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PARIS —Authorities have discovered a bust of Jim Morrison that was taken almost 40 years ago from the Paris grave, which has been a site of homage for admirers of the iconic Doors singer and poet.
The bust, which vanished in 1988 from Père-Lachaise cemetery, was located during an unrelated probe by a financial anti-corruption team, the Paris police remarked in an Instagram update this Monday.
No immediate information was available regarding whether the bust would be restored to its original location or any other ongoing investigations.
Morrison, known for timeless Doors hits such as “Light My Fire,” “Break on Through,” and “The End,” was discovered deceased in a Paris bathtub at the age of 27 in 1971.
He was interred at Père-Lachaise, the city’s cemetery that serves as the final resting place for numerous artists, writers, and other cultural icons including Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, and Edith Piaf.
The 300-pound bust sculpted by Mladen Mikulin, a Croatian artist, was installed at the grave in 1981 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the singer’s passing.
“It would be amazing if they returned the bust to its original place; it would draw a larger crowd, but the cemetery wouldn’t be able to accommodate so many,” remarked Paris tour guide Jade Jezzini to The Associated Press. “The influx of visitors wanting to take pictures with the bust would be staggering.”
Renowned for his somber lyrics, flowing hair, leather attire, dramatic performances, and enigmatic aura, Morrison has motivated countless fans who gather at his grave to reflect and sometimes celebrate, including significant commemorations for the 50th anniversary of his demise. The site frequently features flowers, poetic graffiti, and bottles of liquor as tributes.
He was experiencing a cultural revival when the bust was stolen in the late 1980s, which reached its height with the release of Oliver Stone’s 1991 film “The Doors,” featuring Val Kilmer, who passed away in April, portraying Morrison.
Artist Sam Burcher from London recently revisited the now quieter grave site she first encountered 40 years ago when Morrison’s sculpture was still present.
“The bust was much smaller compared to all these grand monuments. It was quite modest, which took me by surprise,” she shared with the AP. “But the atmosphere back then was vibrant—music, dancing, people celebrating. I brought strawberries and shared them with everyone… it was simply an unforgettable experience.”
Morrison co-founded the Doors in Los Angeles in 1965 alongside Ray Manzarek. Soon after, Robby Krieger and John Densmore joined the band.
The band and its leading figure burned brightly but only for a brief period, releasing albums such as “The Doors,” “Strange Days,” and “Morrison Hotel,” the California site that inspired the album’s name and cover was severely damaged in a fire last year.
Following their final album, 1971’s “L.A. Woman,” Morrison relocated to Paris. His death was attributed to heart failure, although no autopsy was conducted as it wasn’t mandated by law. Controversies and legends surrounding his death have significantly contributed to his enigmatic legacy.
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