set for Feb. 10.

AC/DC released its latest album, "Rock or Bust," on Tuesday. It is unknown if Rudd is still a member of the legendary rock band. The band has said nothing about Rudd since his arrest, except when it posted a statement on its website.

"Phil's absence will not affect the release of our new album 'Rock or Bust' and upcoming tour next year," the statement said.

A week following the online statement, Angus Young, the band's guitarist and leader, told The Age that Rudd "seems to have let himself go" and added that "from our perspective, the guy needs to sort himself out."

Publicity photos to promote the new album do not include Rudd. In video clips for songs from the album, Bob Richards, a session drummer, substitutes for Rudd.

This is not the drummer's only legal woe this year. In November, Rudd was ordered by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) to pay more than $72,000 after losing his temper and firing three employees who worked at his restaurant Phil's Place in Tauranga.

Rudd lost his temper on July 18, 2012, when restaurant employees failed to deliver an antipasto platter to his boat because his security guard gave them the wrong location. He kicked the restaurant back door and a garbage can and cursed at the three workers before firing them. The ERA found the three employees were unjustifiably dismissed by Rudd.