Guitar Dispute Rocks the Met: Mick Taylor Seeks Returns Beloved Les Paul

Strategic Insights -

Mick Taylor, former guitarist of the Rolling Stones, is embroiled in a dispute with the Metropolitan Museum of Art over a prized 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar. The instrument, donated to the Met by billionaire investor Dirk Ziff, is at the center of a contested ownership claim. Taylor believes the guitar, known as the "Keithburst," was stolen during a recording session in 1971 and has now resurfaced. The Met insists that its provenance records show no evidence of Taylor's ownership.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 1959 Gibson Les Paul, nicknamed the "Keithburst," was owned by Keith Richards in the early 1960s and played during the Rolling Stones' first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964.
  • Mick Taylor claims to have received the guitar as a present from Richards in 1967, before joining the Stones in 1969.
  • Taylor's team believes the guitar was stolen during a 1971 recording session and has now reappeared, while the Met's records indicate it was owned by record producer and manager Adrian Miller from 1971.
  • The guitar has changed hands several times since then, reappearing in public twice, including being put up for auction by Christie's in 2004, where it failed to sell.
  • Dirk Ziff purchased the guitar in 2016 and loaned it to the Met in 2019 for an exhibition titled "Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll."
  • The Met says it has not been contacted by Taylor or his representatives, despite Taylor's request for inspection by an independent guitar expert.

Statistics:

  • 500: The number of guitars donated to the Met by Dirk Ziff as part of "a landmark gift of the finest guitars from the golden age of American guitar making."
  • $1 million+: The estimated value of the 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar, although its exact price is not publicly disclosed.
  • 1964: The year the Rolling Stones first appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show," with Keith Richards playing the "Keithburst."
  • 1969: The year Mick Taylor joined the Rolling Stones, replacing original member Brian Jones.
  • 2012-2013: The years the Rolling Stones reunited for their 50th anniversary tour, with Mick Taylor rejoining the band.
  • 2004: The year the 1959 Gibson Les Paul was put up for auction by Christie's, but failed to sell.
  • 2016: The year Dirk Ziff purchased the guitar.
  • 2019: The year the Met loaned the guitar from Dirk Ziff for an exhibition titled "Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll."

Sources:

  • Associated Press
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press writer in New York