The Vines have always courted controversy over the course of their career, and the latest news from the rock band’s camp is unfortunately less to do with music than it is with the turbulent lifestyle of their frontman, Craig Nicholls.
The Age reports that the 35-year-old singer and guitarist from The Vines has been accused of assaulting his parents and injuring a policeman after a violent rampage in his own home.
Police were called out to the rock star’s home over the weekend, where they say that Nicholls – who has Asperger syndrome – allegedly punched his mother twice in the head during a violent argument that broke out, Police had to subdue him with capsicum spray after he resisted arrest.
Inspector Robert Duncan says that Nicholls attempted to flee from police when they were dispatched to his home in Connells Point in Sydney’s southeast, where the Vines frontman was living with his family.
“He tried to evade police and [a] violent struggle ensued,” says Inspector Duncan. “A police officer suffered grazes, cuts and bruises to both elbows and knees and was treated at St George Hospital.”
Nicholls has since been arrested and charged with five offences, including two counts of domestic assault, stalking or intimidation, resisting arrest and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He is expected to appear in a local court this week, while his parents took out an AVO against their rockstar son.He tried to evade police and [a] violent struggle ensued
Nicholls’ violent outburst isn’t the first time that his mental health and struggles with drug problems have affected his personal life as well as that of The Vines. His erratic behaviour led to the departure of the band’s drummer, Hamish Rosser, earlier this year after 10 years with the band, citing that it was “due to differences with frontman Craig Nicholls.”
It’s not the first time the band lineup has been shaken, with former bassist Patrick Matthews walking back in 2004, and despite the band’s considerable global success and consistent output, it’s the behaviour of Nicholls himself that typically draw the most attention.
Meanwhile The Vines have been suspiciously quiet since finishing touring promotions at the end of last year for their fifth studio album, Future Primitive, released in June 2011.
