DID YOU KNOW ?

1970, Thomas E. Breitenbach, a 19-year-old DOORS fan, writes to Jim Morrison...

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In his letter, the young man offers the DOORS singer to paint him a possible album cover. To his surprise, Breitenbach received a reply from Morrison on October 9, 1970.

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Jim agrees in principle and asks him to work on a triptych for an album of poetry, he declares: "The panel on the left represents a beach lit by the radiant moon and several young naked couples running along the edge of the water. On the beach, a tiny infant smiles at the universe and his cradle is surrounded by several elderly people." (Theme used in the poem "Ghost Song".)

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He adds: "At the center is a modern city or a futuristic midday metropolis, full of activity."

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Finally: "The last panel is a view through a windshield, at night, on a long straight highway in the desert."

He ends with his words: "If you offer me something related to these themes within four or five months, I'm sure I can use it."

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Jim accompanies his order with signed copies of "The New Creatures" and "An American Prayer". The young artist, proud of this collaboration, hastens to get to work and sends sketches to the singer who is very satisfied.

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The last contact between Thomas and the DOORS is in a letter sent by the group's secretary, Katherine Lisciandro, which states on March 23, 1971 that "Jim Morrison has gone to live in Paris for an indefinite period."

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Breitenbach finished his triptych, but Morrison never returned to the United States, he died in Paris on July 3, 1971. In 1978, the surviving DOORS took up the idea of a poetry album but were unaware of the agreement between the two men.

The triptych is still in the possession of the artist today. It is an oil painting on wood of 61cm by 122, faithfully responding to the instructions left by Morrison...