Lorne Michaels once came to the rescue of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, helping him avoid a life sentence in prison.
According to an excerpt from the biography Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live by Susan Morrison, Michaels played a crucial role in saving Richards in 1978. The incident occurred after the Rolling Stones appeared on Saturday Night Live’s fourth season as both the host and musical guest.
Weeks after the show aired, Michaels helped Richards avoid serious jail time after the guitarist faced a drug charge in Canada. In 1977, Canadian authorities found 22 grams of heroin on Richards in Toronto’s Harbour Castle Hilton. The amount of heroin was enough to warrant an intent-to-carry charge, which could have led to a life sentence.
Michaels, a Canadian native, stepped in to help Richards as a favor to Mick Jagger. He served as a character witness in Toronto, helping Richards prepare for court. As part of his preparation, Michaels made sure Richards wore a proper three-piece suit, though with a “loud tie” to avoid showing up in his “pirate getup.”
The prosecutor sought a harsh sentence, arguing that the Rolling Stones’ music encouraged drug use. Richards’ lawyer, however, defended him as a “troubled artist.”
According to Morrison, Richards wasn’t sober and even “took a quick snort from a bag of coke he had in his pocket” in a backroom at the courthouse. Michaels was concerned that he might have to lie under oath while testifying for Richards, but fortunately, that wasn’t necessary.
When Michaels took the stand, he was asked only about Richards’ “creative role in the Stones.” He praised Richards, calling him “the catalyst of the band” and referred to the Rolling Stones as “the number one rock and roll band in the world.” Michaels also mentioned that the Stones’ fame played a role in his decision to have them host the SNL season premiere, over Muhammad Ali.
Richards ultimately received a suspended sentence and was ordered to perform a benefit concert for the blind. Michaels later reflected, “Canadians would not want to put a real artist in jail,” according to Morrison.
During the Rolling Stones’ 1978 SNL appearance, they performed hits like “Beast of Burden,” “Shattered,” and “Respectable” from their Some Girls album.
Richards, now 81, was part of the SNL50: The Anniversary Special on February 16, 2025, marking the show’s milestone celebration.
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