Gone for 37 years: A statue of Jim Morrison, stolen from his grave, has just been found totally by chance
A statue of the frontman of The Doors was stolen from his grave: here’s how it was found.
After 37 years, the bronze bust of Jim Morrison, iconic frontman of The Doors, has been recovered by French authorities. The sculpture, created by Croatian artist Mladen Mikulin in 1981 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Morrison’s death, was stolen from his grave at Paris’s Père Lachaise Cemetery in 1988.
“After 37 years of absence, the bust of Jim Morrison, stolen in 1988 from the Père Lachaise cemetery, has been found,” wrote the Paris Regional Judicial Police Directorate in a social media statement on Friday.
It added that “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.”
Morrison, who died in Paris in 1971 at the age of 27, was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery, which also houses the graves of notable figures like Oscar Wilde and Édith Piaf. The theft of the bust in 1988 led to increased security measures at the cemetery.
The recovered bust shows signs of damage, including graffiti and a broken nose, consistent with its condition at the time of theft. Jeff Jampol, manager of the Jim Morrison Estate, told CNN that they were “happy to hear” that the statue had been found: “Obviously it’s a piece of history, and one Jim’s family wanted there on his grave, so it’s gratifying to see that it’s been recovered. Now we’ll have to see what kind of shape the bust is in,” he concluded.
The recovery of the bust not only restores a piece of Morrison’s legacy but also highlights the enduring fascination with his life and music.
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Fans and experts express hope that the sculpture will return to its original place, continuing to serve as a symbol of Morrison’s lasting influence on music and culture.
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