Rock ‘n’ roll mayhem in Middletown? Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have been there and done that.

On the Oct. 2 episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the Boss shared details on the riotous concert by Steel Mill, the precursor to the E Street Band, which took place on Sept. 11, 1970, at the former Clearwater Swim Club in Middletown. Twenty-one people were arrested at the show, and a warrant was issued for the arrest of late E Street Band member Danny Federici.

“We played a show in Middletown, New Jersey, and we played 10 minutes after we should have stopped and Middletown, New Jersey police had just invested in a new SWAT team,” said Springsteen, on the show with actor Jeremy Allen White to promote the upcoming Boss biopic “Springsteen: Delver Me from Nowhere.”

“They sent them down to the concert. They came in rather aggressively. Danny threw some amplifiers on the police and disappeared into the crowd. We had some other shows but we couldn’t play the shows because he was wanted.”

The show was billed as an end of summer extravaganza, with Jeannie Clark, Sid’s Farm and Task opening for Steel Mill, which consisted of Springsteen, Federici, Steven Van Zandt, Robbin Thompson from Richmond, Virginia, and Dave “Hazy” Hazlett. (Hazy Davey was filing in for Vini Lopez, detained in Richmond by police on unrelated charges at the time.)

Springsteen brought up the Middletown incident after Kimmel asked him if Wayne from the song “Darlington County” was inspired by Federici. Check it out below at the 11:09 mark of the interview YouTube.

“All of these things are very natural when you have a bunch of 20-year old guys who are still driving 10 hours a night, playing three hours and then driving 10 more hours to go the next gig.” said Springsteen on the late night show.

An amplifier did fall on Middletown Police Chief Joseph McCarthy, injuring him. Witnesses said a police officer jabbed Springsteen in the ribs with a nightstick, while others chased Federici, according to Asbury Park Press coverage.

McCarthy, who retired in 1989, said in a 1999 interview with the Asbury Park Press that he has no regrets about what his officers did that night.

“Wouldn’t do anything a damn bit different,” McCarthy said. “There were drugs and fighting going on — a real bad scene. You have to take a stand against these things.”

But McCarthy told the Press that Springsteen “turned out OK.”

“I know he’s done a lot of good things, a lot of good work with charities and all. After all, isn’t that what it’s all about?”

The E Street Band did obtain a measure of good-natured revenge in 2024 when Wilson Avenue in Middletown was ceremoniously renamed Van Zandt Way in honor of half brothers Steven Van Zandt and Billy Van Zandt. At the ceremony, Steven reflected on the irony of the moment in relation to his and Springsteen’s connection to Chief McCarthy

“My relationship with law enforcement is quite good these days,” Steven said. “For those who are a little bit older, you might have recalled an altercation or two. That’s why it’s a damn shame Chief Joseph McCarthy didn’t live long enough to be here today. We had an interesting relationship, and it would have been just marvelous for him to have to see my name on his mail every day.”