Don McLean’s arrest shakes comfortable Camden, Maine

The picturesque ME town of Camden is reeling from the arrest of “American Pie” singer Don McLean, a fixture in the community.

The 70-year-old singer-songwriter lives in Camden, Maine.

Woll said McLean was charged with domestic violence, a Class D misdemeanor. Cpl Brad Woll said he does not know if McLean has a lawyer. The Portland Press Herald reports that McLean was booked in Knox County Jail and then released on $10,00 bail. Police and court officials didn’t say much about the arrest on Tuesday other than McLean will be in court to respond to it next month.

His career had a resurgence in 1980 with a cover of Roy Orbison’s Crying (1980 / #5 Pop / #2 AC / #6 Country). It was not known whether his wife, Patrisha McLean, was home at the time. The 1971 hit was about the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in a plane crash on 3 Feb 1959 – “the day the music died”. His attorney argued the school warning lights requiring a 15 miles per hour limit were not flashing, though police said they were on.

Last year, McLean revealed he had sold his number one hit’s lyrics for $1.2 million for the sake of his family.

McLean is scheduled to perform in Chicago, Houston and La Miranda, Calif., towards the end of January before heading to Australia for a string of shows in March.

“American Pie” was named a Song of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.