Could one of the most iconic guitars ever played in a Rolling Stones concert… not actually belong to the band?
A 40-Year Dispute Reignites
A 1959 Gibson Les Paul, long thought to be associated with the Stones’ golden era, is now displayed at New York’s prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art. But former guitarist Mick Taylor has publicly challenged its presence there: “That’s my guitar – I never sold it, never gave it away.”
The Met quickly responded, saying the guitar came from a legitimate collector with full documentation. But fans and historians alike are asking: if it’s all legal, why did Taylor wait this long to speak up?
A Guitar of Legends – or Forgotten Ownership?
Mick Taylor, who played lead guitar for The Rolling Stones between 1969 and 1974, reportedly used the Les Paul during legendary performances like “Midnight Rambler” and “Love in Vain.” After his departure, the guitar vanished — until it reappeared at the Met decades later.
To many, it’s more than an instrument — it’s a piece of rock history. For Taylor, it’s personal: “I’m not after money. I just want to know what happened.”
A Symbol or a Lost Heirloom?
This controversy has reignited debates over cultural ownership, artistic legacy, and murky documentation in the classic rock world. Should the museum return the guitar without solid proof? And if Taylor’s telling the truth — who took it?