Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards Once Busted By News of the World

A smile must have crossed the mug of Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards when the long-running tabloid News of the World was shuttered by media mogul Rupert Murdoch on Sunday amid the credibility-destroying phone hacking scandal and a well-documented history of predatory journalistic tactics.

You see, celebs like Sienna Miller and the parents of a kidnapped girl weren't the only ones violated by the tabloid. As Death and Taxes points out, Richards fell victim to the paper's unethical practices back in 1967, a whole two years before the Murdoch even got his mitts on it.

In his autobiography 'Life,' Richards recounts the first time he and the band were busted for drugs. Richards threw an acid party at his house and while they were tripping, search warrant carrying cops arrived, on a tip from News of the World, which was working in tandem with the axeman's chauffeur.

Richards wrote: "The bust was a collusion between the News of the World and the cops, but the shocking extent of the stitch-up, which reached to the judiciary, didn’t become apparent until the case came to court months later. Mick had threatened to sue the scandal rag for mixing him up with Brian Jones and describing him taking drugs in a nightclub. In return they wanted evidence against Mick, to defend themselves in court. It was Patrick, my Belgian chauffeur, who sold us out to the News of the World, who in turn tipped off the cops. …I'm paying this driver handsomely, and the gig's the gig… But the News of the World got to him."

Giving up Richards (who has also added "blockbuster film actor" to his repertoire thanks to his role as Jack Sparrow's dad in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise) and crew to the cops also ensured that NOTW were first with the story of the bust.

Yeah, we're willing to be that Richards is wearing a s--- eating grin now that the paper has published its last issue.

Watch 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Keith Richards and Johnny Depp Discuss Their Relationship.