Rolling Stones' ex-guitarist Mick Taylor claims Metropolitan Museum took one of his guitars without permission.
In a surprising turn of events, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York finds itself embroiled in a dispute over the ownership of a historic Gibson Les Paul guitar, nicknamed the "Keithburst." The iconic instrument, which was part of a notable vintage guitar donation to the museum, is at the heart of a controversy surrounding former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor.
Taylor claims that the guitar, which he alleges was stolen during a 1971 burglary while the Stones were recording Exile on Main St. near Nice, France, belonged to him. His representatives have requested that the Met make the instrument available for inspection to confirm its provenance.
However, the Met Museum disputes Taylor's claim, stating that although Taylor played the guitar, he never owned it. The museum maintains that the guitar's provenance is well-documented, starting with its purchase in 1961 by John Bowen in Luton, England, and showing a chain of ownership through Adrian Miller (owning it in 1971), Cosmo Verrico, Peter Svensson, and Dirk Ziff, the latter having donated it to the Met.
The museum also points out that the guitar was never reported stolen in the 1971 burglary, contradicting Taylor's narrative.
The dispute has sparked controversy, with conflicting claims from both parties. Taylor's manager, Marlies Damming, has called for the Met to allow an inspection to verify provenance, but further developments remain pending.
Meanwhile, the Met plans to feature this guitar as a centerpiece in a new permanent American guitar gallery opening in 2027, emphasizing the instrument's cultural and historical significance independently of the dispute.
The donation, which was announced with great fanfare, even on the pages of the New Yorker, was described by Max Hollein, the Met's director, as "revolutionary and transformative." The donation included 500 guitars, considered one of the museum's most significant acquisitions in the field of music.
The guitar is of historic significance, as it belonged to a former member of the Rolling Stones. Damming emphasizes the uniqueness of the "flamed" wood of late '50s Les Pauls, suggesting each piece is almost like a fingerprint.
The controversy arose on July 10, 2023, following a report by the New York Post. Damming states that there are numerous photos showing Mick Taylor with the Gibson Les Paul, making it his main instrument until it disappeared. She also claims that one of the guitars recently donated to the Met by businessman Dirk Ziff belongs to Mick Taylor.
The iconic 1959 Gibson Les Paul "Keithburst" is now reportedly stored in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As the dispute continues, the future of this historic guitar and its association with the legendary British band, the Rolling Stones, remains uncertain.
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