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The Infamous Redlands Bust: Rock History Shocked

The Redlands bust was meant to break the Rolling Stones, but instead it sharpened their myth. What followed wasn’t just a courtroom saga—it was a clash between youth culture and authority, played out under flashing headlines and public outrage. Overnight, the band became symbols, not just musicians. Rather than retreat, the Stones leaned into the moment. Fans pushed back, calling out punishments that felt wildly out of proportion, and the pressure worked. The attempt at humiliation backfired, exposing how fragile the establishment looked when challenged by guitars and long hair. Out of that chaos came We Love You, a sly thank-you aimed straight at the people who stood by them. It turned scandal into solidarity—and controversy into creative fuel.

It became one of the most notorious raids in rock history. On February 12, 1967, at 7:55 p.m., Sussex police—led by Chief Inspector Dineley—arrived at Redlands, Keith Richards’s country house, interrupting a small gathering. Armed with a search warrant, they claimed drugs were being used on the premises. During the search, officers uncovered more scandal than substances. Marianne Faithfull was found naked, wrapped only in a fur rug after stepping out of the shower, along with an unidentified “Mr. X”,, four amphetamine pills, and a green velvet jacket Mick Jagger said was his—though it actually belonged to Marianne. Heroin tablets were also discovered in the possession of art dealer Robert Fraser.

The Redlands Trial: The Stones Face Justice

At Chichester Magistrates Court on May 10, 1967, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Robert Fraser were each granted bail set at £100. By that point, the mysterious “Mr. X” had already fled the country. In a twist of timing, Brian Jones was arrested at his own home on the very day of the hearing, charged with possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, and cannabis.

The case against Mick, Keith, and Fraser was heard at the West Sussex Quarter Sessions from June 27 to June 29, under Judge Leslie Block. Before sentencing was handed down, Jagger was ordered to spend a night in Lewes Prison while the trial was still underway.

The jury deliberated for a little more than five minutes after hearing Keith’s case. Keith and Mick were sentenced by Judge Block, who thought they were “scum and filth”. Mick was found guilty of illegally possessing pep pills, given a £100 fine, and given a three-month jail term. Keith was found responsible for letting people smoke hashish inside his house, given a £500 fine, and given a one-year prison term. After being found guilty of heroin possession, Robert Fraser was given a £200 fine and a six-month prison term.

Public Outcry and Media Frenzy Over Stones Sentences

While Fraser and Mick went to Brixton Jail, Keith was assigned to Wormwood Scrubs for the evening. The Who released two Stones songs the following day, June 30 (The Last Time and Under My Thumb) in an effort to maintain their reputation in the media, and there were demonstrations outside the courthouse. The following day, on June 30, there was a significant public outcry. The public genuinely rallied behind the Rolling Stones, with everyone agreeing that the government intended to humiliate the Stones by handing down such severe sentences on tenuous charges.

In testimony, a doctor claimed to have given Mick a prescription for the drugs, which Mick had legally purchased in Italy. Another detail that Keith revealed during the trial was that the Stones believed The News of the World had set them up in retaliation for Mick’s threat to sue the publication for libel following their article that claimed he used drugs. The mysterious ‘Mr. X’, who apparently received a tip from the paper, reportedly called the police after learning that drugs were being consumed at Keith’s party.

Bail, Appeals and the Stones’ We Love You Response

A £7,000 bail was set at the High Court for Keith and Mick’s release. The charges against Keith were dropped a month later, on July 31, 1967, by Lord Parker, the Lord Chief Justice of the London Appeal Court, who also granted Mick a conditional discharge. There was only one prisoner, Robert Fraser. As a way of saying “thank you” to the public for their support, the Stones released We Love You on August 18.

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