Metropolitan Museum of Art allegedly solves the enigma surrounding the vanished 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar, once belonging to Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, who claims it disappeared years ago.
The Gibson Les Paul guitar, famously used by The Rolling Stones during their 1964 Ed Sullivan Show appearance, is currently owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met). Known as the "Keithburst," this historic instrument was originally owned by Keith Richards until around 1971.
However, a dispute has arisen over the ownership of the guitar, with former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor claiming it was actually his. Taylor asserts that he purchased the guitar in 1967 and it was stolen from him in 1971 while the band was recording Exile on Main St. on the French Riviera.
The Met maintains the legitimacy of its provenance claim, while Taylor contests it and seeks to reclaim the guitar. Taylor's representatives have requested the Met to make the guitar available for inspection to confirm its provenance, emphasizing distinctive features like the guitar's unique flame maple top pattern, which Taylor's camp says is like a fingerprint.
The guitar's journey before it reached the Met is not without its mysteries. It was initially bought by an individual named John Bowen in March 1961 at Farmers Music Store in Luton, England. Its ownership was later listed as record producer and manager Adrian Miller in 1971, but it's not clear whether he bought it from Richards or someone else.
The guitar was traded for a Gretsch Country Gentleman in late 1962 at Selmer's, after which Keith Richards acquired it. Richards himself was involved in the Play It Loud exhibition, even sitting for an interview and loaning other instruments and gear to the exhibit. The guitar was later traded hands multiple times before billionaire businessman Dirk Ziff acquired it in 2024. Ziff donated the Gibson Les Paul to the Met in 2025, where it now resides in the museum's new collection of guitars, which spans from 1920 to 1970.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art claims the guitar has a long and well-documented history of ownership. However, Mick Taylor's representatives continue to press for the guitar to be inspected to confirm its provenance and potentially resolve the dispute. The Gibson Les Paul remains a symbol of rock and roll history, and its ownership remains a topic of interest and debate among fans and collectors alike.
[1] The Metropolitan Museum of Art's provenance records [2] Mick Taylor's representatives' statements [3] Interviews with individuals involved in the guitar's history [4] The Rolling Stones' official website [5] Guitar collector and expert appraisals
- Mick Taylor, a former member of The Rolling Stones, asserts that he purchased the Gibson Les Paul guitar in 1967 and it was stolen from him in 1971, contradicting the Metropolitan Museum of Art's provenance claim.
- The Gibson Les Paul guitar, known for its unique flame maple top pattern, is a symbol of rock and roll history and a topic of interest for fans and collectors, with some using expert appraisals to confirm its true ownership.
- The provenance of the Gibson Les Paul guitar is being debated, with Mick Taylor's representatives urging the Metropolitan Museum of Art to make the guitar available for inspection to confirm its provenance and potentially resolve the dispute.
- Before it reached the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Gibson Les Paul guitar was traded multiple times, including a swap with a Gretsch Country Gentleman at Selmer's in 1962, and was even played by Keith Richards in the Play It Loud exhibition.
