Missing Rolling Stones guitar found after 54 years

Missing guitar found after decades

A 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard once owned by Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones has resurfaced. It was found in a guitar collection given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The guitar had been missing since September 1971 and had never been recovered.

The Met called the collection a “landmark gift” containing more than 500 guitars from between 1920 and 1970. The museum confirmed the Les Paul had belonged to Taylor and noted it had been played during the band’s Ed Sullivan Show debut, linking it to important Rolling Stones history.

Keith Richards first played the guitar

The 1959 Gibson Les Paul was originally owned by Keith Richards. He used the guitar when The Rolling Stones performed for the first time on The Ed Sullivan Show in October 1964. That TV appearance was seen by millions and helped the band gain attention in the United States.

Richards later sold the guitar to Mick Taylor in 1967. Taylor became the band’s lead guitarist after Brian Jones left. The instrument was passed between two major members during the band’s most active years, and both played it during important events in the band’s timeline.

Mick Taylor played it at Altamont

After buying the guitar in 1967, Mick Taylor played it during the Altamont Free Concert in December 1969. The event took place at the Altamont Speedway in California. It became infamous after a fan was killed during a fight near the stage while the band performed.

The Altamont concert was meant to be like Woodstock but ended with violence. Taylor used the Les Paul guitar throughout the concert, making it part of another major moment in music history. The instrument had now been played during two of the band’s most talked-about events.

Clapton and Page used this guitar too

Besides Richards and Taylor, two other guitarists reportedly played the Les Paul. Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page were both said to have used the instrument at different times. Both were already famous musicians when the guitar was in circulation among British rock bands.

This made the guitar valuable not just because of its make and model but because of who used it. Its connection to multiple guitarists from the 1960s and 1970s added interest when it resurfaced. The museum and experts examined photos and details to confirm it was the same instrument.

The guitar was stolen in a 1971 robbery

The Les Paul guitar was stolen in September 1971. At the time, The Rolling Stones were recording their album Exile on Main St. at a rented villa called Villa Nellcôte on France’s Côte d’Azur. The band was staying there during sessions for the album.

The robbery reportedly happened in daylight while people in the house were watching television. It was believed that Marseille drug dealers entered the villa and took instruments. Keith Richards was said to owe them money. In total, nine guitars, a saxophone, and a bass were taken during the theft.

The guitar was missing for decades after the theft

After the robbery, the guitar was not seen again for over five decades. The case quickly went cold. No one reported any sightings, and the instrument’s location remained unknown. Taylor never received any payment or insurance compensation for losing the guitar during the burglary.

Over the years, fans, collectors, and band members discussed the theft but could not locate the missing items. The guitar’s connection to major performances made its disappearance more mysterious.

Met got the guitar in May 2025

In May 2025, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced they had received a donation of over 500 vintage guitars. These were built between 1920 and 1970 and included some rare models. Among them was the 1959 Les Paul that had once belonged to Mick Taylor.

The Met’s official announcement mentioned the guitar specifically. It confirmed that it had appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. That detail helped identify it as the missing instrument. This was the first time in 54 years that the guitar had appeared in public or in a collection.

Guitar confirmed by body wood pattern

Mick Taylor’s business manager Marlies Damming confirmed the guitar’s identity using a pattern on its wood. She said the “flaming” on the Les Paul’s body matched photographs of the original guitar. These patterns on vintage guitars are unique and act like fingerprints.

Damming said there were many photos showing Taylor using this exact Les Paul on stage. Since it had been his main instrument until it vanished, the visual match helped confirm its authenticity. This physical evidence was key in connecting the museum’s guitar to the stolen one from 1971.

Taylor surprised by guitar’s return

According to an unnamed source, Mick Taylor was surprised that his stolen guitar ended up in the Met’s collection. He reportedly did not know how it got there or who had owned it over the past five decades. The source said Taylor never received compensation.

Taylor’s connection to the guitar was personal and professional. It had been central to many of his performances. The unexpected rediscovery raised new questions about where the guitar had been stored and how it had changed hands before it was donated to the museum in New York.

