Don McLean, singer of iconic American Pie, arrested on domestic violence charge.

The man behind the iconic rock song ‘American Pie’ has been arrested on a charge of domestic violence assault.

Police were called to the home of Don McLean, 70, and his wife Patrisha in Camden, Maine, at about 2am on Monday January 18.

Camden police Chief Randy Gagne said McLean was arrested without incident and taken to the Knox County Jail around 3am.

A few hours later he posted US$10,000 in bail and was released.

US news reports say that McLean was charged with the “lowest level” of assault. It was not clear if Patrisha or the couple’s children were at home at the time of the arrest.

American Pie made McLean a superstar. The song, about the death of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper in a plane crash in 1959, which McLean dubbed “the day the music died”.

McLean and his wife Patrisha have lived in Camden for around 20 years.

They have two children, and in 2015 McLean sold the original manuscript and lyrics for American Pie for US$1.2 million.

He said at the time it was to provide for his family.

“I have two children and a wife, and none of them seem to have the mercantile instinct. I want to get the best deal that I can for them. It’s time,” McLean said.

McLean is scheduled to appear in Knox County District Court in Rockland, Maine, on February 22.