SCORPIONS - SCORPIONS ROCKER DENIES BLACKMAIL CHARGES

Former SCORPIONS drummer HERMANN RAREBELL appeared in court on Tuesday (04APR06) on attempted blackmail charges. The WIND OF CHANGE rocker, who denies the charges, stands accused of hiring two members of the Zurich, Switzerland chapter of the Hell's Angels to extort $2 million (GBP1.14 million) from trustees in Liechtenstein. The court in Vaduz, Liechtenstein was told the bikers called the two trustees and their wives in September 2001, saying they were from a debt collection agency. They then allegedly played a tape threatening severe consequences should the money not be paid immediately. Rarebell has been embroiled in a legal battle with the trustees since 1993 - he claims they owe him $8,600,000 (GBP4,915,000). He faces up to ten years in jail if convicted. The case has been postponed and will be heard at a future date.