The End of the Great John Denver Bust Heist

Back in October, John Denver’s bust was stolen from its perch in the 1STBANK Center in the aftermath of KBPI (106.7 FM)’s Saints and Sinners Halloween Ball, featuring Five Finger Death Punch. 

The Colorado Music Hall of Fame, which had the bust on load from the singer’s estate, issued a plea for its return. A local brewery offered a year’s supply of free beer in exchange for the bust. But the thief was unmoved. And now, six months later, the search has been abandoned, and a new bust commissioned. Louisville artist Dawn Record is making this one — you can see the clay version (and learn much more about Record) in a recent story published by Colorado Hometown Weekly.  

This version is much cheerier than the last one, which feels more in keeping with the singer’s spirit. Record was able to capture said spirit by watching the 1977 film Oh, God!, which stars Denver as a grocery store assistant manager/messenger of God, in slow motion while listening to his greatest hits. That sounds like a maddening experience. Thank you for shouldering that burden, Dawn Record. 

The bust will be back in Broomfield in May. CMHOF Director G. Brown told the Weekly that more security measures would be in place, although fans will still be able to rub Denver’s head and pose with him for photos. Read the full Weekly story here.