AC/DC say drummer Phil Rudd needs to “sort himself out” after proving unreliable for band work

AC/DC founder Angus Young and bassist Cliff Williams say Phil Rudd was acting erratically and missed photo sessions before his arrest in New Zealand.

AC/DC co-founder Angus Young has confirmed the band’s longtime drummer Phil Rudd had been unreliable in the lead-up to recording their new album Rock Or Bust.

Rudd, who faces charges of threatening to kill and drug possession in New Zealand, does not appear in the band’s new photos or the video for latest single Play Ball.

It is believed he missed his flight to London for the shoots.

As Young and bassist Cliff Williams kicked off their promotional duties for Rock or Bust in New York this week, they said it had been difficult to get Rudd on board with their plans to continue the band after Malcolm Young succumbed to dementia.

Let himself go ... AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd in Tauranga District Court.

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“It was tough to get (him) there in the first place,” Williams told USA Today.

Young has always run a tight ship with the band and is renowned for not tolerating unprofessional behaviour in their tight-knit ranks.

It took him several months to make the decision to make a new record after his brother Malcolm left the band but honoured his wishes to continue.

Rudd’s not playing ball would have seriously frustrated the musician.

Moving on ... It is likely AC/DC will engage a new drummer for their 2015 world tour. Picture: Supplied.

“It put us in a difficult situation. It put us in a spot where we couldn’t move forward. Does the guy show up? Is he reliable to do his job in good shape? We’ve always been a solid reliable unit,” Young said in the interview.

The members of AC/DC found out about Rudd’s arrest last week via the media and issued a statement that his “absence” would not affect their Rock or Bust album release plans or world tour in 2015, which is expected to be announced in December.

It appears unlikely the drummer will rejoin the band for the concerts at this stage.

Unreliable ... AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd leaves Tauranga District Court following his conviction for cannabis possession on December 1. Photo by The Sun/Getty Images

“Phil created his own situation,” Young 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.”

Young did not confirm the drummer may have been battling substance abuse but implied drugs may be an issue for his bandmate.

“When you get in that land, it’s very hard … I don’t know the exact situation … I can only say, from our perspective, that guy needs to sort himself out.”

Rock or Bust is released on November 28.

Originally published as AC/DC say drummer Phil Rudd needs to “sort himself out” after proving unreliable for band work