The drummer of the hard rock group AC/DC, Phil Rudd, has appeared in a New Zealand court on charges of attempting to arrange a murder.

Mr Rudd, who was born in Australia, has also been charged with possessing the drugs methamphetamine and cannabis, and of making threats to kill.

The musician's waterfront house in Tauranga, on New Zealand's North Island, was raided on Thursday morning.

AC/DC are due to release a new album later this year.

Mr Rudd, 60, was released on bail after a brief appearance at Tauranga district court.

As part of his bail conditions, he must not have any contact with anyone involved in the alleged murder plot.

Local media reports say that the alleged plot targeted two men. The judge ruled that their names as well as that of the alleged hit-man cannot be revealed.

Mr Rudd will appear in court again on 27 November. He has yet to enter a plea.

Under New Zealand law, the charge of attempting to "procure" a murder carries a jail sentence of up to 10 years.

A police official quoted by the SunLive news website said the information that led to the raid on the house was provided by a member of the public.

Mr Rudd was kicked out of the band in 1983 and rejoined in 1994.

But he did not appear in a new photo of band members released last month to promote their upcoming album Rock Or Bust, and was reportedly absent from the filming of a new music video, prompting online speculation about whether he was still in the band.

Bummer to hear that Rudder is in such trouble.  :-\\

If you got a lady and you want her gone
But you ain't got the guts
She keeps naggin' at you night and day
Enough to drive you nuts
Pick up the phone, leave her alone
It's time you made a stand
For a fee, I'm happy to be
Your back door man hey

Concrete shoes
Cyanide
TNT
(Done dirt cheap)
Neck ties
Contracts
High voltage
(Done dirt cheap)

Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap.  :o

Apparently they threw Phil Rudd out of the band.  Angus said that he needed to "get his life together."