Any future aspirations Phil Rudd has of returning to the stage with rockers AC/DC will remain on hold until he can fully rehabilitate himself from drugs.

That's the cold hard truth Judge Thomas Ingram imposed on the 61-year-old, sentencing him to eight months home detention in Tauranga District Court on charges of threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

Phil Rudd and his lawyer Craig Tuck make their way from Tauranga District Court after sentencing. Photo: Luke Balvert.

The former AC/DC drummer, who pleaded guilty in April to the charges, will be electronically monitored for eight months, and must also complete a rehabilitation programme.

Rudd, who was unable to escape a conviction on the serious charges, will also be subject to post detention conditions for six months.

Judge Ingram told Rudd there "was nowhere to hide" and he would be jailed if he was found with any traces of drugs or alcohol in his system.

He told Rudd he's clearly been unable to deal with a long standing meth addiction, and until he did successfully rehabilitate himself a future with the band was unlikely.

'You are a man that clearly has rehabilitative needs.”

Rudd's lawyer Craig Tuck argued for the discharge, claiming a conviction would leave him unable to travel to Japan, Canada and the US with the band – resulting in the loss of tens of millions of dollars.

Tuck told the court Rudd's actions were the result of methamphetamine psychosis and he was addicted to the drug. He also paid the victim a substantial amount of money, suppressed by the court, to the victim.

But, Judge Ingram sided with the crown prosecution saying there was no evidence to suggest he was with the band anymore or going forward.

The Judge says there was is evidence he had an offer from the band and he is not convinced that Rudd's drumming was integral to the AC/DC sound.

"Queen replaced Freddie Mercury,” says Judge Ingram.

He adds Rudd is '61 and not 21” and should have learnt by now having been discharged without conviction on two occasions; in 2007 2007 for common assault and 2011 for possession of cannabis.

According to the summary of facts, Rudd lost it after his solo album failed to take off on August 29, 2014.

Court documents say Rudd also made a call to an associate in Australia and said he wanted a person taken out. He called his associate again and offered $200,000, a motorbike, one of his cars or his house which the associate took as payment for taking out the victim.

On September 26, Rudd called the victim and threatened to kill him. He asked if the victim was in and when he replied yes, Rudd said: 'I'm going to come and kill you you f*****g c**t”.

Rudd made several other phone calls to the victim, but when the victim realised who it was he terminated the call.

Police raided Rudd's Bureta home on November 6 and found 0.487grams of methamphetamine and 91grams of cannabis.

In the meantime, AC/DC's global Rock or Bust tour continues without Rudd, with the band confirming Chris Slade will be in the drummer's seat when it plays in Auckland and Wellington in December.