Phil Rudd allegedly hired a hitman because he feared for his life. The hitman claimed that the AC/DC drummer was a “good man at heart,” but had disputes with “working girls.”

On Thursday morning, the 60-year-old rocker was arrested following a police raid on his home in Tauranga, New Zealand. He briefly appeared in court to enter no plea for his charges of attempting to procure a murder, threatening to kill, and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

If he is found guilty of procuring murder, he faces up to ten years in jail. He posted bail until his court schedule on November 27.

Details of the case and the names of the people involved were suppressed by Judge Louis Bidois of Tauranga District Court. As part of his bail conditions, he must have no contact with the man he allegedly hired to kill other people and his intended victims. He must also live at his North Island town home.

AC/DC Drummer Phil Rudd Accused of Attempting to Procure Murder

The alleged hitman claimed that Rudd hired him to become his bodyguard to protect him from the threats he received. He told Fairfax that the drummer was a good man, though he had been in a quandary for the past weeks.

“The girls that he gets, working girls and that, their partners get pissed off, he tells them ‘Nah I’m not paying you’ and then the partners come and say they want their money,” the alleged hitman, whose name was suppressed, said.

Fairfax noted that Rudd stationed bodyguards outside his home for the past several weeks.

The alleged hitman also told the Bay of Plenty Times that while Rudd was a “good fella,” he has burnt bridges.

“He’s burning the ones who care about him,” the man said, adding that Rudd has recently become irritable. When asked about the murder plot, the alleged hitman replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The AC/DC is set to release their new studio album “Rock or Bust,” and it remains unclear if the ageing musician would be able to take part in the band’s tour. The band has released a statement about Rudd’s arrest, saying that their tour would go ahead.

“We’ve only become aware of Phil’s arrest as the news was breaking. We have no further comment. Phil’s absence will not affect the release of our new album Rock or Bust and upcoming tour next year,” the statement on the band’s Web site reads.