Ex-AC/DC Drummer PHIL RUDD Says He Has Been In Contact With BRIAN JOHNSON

Ex-AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd says that he has been in contact with the band's lead singer, Brian Johnson.

Rudd was sentenced to eight months of home detention by a New Zealand court in 2015 after pleading guilty to charges of threatening to kill and drug possession.

The charge of threatening to kill was the result of him reportedly trying to hire someone to "take out" his personal assistant after Rudd was angered by the poor launch of his 2014 solo debut, "Head Job".

Now the 62-year-old drummer, who is preparing to take his first solo album on tour, tells EonMusic that he has been in touch with some of his former bandmates. "I've had contact with the guys and the crew," he says. "I've heard from Brian. I spoke to Brian a couple of days ago. We were talking about cars and how fuckin' useless he is; how much quicker I am than him! He's doing all right."

AC/DC postponed the last ten dates of its North American tour earlier in the year after doctors told Johnson he faced a total loss of hearing if he did not stop touring immediately. AC/DC has since completed its tour, with GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose as a "guest vocalist" and Johnson apparently not returning to the group.

Rudd revealed a couple of months ago that he underwent an emergency procedure after suffering a heart attack, but that he's already recuperated and ready to return to his kit. '

It was the original release of "Head Job" that sparked Rudd's initial meltdown, with the drummer allegedly so angry at a personal assistant over the way the release was promoted that he threatened to have the man and his daughter killed.

Police investigating that claim against Rudd also found him in possession of drugs when they raided his home in November 2014.

Although Rudd played on AC/DC's latest album, "Rock Or Bust", the band recruited Chris Slade to replace Rudd for touring purposes. Slade, who had previously played in the band from 1990 to 1993, remains part of the lineup.

Rudd played in several Melbourne bands such as BUSTER BROWN and THE COLOURED BALLS before joining up with AC/DC in 1975 and making his debut on their second album, "T.N.T."

He played on 12 of the band's 16 studio albums, including massive sellers like "Highway To Hell" and "Back In Black".

"Head Job" was recorded with Kiwi musicians Allan Badger of Rotorua and Geoffrey Martin of Auckland.