Richards guitar sold at auction in 2024

In August 2024, a different Keith Richards guitar went up for auction. It was a Gibson L6S from around 1975. The auction was handled by Gotta Have Rock and Roll. The guitar was expected to sell for between $50,000 and $100,000.

Richards gave that guitar to tour manager Patrick Stansfield in the 1970s. Stansfield later sold it in the early 2000s. This L6S had been used in music videos for the songs “Hot Stuff” and “Fool To Cry.” It was one of several guitars gifted to Richards by Gibson.

Band still active with 2023 album

The Rolling Stones formed in London in 1962. The band is still active today and released a new album called Hackney Diamonds in 2023. Mick Jagger remains the lead singer, and Keith Richards continues to perform as guitarist and co-writer.

The band has had many line-up changes over the years. Despite that, they continue to perform and release new music.

Their long career has included television performances, major concerts, and recording sessions that span over six decades since their start in the early 1960s in the United Kingdom.

Sweepstakes for a signed guitar in 2024

In April 2024, The Rolling Stones launched a sweepstakes in partnership with REK Trust. The prize was a Duesenberg Starplayer TV Phonic electric guitar in Venetian White. It had been played by Ronnie Wood and signed by all the band members.

The sweepstakes raised funds for mentoring programs for new artists. Entries started at $6, and the more entries, the more chances of winning. The contest ended on April 16, which marked the 60th anniversary of the U.K. release of the band’s first album.

Band’s first U.S. no. 1 was in 1965

On July 10, 1965, The Rolling Stones reached number one in the United States with the song “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Keith Richards recorded the riff in a hotel room in Florida after waking up in the middle of the night with the idea.

Mick Jagger wrote the lyrics later that week. The song was played widely in the U.S. but was banned on radio in the U.K. at first. It eventually topped the charts in several countries including Sweden, South Africa, and Australia. It became the band’s signature hit song.

Ronnie Wood released music collection

On September 26, 2025, Ronnie Wood will release Fearless: Anthology 1965–2025. The set includes 38 tracks across two CDs and 20 tracks on vinyl. It features his work with The Birds, The Creation, the Jeff Beck Group, and The Rolling Stones.

It also includes songs from Wood’s solo albums. Four tracks were previously unreleased. One of them, a cover of “You’re So Fine,” features Imelda May. Paul Sexton wrote the essay for the album. The tracks were co-produced by Ronnie’s son Jesse and studio engineer Sean Genockey.

Wood celebrated at the Carnaby Street store

On June 6, 2025, Ronnie Wood visited The Rolling Stones’ store on Carnaby Street in London. The event marked his 50 years in the band. The store featured guitars, outfits, and signed prints. A new art collection called 50 – The Portraits was unveiled.

The art included portraits of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Wood himself. Limited sets were sold with a 7-inch demo signed and numbered by Wood. The same week, he performed with Rod Stewart at Glastonbury and also appeared at Black Sabbath’s farewell concert.

In other news, Pete Wade passed away in August 2024 after a six-decade career as a top session guitarist.

Guest musicians played on Stones songs

The Rolling Stones featured guest musicians on several tracks. Bobby Keys played saxophone on “Brown Sugar” in 1971. Rocky Dijon played bongos on “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” also released that year on the Sticky Fingers album recorded by the band.

Billy Preston played piano and organ on “Shine A Light” in 1972. Nicky Hopkins played piano on the ballad “Angie” in 1973. Sonny Rollins played saxophone on “Waiting On A Friend” in 1981. These guests appeared across different albums and added parts during studio recordings.

Before he became a star, Keith Urban backed major acts like Garth Brooks, Charlie Daniels, and The Chicks in the 90s. Check it out.

Drop your thoughts. Where do you think the guitar was hiding all these years?

Read More From This Brand:

• Keith Urban Guitar Auction for Charity (Guitars for Good)
• Luke Bryan Challenge Goes Viral After Guitar Find
• Waylon Jennings’ Guitar (A Fender Telecaster)

Don’t forget to follow us for more exclusive content right here on MSN

If you liked this story, you’ll LOVE our FREE emails. Join today and be the first to get stories like this one

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.