When the exhibit ended, Jarre visited the Radio 1 broadcast studios, with a copy of Musique Pour Supermarchein tow. A track from the album was broadcast over the air, after which Jarre discussed the soundtrack's creation, the inspiration from the artists and sculptors involved in the exhibit, and his plans to sell the solitary pressing at an auction next week. When asked about what the final price might be, Jarre said the bidding would start at approximately five pounds, and that he had no idea how much the album would fetch.On July 6, 1983, an auction was held at the Hotel Drouot in Paris. The object in question: a single copy of
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Musique Pour Supermarche, in its own custom-designed gatefold sleeve. Inside the sleeve were twelve photo-pockets. Eleven of the photo-pockets contained snapshots of Jean-Michel Jarre composing, recording and producing the album. The twelfth pocket was left blank; that was reserved for the highest bidder's photo.The bidding began at 50 francs, but the price zoomed faster than a rediscovered Rembrandt at Sotheby's. Bids arrived at a furious pace, with the auction results broadcast over the radio to millions of Jarre fans. The night before, Jarre destroyed all the master tapes and backup materials involved in the creation of Musique Pour Supermarche, bringing to the auction only the album and the master plates. Eventually the gavel came down, with the album selling for over 69,000 francs (equivalent at that time to $10,000 US), purchased by an anonymous bidder. Once the sale was final, Jarre lit an industrial torch and burned the master plates, thereby eliminating any chance of making a second pressing of the album. He then left the auction with his album, headed for the studios of Radio Luxembourg (RTL).At the studios, Jarre gave another interview, then informed the listening audience that he would play Musique Pour Supermarcheone time only, over the RTL airwaves, and that if anybody wanted a copy, they could record one off the air. Then he played the album.After the radio show, Musique Pour Supermarchewas turned over to the anonymous bidder, where it remains to this day. Copies of the original RTL broadcast still surface today on Napster (although the quality is not on a CD level, considering they were recorded off the radio to analog cassettes in 1983).
(Ik moet toch eens de CDs ervan kopen als ik ze ergens goedkoop vind)
