A long-time rock and roll mystery has been solved in Paris, France.
On Friday, May 16, police in Paris, France, recovered the long-lost stone bust of the late Doors singer Jim Morrison, who tragically died in Paris in 1971 at the age of 27.
The Directorate of the Judicial Police of the Police prefecture (translated from French) posted the news on Instagram, writing, “After 37 years of absence, the bust of Jim Morrison, stolen in 1988 from the Père Lachaise cemetery, has been found! 🎤✨
“During an investigation conducted by the Financial and Anti-Corruption Brigade of the Directorate of Judicial Police of the Prefecture of Police, under the authority of the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office, this iconic symbol for the singer’s fans was recovered.”
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Le Figaro reports that the bust was sculpted by Croatian artist Mladen Mikulin and was placed at the grave site in 1981 to mark 10 years since the legendary singer died. A spokesman from the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed to Le Figaro that finding the bust was a “chance discovery during a search on a rogatory commission.”
Benoit Gallot, curator of the Père-Lachaise cemetery where Morrison is buried, told Le Figaro that he is unsure if the sculpture will be returned to the gravestone.
“The police have not contacted us, I don’t know if the bust will be returned to us,” said Gallot. He also said that Morrison’s grave is extremely popular with visitors.
“It is to Père-Lachaise what the Mona Lisa is to the Louvre,” said Gallot.
There is no word yet as to whether or not police know who took the bust or where exactly it has been for 37 years.
The Doors’ surviving members John Densmore (drums and backing vocals) and Robby Krieger (guitar, lead and backing vocals) recently reflected on Morrison’s death in an interview with Louder Sound, saying that the whole situation was heartbreaking.
“Jim’s demise was heartbreaking. I mean, it was so good live, and then it eroded. And I hated that. But now, many years later, time has really helped me reflect on the fact that he was supposed to be a shooting star — a quick impact and then goodbye,” said Densmore.
The cause of death was listed as heart failure, and Bill Siddons, The Doors’ manager, told Rolling Stone at the time that there might have been a possible lung infection because Morrison had been coughing up blood in the days leading up to his death.
