Met Museum Challenges Mick Taylor’s Claim Over Stolen Les Paul

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has disputed claims made by former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor regarding the ownership of a 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar that is now on display at the museum. Taylor’s representatives contend that he purchased the instrument during his tenure with John Mayall and later used it while playing with the Stones between 1969 and 1974.

The Les Paul, notable for its sunburst finish and mahogany body, became part of rock history when Keith Richards played it during the band’s iconic performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in October 1964. It was recently gifted to the museum by a private collector, who donated a total of 500 vintage guitars earlier this year.

Taylor’s manager, Marlies Damming, expressed surprise upon learning of the guitar’s presence at the museum. Damming stated that the instrument had “disappeared” at some point, suggesting a narrative of loss and rediscovery. However, the Met asserts that while Taylor did play the guitar, he never owned it.

Contested Provenance and Auction History

The museum points to a well-documented auction history for the Les Paul, having been featured in a Christie’s auction and in a previous exhibition at the Met in 2019 without any claims from Taylor or his associates. According to the museum’s records, Richards retained ownership of the guitar until 1971.

A comprehensive anthology titled Rolling Stones Gear by Andy Babiuk suggests that the guitar was among eight instruments stolen during the Stones’ summer in the French Riviera in 1971. The museum refutes this claim, insisting that the guitar’s ownership transitioned through several individuals after it left Richards’ possession.

The provenance lists Adrian Miller as the guitar’s owner in 1971, yet it does not clarify how he acquired it. Miller later sold the instrument to Cosmo Verrico of the band Heavy Metal Kids. In correspondence with The New York Times, Verrico stated that he could not recall the details of Miller’s acquisition.

Further establishing its history, the guitar was attempted for sale at Christie’s in 2004, though the bidding fell short of expectations. It was purchased in 2006 by Swedish music producer Peter Svensson, and in 2019, billionaire investor Dirk Ziff acquired it, subsequently lending it to the Met for the exhibition titled Play It Loud.

Request for Inspection and Ongoing Dispute

The story has taken another turn, as Damming recently communicated with The New York Times, requesting that the Met make the guitar available for inspection to confirm its provenance. In her public statements, she referred to the instrument as a “long-lost piece of rock ‘n’ roll history.”

Both Mick Taylor’s representatives and the Metropolitan Museum of Art have been approached for further comment regarding this ongoing dispute. As this saga unfolds, the intersection of music history and art continues to capture attention, with implications for ownership and legacy in the world of rock music.