A FEAST OF FRIENDS – THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S STORY

The Photographer’s own account of the shoot describes the experience best and is guaranteed to revive many memories….

“It was a bright February morning in 1982, when our small film crew arrived at Père Lachaise. After trekking through the maze of boulevards that makes up this surreal necropolis, the shrine finally came into view, the almost living effigy of Jim splashed with morning sunlight as it stood huddled among a more ancient collection of grand tombs. The white stone bust had only been there a matter of months, and while a certain amount of fan graffiti had already been added, it was in a relatively immaculate state compared to the grotesque article it would soon become. Due to the early hour, the place was deserted and there was a strange yet welcoming sense of peace and familiarity. A stray cat soon joined us, and after brushing past several of the crew by means of introduction, found its perfect spot in the sun. A short while later, a couple of girls appeared, typical Dutch bohemians, as I recall, bearing flowers, blue hyacinths, which they reverently placed by the monument before settling down nearby in a mood of contemplation. As the morning passed, more and more people, individuals, couples, with accents that hailed from all corners of the globe, converged around the shrine. Some quietly knelt to place lit candles or incense on the monument, while others simply just found there place. Several bottles of wine appeared, and were freely passed around. One guy pulled an old cassette player from his backpack, and clicked it into life… The Crystal Ship is being filled….

A ritual was unfolding – A Feast of Friends.”