History Daily 1263: Jim Morrison’s On-Stage Arrest
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Dec 9, 2025 On December 9, 1967, Jim Morrison faced an unprecedented on-stage arrest during a concert in New Haven, becoming the first rock star to be detained mid-performance. Tensions flared after a backstage altercation with an off-duty officer. The podcast dives into Morrison's provocative antics, including an outrageous Oedipus monologue that shocked audiences. It also explores how controversy fueled The Doors' rise to fame, despite their struggles with censorship and Morrison's personal decline. A gripping tale of rebellion and rock history!
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Backstage Macing That Sparked Trouble
- An off-duty New Haven officer maces a long-haired youth after finding him backstage with a girl.
- The youth turns out to be Jim Morrison, which delays the Doors' set and leaves him angry before going onstage.
Onstage Arrest In New Haven
- After the backstage incident, Jim rages onstage, prompting police to cut the lights and arrest him mid-performance.
- He is taken to the station and later accused of inciting a riot, indecency, and public obscenity.
Breakthrough At Whiskey-A Go-Go
- Early Doors gigs led to a record deal after an Elektra executive praised them at the Whiskey-A Go-Go.
- Eleven days after meeting Elektra's Jack Holzman, the band signed and soon recorded their first album.
