The Moment the Doors' Jim Morrison Became the First Rock Star to Be Arrested on Stage
- by Jack Whatley
Jim Morrison is the source of a lot of incredibly salacious rock and roll myths. He is also the source of a lot of true but unbelievable tales. From exposing himself in Miami to being knocked out by Janis Joplin, before his death in 1971, Morrison had seemingly completed the rock star bingo card.
There was one particular moment though that will forever put him in the history books, for better or worse… largely worse. In 1967, Morrison became the first rock star to be arrested while performing on stage as he fronted The Doors. It will forever be known as ‘The New Haven Incident’.
On December 9th 1967, The Doors were performing in New Haven, Connecticut when the rebellious Morrison, as he often did, met with a girl and took her backstage for a tour of the grounds. According to keyboardist Ray Manzarek, the two were “making out” in a shower cubicle backstage at the New Haven Arena when they were approached by a police officer looking to cool proceedings down.
