Rolling Stones veteran Mick Taylor alleges that his guitar was unjustly taken by The Metropolitan Museum
In a unique controversy that has captured the attention of music enthusiasts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York finds itself embroiled in a dispute with former Rolling Stones guitarist, Mick Taylor, over a historic Gibson Les Paul guitar.
Background
The "Keithburst" guitar, reportedly used by Keith Richards during the Rolling Stones' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, was later sold to Mick Taylor, who played with the band between 1969 and 1974. Taylor claims that the guitar was stolen from him in 1971 during the recording of Exile on Main St. at a mansion on the French Riviera, Villa Nellcôte.
The Dispute
The Met asserts that the guitar is part of a recent donation of over 500 guitars from the collection of Dirk Ziff. The museum claims a well-documented history of ownership for the guitar, which includes purchase records from Farmers Music Store in Luton, England, by John Bowen in 1961. However, Mick Taylor's representatives have expressed surprise at the guitar's reappearance and have requested that the Met make the guitar available for inspection to verify its provenance.
Latest Updates
The Met has refuted claims that the guitar ever belonged to Mick Taylor, pointing to their extensive provenance records. There have been no recent updates on whether an inspection will be conducted or if the dispute will be escalated further.
The donation to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which includes 500 guitars, is considered one of the most important acquisitions for the museum in the field of music. Marlies Damming, Taylor's manager, claims that the Les Paul guitar in question was taken during a 1971 burglary from a villa owned by the Rolling Stones in Nellcôte, France. Damming notes the unique "flamed" wood of late 1950s Les Pauls, suggesting it makes each piece identifiable, almost like a fingerprint.
The Met's director, Max Hollein, stated that the donation is "revolutionary and transformative." The museum plans to open a permanent gallery dedicated to the American guitar in 2027. Despite the Met's assertions, Mick Taylor maintains that the guitar is his, and his representatives continue to seek verification of the guitar's past.
[1] New York Post, July 10, 2023 [2] Rolling Stone, July 12, 2023 [3] Metropolitan Museum of Art Press Release, July 15, 2023 [4] The Guardian, July 18, 2023
Pop-culture enthusiasts and entertainment news outlets have been buzzing about the ongoing dispute between Mick Taylor, former Rolling Stones guitarist, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art over a historic Gibson Les Paul guitar. The guitar, allegedly stolen from Taylor in 1971, is part of a significant donation to the museum by Dirk Ziff, sparking a debate over its true ownership.
