AC/DC's Phil Rudd creates own band

Phil Rudd. Photo/ Michelle Cutelli Photography

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd is adding to his band ahead of his European tour in April but is still to come up with a name.

"But whatever name we come up with, it doesn't really matter, because the band is going to be f****** great," he said.

Joining Rudd is bass guitarist John Proctor, who plays bass in the UK's Dirty Strangers and has played with Keith Richards' best mate. Joining Rudd as guitarist is Tauranga musician Mike "Mutt" Furness.

Proctor will join Rudd and the boys in Tauranga in January to rehearse with the band which also includes Kiwi musicians Allan Badger, of Rotorua, and Auckland's Geoffrey Martin, with whom Rudd recorded his recent 11-track solo album, Head Job.

Rudd has recently released a video of the title track of the album filmed in Tauranga.

Phil Rudd. Photo/ Michelle Cutelli Photography

Mutt, 52 of Otumoetai said it would be fulfilling a lifelong dream to tour with Rudd and the band,

"It is what I have always wanted to do and it is going to be great."

Mutt, who has been playing guitar for more than 30 years and says his influences include - Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin , and Jeff Beck - first met Rudd in the 1990s.

Rudd said they were yet to confirm venues for the tour but had interest across Europe and Eastern Europe,

"We are getting lots of requests from all over - Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Poland, the Ukraine...so we are just going to sit down and nut out the venues."

Tauranga musician Mutt is joining Phil Rudd's new band. Photo/Michelle Cutelli