Dispute Over Stolen 1959 Gibson Les Paul Continues

A 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar known as the 'Keithburst' is at the center of a dispute between former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor and New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Taylor claims he received the guitar from Keith Richards, played it on several iconic Rolling Stones tracks, and that it was stolen from him during sessions in France in the early 1970s, citing supporting photographs. The Met maintains that the guitar's provenance is well documented, indicating it passed directly from Richards to record producer Adrian Miller in 1971, with no record of Taylor's ownership. The instrument is now part of the Met's collection following a donation from collector Dirk Ziff. Taylor and his manager have called for an independent inspection to verify the guitar's history, but the museum continues to dispute his claim. The ownership conflict remains unresolved.