Craig Nicholls, lead singer of Australian garage rock group The Vines, was arrested on Saturday after allegedly assaulting his parents and a police officer during a violent episode at his home in Sydney.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, police believe the 35-year-old singer punched his mother twice in the head and when authorities arrived, he attempted to flee and “a violent struggle ensued.”
| The Vines, “Get Free”
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After being hit with pepper spray, Nicholls was arrested and charged with two counts of domestic assault, stalking or intimidation, resisting arrest and assault. He is expected to appear before a judge on Wednesday.
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A police officer was treated at a local hospital with cuts and bruises to his arms and legs.
The rocker’s parents have requested an Apprehended Violence Order, or AVO, a type of restraining order designed to deter people from committing further violent acts.
Known for his erratic behavior during live performances and interviews, Nicholls has long suffered from Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. The Vines canceled a 2008 tour because the singer’s mental condition “deteriorated extremely rapidly over the past month to the point where he requires immediate help over an extended period of time,” the band said in a statement at the time.
The Vines exploded onto the scene during the early-2000s garage rock explosion, scoring two top 20 singles on the Alternative Songs chart off debut album “Highly Evolved,” a No. 11 hit on the Billboard 200. Their biggest hit, the screeching rocker “Get Free,” reached No. 7 while follow-up “Outtathaway!” topped out at No. 19.
Sophomore album “Winning Days” failed to reach the top 20 when released in 2004 and the band continued to slide until they were dropped by Capitol Records following third album, “Vision Valley,” in 2006. They released their most recent album, “Fugitive Primitive,” in June of 2011.