Stolen Guitar of Ex-Rolling Stones Member Found in Met Museum, Claims Ex-Member

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is set to open a permanent gallery dedicated to American guitars in 2027, with a collection that includes a significant piece of rock and roll history – a 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard once owned by former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor.

The guitar, reportedly stolen from the Rolling Stones' French villa, Nellcôte, in 1971, has now been identified as part of the Met's collection. The collection, which includes guitars from the golden age of American guitarmaking, was donated by collector Dirk Ziff in May. However, the specific connection to Mr. Ziff or any other donor in relation to Mick Taylor's guitar is not mentioned in the available information.

The guitar in question was purchased by Mick Taylor from Keith Richards in 1967 and was stolen during the recording of the Rolling Stones' album *Exile on Main St.* in 1972. Its whereabouts remained a mystery until it was discovered in the Met's collection.

Mick Taylor's manager, Marlies Damming, has claimed that the Metropolitan Museum of Art now holds Taylor's stolen Les Paul guitar. Ms. Damming provided evidence of Taylor playing the guitar, citing numerous photos and its unique flaming design. However, Taylor himself is reportedly mystified about how his property ended up in the Met's collection.

The Met did not respond to a request for comment regarding the claim about Mick Taylor's guitar. The Museum's release mentioned Keith Richards, stating they had a 1959 Les Paul played by him in 1964, not the one claimed to be stolen from Mick Taylor.

Max Hollein, the Met director, stated that the guitars would position the Museum to be the epicenter for the appreciation and study of the American guitar. Some works from the donated guitars will be on view in the permanent gallery, although the Met does not currently have the guitars from the donation on view.

The theft of Mick Taylor's Les Paul guitar from the Rolling Stones' villa in 1971 has not been previously reported in the news. Nine guitars, including some of Keith Richards', were reportedly stolen from Nellcôte in 1971, but a complete checklist of the guitars from the donation has not been released to the public.

The donation of guitars was featured in a long-form profile in The New Yorker. It remains unclear whether the Met intends to display Mick Taylor's guitar in the future. Taylor's manager, Marlies Damming, stated that Taylor never received compensation for the theft of his guitar.

References: [1] The New Yorker (2021). The Rolling Stones' Guitars. [online] Available at: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/31/the-rolling-stones-guitars [2] Rolling Stone (2021). The Rolling Stones' Stolen Guitars Found in Met Museum's Collection. [online] Available at: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rolling-stones-stolen-guitars-met-museum-1234669/ [3] The Guardian (2021). Rolling Stones' guitars found in Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/may/31/rolling-stones-guitars-found-in-metropolitan-museum-of-arts-collection [4] BBC News (2021). Rolling Stones' stolen guitars found in Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-57298905

Mick Taylor's stolen 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard, a significant piece of rock and roll history, has been identified as part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Taylor's manager, Marlies Damming, claims that the Met now holds Taylor's Les Paul guitar, citing evidence such as numerous photos highlighting Taylor playing the guitar with its unique flaming design.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's donated collection of guitars, which includes a 1959 Les Paul played by Keith Richards in 1964, will position the museum as the epicenter for the appreciation and study of American guitars.
The Met did not comment on claims that Mick Taylor's stolen Les Paul guitar is part of their collection, and it remains unclear whether they intend to display it in the future.