"Guitar once stolen from Rolling Stones member Mick Taylor, a '59 Les Paul, has unexpectedly appeared - now exhibited in The Met"
After decades of mystery, the whereabouts of a legendary 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar, once stolen from former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, have been revealed. The iconic instrument, which was taken during the recording sessions for the Stones' 1972 album *Exile on Main St.*, has resurfaced in the vast collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in New York.
The guitar, known for its distinctive "flaming" sunburst pattern, was originally owned by Keith Richards and was prominently featured during the Stones' historic 1964 appearance on *The Ed Sullivan Show*. Mick Taylor purchased the guitar from Richards in 1967, and it became one of his main instruments, used extensively through the late '60s, including the infamous 1969 Altamont gig and the *Exile on Main St.* sessions.
The Met's collection, donated by Dirk Ziff, includes over 500 vintage American guitars, some of which belonged to other music legends like Roy Rogers and Mississippi John Hurt. The collection, which dates between 1920 and 1970, was acquired with the intention of preserving these historical instruments for future generations.
Upon verifying the guitar's identity within The Met's collection, Mick Taylor's business manager, Marlies Damming, confirmed the unique "fingerprint" of the guitar. Taylor, who has never received compensation for the theft, has expressed mystification about how his guitar ended up in the museum's collection.
The discovery of the stolen guitar sheds light on at least one piece of the many missing instruments from those pivotal Stones sessions, sparking intrigue. The collection, which includes nine guitars, Bill Wyman’s bass, and Bobby Keys’ saxophone, remains a mystery, with details about the theft still unknown.
In an interview, Dirk Ziff, the donor of the collection, expressed his excitement about the validation of their vision at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Jayson Dobney, a curator at The Met, was unaware of the collection's contents during his visits, further adding to the mystery.
The re-emergence of the 1959 Les Paul Standard is a significant addition to The Met's new exhibition of guitars, providing a fascinating insight into the history of rock 'n' roll and the Rolling Stones' iconic sound.
- The 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, renowned for its "flaming" sunburst pattern, was once owned by Keith Richards and played during the Rolling Stones' historic 1964 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
- Mick Taylor, former Rolling Stones guitarist, purchased this iconic electric guitar from Richards in 1967 and used it extensively until it was stolen during the recording sessions for the Stones' 1972 album Exile on Main St.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) now houses this guitar in its vast collection, which includes more than 500 vintage American guitars and belongs to other music legends like Roy Rogers and Mississippi John Hurt.
- The collection, dating between 1920 and 1970, was donated by Dirk Ziff with the intention of preserving these historical instruments for future generations.
- Nine guitars, including the re-emerged 1959 Les Paul Standard, Bill Wyman’s bass, and Bobby Keys’ saxophone, are part of this enigmatic collection, the theft details of which still remain a mystery.
