The astonishment of Mick Taylor’s manager was palpable upon learning that a guitar stolen from the legendary Rolling Stones in 1972 has resurfaced among 500 instruments generously donated to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in May. This revelation has sparked considerable interest in the history of the instrument and its significance to rock music.

The 1959 Gibson Les Paul at the center of this story was previously owned by Keith Richards, who sold it to Taylor in 1967. This iconic guitar was famously played by Richards during the Ed Sullivan Show appearance in 1964, showcasing its pivotal role in rock history.

Throughout his career, Taylor was frequently seen using this instrument, most notably during the infamous Altamont Speedway concert in 1969. Interestingly, it was also used by Jimmy Page while he was still a session musician, along with Eric Clapton during a Cream concert in 1966 when his own guitar was stolen.

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The guitar was one of nine instruments stolen from Villa Nellcôte, the luxurious French mansion where the Stones were recording their seminal album Exile on Main St. in 1971. According to rock folklore, the theft was allegedly orchestrated by local drug dealers after Richards defaulted on payment for their services, adding an intriguing layer to the guitar’s history.

Marlies Damming, Taylor’s partner and manager, has stated that this particular Les Paul was included in a collection donated to the Met by collector Dirk Ziff in May. The museum hailed this donation as a “trailblazing and transformative gift,” positioning it as a hub for the appreciation and scholarly study of the American guitar.

Damming expressed in a statement to PageSix: “Countless photographs capture Mick Taylor performing with this Les Paul, as it served as his primary guitar until its mysterious disappearance.”

The Intriguing Theft of Mick Taylor’s Iconic Guitar

She further elaborated, “The fascinating aspect of these vintage Les Pauls [of that era] is their unique flaming pattern, which serves as a distinct identifier, much like a fingerprint.”

Guitar Player magazine highlighted that the guitar underwent modifications post-purchase, which provide evidence of its ownership by Taylor. They noted, “The distinctive woodgrain pattern of the Les Paul functions as its fingerprint. In this specific instance, the dark figuring near the cutaway along the lower bout edge is critical to its identity.”

A source revealed to PageSix: “Taylor remains perplexed as to how he never received any compensation for the theft and is astonished that his property ended up in the Met’s prestigious collection.”

This guitar, which can also be heard on the Stones’ acclaimed 1970 album Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out, was reportedly quite easy to steal from Villa Nellcôte. The security measures at the mansion were so lax that it is theorized the band was distracted watching television in another room when a collection of instruments, including one of Bill Wyman’s bass guitars, was pilfered.