THE lead singer of rock band The Vines is expected to face court tomorrow accused of assaulting his parents and leaving a policeman injured after an alleged violent rampage at his Connells Point house on Saturday.
Police said songwriter and guitarist Craig Nicholls, 35, who has Asperger's syndrome, had allegedly punched his mother twice in the head about 12.15pm before police used capsicum spray to subdue him after he resisted arrest.
Hurstville police Inspector Robert Duncan alleged Nicholls tried to run from police who were called to the Terry Street house where he lived with his family.
"He tried to evade police and [a] violent struggle ensued," Inspector Duncan said. "A police officer suffered grazes, cuts and bruises to both elbows and knees and was treated at St George Hospital," he said.
Nicholls was arrested and charged with five offences, including two counts of domestic assault, stalking or intimidation, resisting arrest and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
His parents took out an AVO and he is expected to appear before Sutherland Local Court.
The Vines are an alternative rock band formed in the early 90s after Nicholls met two other group members while working at McDonald's South Hurstville.
He dropped out of Marist College Penshurst in year 10 to pursue his love of music and songwriting.
The group tasted success after receiving an ARIA award for breakthrough artist - single and five other nominations for their 2002 debut album Highly Evolved.
The album sold more than 1.5 million copies.
Nicholls' mental health and drug problems have plagued the band, leading them to cancel a tour of Australia and Japan in November 2008.
"Craig Nicholls' mental condition has 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.
Nicholls has a reputation for erratic behaviour, highlighted by many public outbursts, including trashing a drum kit while performing on Late Show with David Letterman in 2002 and smashing a photographer's camera in 2004.
The group's name is a reference to a 1960s band Nicholls' father Terry played in called The Vynes.
They released their fifth album Future Primitive in June last year.
