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Theft

Dispute Over Legendary Guitar Rocks the Music World

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A controversy has erupted over a 1959 Gibson Les Paul, once played by Mick Taylor, a former guitarist of the Rolling Stones, and now donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The guitar, which has a long and well-documented history of ownership, has been the subject of a dispute between Taylor and the Met. Taylor claims the guitar was stolen from him in the early 1970s, while the Met asserts that the guitar's provenance records show no evidence of Taylor's ownership. The guitar has played a starring role in rock history, being owned and played by Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page.

Key Takeaways:

  • A 1959 Gibson Les Paul, once played by Mick Taylor, former guitarist of the Rolling Stones, is at the center of a dispute between Taylor and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  • The guitar was donated to the Met as part of a collection of over 500 guitars from the golden age of American guitar making.
  • Mick Taylor claims the guitar was stolen from him in the 1970s, while the Met says its provenance records show no evidence of Taylor's ownership.
  • The guitar has a long and well-documented history of ownership, being previously owned and played by Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page.
  • The guitar is now on loan to the Met from billionaire investor and guitar collector Dirk Ziff.
  • The guitar was part of a 2004 auction at Christie's, where it failed to sell, and was later loaned to the Met in 2019 for an exhibition on rock instruments.
  • Taylor's partner and business manager, Marlies Damming, has called for an independent guitar expert to verify the guitar's provenance.
  • The Met has not been contacted by Taylor or his representatives regarding the guitar's ownership.

Statistics:

  • The Met's collection holds over 500 guitars from the golden age of American guitar making.
  • The 1959 Gibson Les Paul has been owned and played by several famous musicians, including Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page.
  • The guitar was auctioned off at Christie's in 2004, but failed to sell.
  • The guitar was loaned to the Met in 2019 for an exhibition on rock instruments.
  • The Met plans to open a new gallery dedicated to its collection of American guitars.

Sources:

  • The Associated Press
  • Museum spokesperson Ann Bailis
  • Marlies Damming, Mick Taylor's partner and business manager
  • Jeff Allen, Taylor's former manager and publicist
  • Dirk Ziff, the billionaire investor and guitar collector who donated the guitar to the Met.

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