Industry and fans whispers put the Rolling Stones' 1977 El Mocambo Tavern gigs as the band's latest vault release. Although four selections from the famed Toronto club gigs found their way onto that year's double concert album, Love You Live, the tapes of the show in varying quality have made the rounds on the underground for decades. According to sources, an announcement regarding the release is coming as soon as next week.
It was on February 27th, 1977, while in Toronto for the 500-seat El Mocambo dates, that Keith Richards was arrested for possession of heroin. Richards was awakened by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who found five grams of cocaine and 22 grams of heroin in his room, among other substances. Richards was charged with "possession of cocaine and heroin with intent to traffic."
Although Richards was eventually released on $25,000 bail, due to the trafficking charge, he faced a minimum seven-year prison term if found guilty. Richards, who due to his growing and public drug use had been on the wrong side of the law since 1967, was now facing the most serious criminal charge of his life.
