For the first time since his arrest in Tauranga, New Zealand in November, Phil Rudd has finally broken his silence. The AC/DC drummer is going back to work with the band, whether people like it or not.

On November 6, the 60-year-old Australian rocker was arrested and charged with attempting to procure a murder, threatening to kill, and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis following a police raid on his home. The attempting to procure a murder charge was dropped after a day.

While he has been rather engaged with his legal problems, AC/DC released a statement saying the promotional tour for the band’s latest album “Rock or Bust” would go on. The statement did not mention if Rudd would be participating, although with the drummer ordered to stay in his Tauranga home, it would be likely he has been left out of the schedule.

But Rudd is returning to work, he vows. In an interview with One News, his first since he was arrested, Rudd declared that he is fit for work and will be back to do his job with the band.

“I’m going back to work for AC/DC and I don’t care who likes it and who doesn’t,” he said. He added to his fans that his life is under control, despite what the news about him say.

“It’s all wrong and I’m very upset about the whole thing,” Rudd said of the dropped charge attempting to procure murder. “Ludicrous, ludicrous. As if I’d need anybody to do that.”

Rudd’s legal troubles have put the band is a difficult situation, according to AC/DC co-founder Angus Young. But even before he was arrested, he was already behaving erratically. Young said in a previous interview that it was tough getting their bandmate in the studio. They didn’t know if he would be showing up to do his job.

“Phil created his own situation,” he said. “It’s a hard thing to say about the guy. He’s a great drummer, and he’s done a lot of stuff for us. But he seems to have let himself go. He’s not the Phil we’ve known from the past.”

“Whatever happened to giving people a fair go?” Rudd asked to Bay of Plenty Times on Monday about his charges. The good thing, though, is he has plenty of local support in New Zealand, he said.

Also read:
Court Documents Reveal Phil Rudd Allegedly Threatened to Kill Contractor and Kid Daughter
AC/DC Drummer Phil Rudd Arrested Again in Tauranga – Report
AC/DC: Phil Rudd Pleads Not Guilty to Attempting to Kill, Drug Charges in New Zealand