NEW YORK (AP) – A few hours after a loopy “Late Show” appearance in which she lifted her shirt to expose her breasts at least six times, rocker Courtney Love was arrested early Thursday for allegedly throwing a microphone stand and striking a man in the head.

The 24-year-old man was taken to a hospital in stable condition, police said. Police said they were charging Love with reckless endangerment and third-degree assault after the

2:30 a.m. incident at a posh Manhattan nightclub.

Messages left for representatives of Love early Thursday weren’t immediately returned.

Love, who is facing felony drug charges in California, repeatedly lifted her olive shirt several times on David Letterman’s CBS talk show.

Her back was facing the camera when she exposed herself while making an entrance. She then stood atop Letterman’s desk, sang a few bars of “Danny Boy,” and offered the host an up-close viewing. The video was altered so a profile of her breasts could not be seen.

She alluded to actress Drew Barrymore, who similarly exposed herself to the talk-show host.

“Very sweet of you,” Letterman said. “We’re going to lose our liquor license.”

Love sat down on Letterman’s couch, gestured to her chest and said, “FCC!”

Of the Federal Communication Commission’s recent crackdown on lewd content on television and radio, Love said, “Is this like Reagan trickle-down economics? Is this like Bush trickle down?”

Love, the former lead singer of the group Hole, was arrested in October after allegedly trying to break into the Los Angeles home of a former boyfriend. Police later called to her home allegedly found painkillers when Love was taken to a treatment center for a drug overdose.

Love has been charged with two felony counts of possession of controlled substances. She also faces misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

A preliminary hearing in the felony case has been postponed to April 15. She showed up two hours late Tuesday for a court hearing and was scolded by the judge after talking out of turn in court.

During his show, Letterman asked Love whether she could talk about the court case. “Yeah, I’m not supposed to,” she said.

When Letterman later asked if drugs were involved, Love said, “One expired Percocet and one Ambien.”

Love later lit up a cigarette -defying New York City’s strict anti-smoking laws – and asked Letterman, “Are you going to cut this because I’m smoking?”

“That won’t be the reason we cut anything,” he replied.

Letterman looked profoundly uncomfortable with Love’s scatterbrained performance, but he did get the last word. He was looking to cut to a commercial, but Love insisted he ask her one more question.

“How much do you weigh?” Letterman said.

Love looked shocked. She didn’t answer.

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On the Net:

http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/

AP-ES-03-18-04 1058EST