Murray Acton, frontman and founder of the controversial punk band Dayglo Abortions, was jailed in Ohio during the band’s U.S. tour and later released on Tuesday. Acton, performing under the stage name The Cretin, and guitarist Matt Fiorito were arrested on August 30 in Ashland, Ohio, following their performance at Cleveland’s No Class venue on August 29.
Fiorito remains in custody facing drug possession charges, according to their lawyer Jim Heller, who is representing both musicians. Mugshots of Acton and Fiorito were published by the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, but no formal charges have yet been disclosed.
The band was midway through a 14-stop U.S. tour scheduled to conclude on September 14 in Charleston, South Carolina. Prior to the arrests, they had performed in states including Oregon, Missouri, Texas, and Florida.
Heller confirmed communication with the band members, arresting officers, and the county prosecutor. He denied rumors that the arrests involved immigration or border violations. The incident reportedly began with a traffic stop, linked to the band’s use of a van with temporary license plates.
Neither Acton nor Fiorito had been arraigned as of Tuesday morning. Heller noted the charges were minor possession offenses unlikely to be prosecuted in Canada but were subject to local jurisdiction.
Murray Acton, originally from Winnipeg and a longtime Victoria resident since 1971, formed Dayglo Abortions in 1979. The band became known for its provocative content, notably facing an obscenity trial in 1988 linked to their albums Feed Us a Fetus and Here Today, Guano Tomorrow. While the band was dropped from the case, their Toronto-based label was ultimately acquitted of obscenity distribution charges.
