AC/DC drummer charged in plot

• AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd also charged with drug possession, threatening to kill


• The 60-year-old New Zealand resident entered no plea and has been bailed, say reports


• The group is to release a new album in December, their website says

(CNN) -- Phil Rudd, the drummer for legendary hard rock band AC/DC, has been charged with attempting to have two men killed.

The 60-year-old appeared in a New Zealand court Thursday afternoon facing a count of attempting to procure the murder of two men, said Bay of Plenty Police District representative Kim Perks.

He was also charged with threatening to kill, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cannabis, Perks said.

AC/DC recently announced that Malcolm Young, far left, will not be returning to the group. AC/DC has been one of the hardest-rocking -- and longest-lasting -- bands on the scene. The group formed in 1973 in Sydney, Australia. Here's a look back at the rockers through the years:

The band hangs out with their manager Michael Browning, right, in 1976.

Angus Young sits on Bon Scott's shoulders while performing at the Town Hall in St. Albans, England, in 1976. Young is known for performing in a schoolboy uniform.

AC/DC performs at the Kursaal Ballroom in England in 1977.

Left to right: Phillip Rudd, Angus Young, Mark Evans, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott pose for a photo in 1977. Scott, who was the lead singer of the band in the '70s, died in 1980.

Angus Young performs in Chicago in 1979.

Devoted fans wait in the cold and snow to buy tickets for AC/DC's Denver show in 1982.

The band poses for a photo at a bar in Rhode Island in 1985.

AC/DC performs at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, in 1986.

Brian Johnson and Angus Young perform in Leiden, Netherlands, in 1991. Johnson took over as lead singer and sang on AC/DC's biggest hits, including "Back in Black" and "You Shook Me All Night Long."

The "Hells Bells" bell is seen on stage at an AC/DC concert in 2000.

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, center, poses with AC/DC at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2003.

The band shoots the video for their song "Rock 'n' Roll Train" in London in 2008. The group's 2008 album "Black Ice" was the second-biggest album of the year, with 6 million sold.

Angus Young performs with the band onstage in Melbourne in 2010.

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

Aussie rock legends AC/DC

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Photos: Aussie rock legends AC/DC

The names of the men he allegedly wanted killed and the name of the alleged potential hitman are suppressed, CNN affiliate TVNZ reported.

Rudd entered no plea to the charges at the Tauranga District Court, and was bailed until November 27, local media reported.

Police searched Rudd's waterfront home in Tauranga on Thursday morning, TVNZ reported.

The Australian-born drummer moved to New Zealand in 1983, after being sacked by the group. He rejoined the band years later.

AC/DC are one of the world's biggest-selling musical acts, and in 2003 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Their latest album, "Rock or Bust," is scheduled for release December 2.

AC/DC's Malcolm Young leaving band