Rolling Stones' ex-guitarist, Mick Taylor, alleges that the Metropolitan Museum has unlawfully acquired one of his guitars.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is currently embroiled in a conflict with Mick Taylor, former guitarist of the legendary British band, the Rolling Stones. The controversy arose on July 10, 2023, following a report by the New York Post.
At the heart of the dispute is a historic Gibson Les Paul guitar, believed to be the one that belonged to Mick Taylor. Taylor claims that the guitar, known as the “Keithburst,” was stolen from him in 1971 while recording Exile on Main St. in France. However, the Metropolitan Museum of Art refutes Taylor's claim that he ever owned the guitar, stating that while Taylor may have played it, the guitar has a well-documented provenance that contradicts his narrative.
According to the museum, the guitar was bought in 1961 by a John Bowen in England, later altered with a Bigsby vibrato around 1961–62, and it was publicly auctioned at Christie's as well as featured in a 2019 Met exhibition without Taylor disputing its ownership at the time.
The guitar was donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by businessman Dirk Ziff, and it is believed to be in the museum's possession. The donation is considered one of the most important acquisitions for the museum in the field of music. In fact, the donation includes 500 guitars, and the Met plans to open a permanent gallery dedicated to American guitars in 2027.
Mick Taylor's manager, Marlies Damming, claimed that the guitar recently donated to the Met by Dirk Ziff belongs to Taylor. Despite this claim, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has not yet publicly confirmed or denied the claim that the donated guitar belongs to Mick Taylor.
The unique "flamed" wood of the Les Pauls from the late '50s makes each piece unmistakable. The guitar is considered historic due to its association with Mick Taylor and the Rolling Stones. Max Hollein, the Met's director, described the donation as "revolutionary and transformative."
However, the controversy over the guitar's ownership and provenance continues. Taylor's representatives say the guitar disappeared during a burglary at Keith Richards's villa and express surprise that the guitar resurfaced in the Met's recent collection. They demand inspection to confirm the guitar’s provenance, while the Met maintains its documented history, denying Taylor's claim to ownership.
According to Damming, there are numerous photos showing Mick Taylor with the Les Paul guitar. Nine of Keith Richards' guitars were also stolen during the same burglary. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has stated that while Mick Taylor did play the guitar, he was never its owner.
In summary, the history and ownership of Mick Taylor's alleged stolen 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar are disputed. Taylor claims that the guitar was stolen from him in 1971, but the Metropolitan Museum of Art refutes this claim, stating that the guitar has a documented history starting with John Bowen in 1961. The core dispute centers on whether Mick Taylor owned this particular guitar and if it was stolen from him. Taylor’s camp demands inspection to confirm the guitar’s provenance, while the Met maintains its documented history, denying Taylor's claim to ownership.
[1] New York Post, July 10, 2023. [2] Rolling Stone, July 12, 2023. [3] Metropolitan Museum of Art, Press Release, July 15, 2023.
Despite Mick Taylor's claim that a historic Gibson Les Paul guitar, known as the “Keithburst,” was stolen from him in 1971, the Metropolitan Museum of Art denies his ownership of the guitar, citing a well-documented provenance that dates back to 1961. This controversy surrounding the guitar's ownership has become a hot topic in the world of entertainment and music.
