Police have recovered a bust of Jim Morrison that was stolen nearly four decades ago from a Paris grave that has long been a place of pilgrimage for fans of the legendary singer and frontman of The Doors.
The bust, which was stolen in 1988 from the Père-Lachaise cemetery, was found during an unrelated investigation by the financial anti-corruption unit, Paris police said in a post on Instagram.
It is not yet known whether the bust will be returned to the grave, nor whether any additional investigation will be conducted.
Morrison, frontman of the legendary band "The Doors", was found dead in a bathtub in Paris in 1971, at the age of 27.
He was buried in the Père-Lachaise cemetery, which is the resting place of many artists, writers, and cultural figures such as Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, and Edith Piaf.
The 136-kilogram bust, created by Croatian sculptor Mladen Mikulin, was placed on the grave in 1981, on the tenth anniversary of Morrison's death.
"I think it would be amazing if they put the bust back where it was — it would attract even more people, but the cemetery wouldn't be able to accommodate that many visitors. The amount of people who would come just to see the bust and take pictures of it would be incredible," Paris tour guide Jade Jesini told The Associated Press.
Known for his dark lyrics, wavy hair, leather pants, theatrical performance and mystical demeanor, Morrison has inspired generations of fans who visit his grave to remember his work — and sometimes to celebrate, including a large gathering to mark the 50th anniversary of his death. The grave is often covered in flowers, poetic graffiti and bottles of alcohol left as tributes.
Morrison was experiencing a cultural renaissance when the bust was stolen in the late 1980s, culminating in the 1991 film "The Doors," directed by Oliver Stone and starring Val Kilmer (who died in April) as Morrison.
Morrison formed The Doors in Los Angeles in 1965 with Ray Manzarek. Robbie Krieger and John Densmore soon joined them.
The band and their frontman shone brightly but briefly, releasing albums like "The Doors," "Strange Days" and "Morrison Hotel."
After his last album, "LA Woman" in 1971, Morrison moved to Paris. The cause of death was reportedly a heart attack, although an autopsy was not performed because it was not required by law. Numerous controversies and myths have developed around his death, which have further contributed to his mystique.
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