On this day: February 12, 1967

British police raided the home of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards on February 12, 1967. The police were acting on a tip from a British newspaper, News of the World. When they entered the home, police found Richards, Mick Jagger, and Jagger's girlfriend Marianne Faithfull, along with a variety of drugs and illegal substances.

Richards and Jagger were both arrested and spent a few nights in jail. However, thanks to an impassioned letter that argued the sentence was much too harsh for the crime, the Stones were let off with hardly any punishment at all, and the press coverage of the event just helped the fuel the popularity of the band.

Other notable events for February 12:
-Screaming Jay Hawkins releases his hit I Put A Spell on You on Feb. 12, 1956. The song would later be a hit for The Alan Price Set
-London's Pye Records announced they had signed the 'British Bob Dylan' on Feb. 12, 1965. The record company had signed singer/songwriter Donovan
-Jimi Hendrix returned to his hometown of Seattle Washington on Feb. 12, 1968 to a hero's welcome. He even received a replica key to the city
-Debbie Harry announced she would be releasing a solo album on Feb. 12, 1981. The album was a flop