The Legendary Keithburst: A 1959 Les Paul Guitar with a Rock & Roll History
A vintage 1959 Les Paul guitar, once owned and played by iconic musicians like members of the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton, has been generously donated to the Met. This guitar is part of a significant donation of over 500 top-quality guitars from the golden era of American guitar craftsmanship. The generous donor of this guitar is billionaire investor and guitar enthusiast Dirk Ziff.
Former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor claims to have recognized the guitar, known for its unique starburst finish, as one he last saw in 1971 at Keith Richards' villa in southern France. During a tumultuous period of drug use within the band, several instruments, including this guitar, were believed to have been stolen. Taylor and his business manager, Marlies Damming, are urging the Met to allow an independent expert to verify the guitar's authenticity.
While the guitar's ownership history is disputed, it is confirmed that Keith Richards owned it in the early 1960s and played it during the Rolling Stones' debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964, sparking interest in this legendary model. The guitar, nicknamed "The Keithburst," was also played by Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Mick Taylor received it from Richards in 1967, two years before officially joining the band.
According to the Met's documentation, the guitar remained in Richards' possession until 1971 when it was acquired by Adrian Miller, a record producer and manager who passed away in 2006. The guitar has changed hands multiple times since then and was publicly displayed twice. In 2016, it was purchased by Dirk Ziff, who later loaned it to the Met for their "Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll" exhibition in 2019.
Despite the guitar's storied past and current ownership, Mick Taylor and his representatives have not yet reached out to the Met. The museum is planning to unveil a new gallery dedicated to its collection of American guitars, where the Keithburst guitar is likely to be prominently featured.