Met Museum denies former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor ever owned ’59 Les Paul
The Metropolitan Museum of Art recently made a historic addition to its collection with the acquisition of a 1959 Gibson Les Paul that was once owned by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. This iconic guitar was donated by a collector who generously gifted 500 vintage guitars to the museum earlier this year. However, controversy has arisen as former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor and his representatives claim that he was the rightful owner of the Les Paul.
According to Taylor’s version of events, he purchased the guitar from one of the Stones’ road managers while performing with John Mayall. When he joined the Rolling Stones in 1969, he took the Les Paul with him. Taylor’s manager, Marlies Damming, stated in a recent press release that the guitar had mysteriously disappeared at some point, adding to its rock ‘n’ roll allure.
The museum, however, refutes Taylor’s claims, stating that while he did play the instrument, he never technically owned it. They maintain that Keith Richards retained ownership of the Les Paul until 1971. Contrary to Taylor’s assertions, the guitar has a documented public history, including appearances at Christie’s auction house and in a 2019 exhibition at the Met, with no prior claims from Taylor or his team.
Although the museum disputes Taylor’s ownership, there are gaps in the Les Paul’s provenance. It was listed as being owned by Adrian Miller in 1971, with no information on how he acquired it. Subsequent owners included Heavy Metal Kids’ Cosmo Verrico and Swedish music producer Peter Svensson. Investor Dirk Ziff later acquired the guitar and loaned it to the Met for an exhibition in 2019.
In light of the controversy, Taylor’s representatives are requesting that the Metropolitan Museum allow them to inspect the guitar to confirm its provenance. A Facebook post by Taylor’s manager suggests that a long-lost piece of rock history has reappeared after decades. The story continues to unfold, with further developments expected as the museum and Taylor’s representatives seek to resolve the ownership dispute surrounding this iconic ’59 Les Paul.