Stolen Guitar from the Rolling Stones, missing since 1972, surfaces at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

In a tale of music, fame, and controversy, the 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard has been at the centre of a captivating saga involving some of the most iconic musicians in rock history.

The guitar, renowned for its unique flaming, made its debut with the Rolling Stones during their 1964 Ed Sullivan Show appearance. Keith Richards, a member of the band, played the guitar during the performance. However, the instrument's journey took an unexpected turn when it was stolen during a burglary at Villa Nellcôte, where the Rolling Stones were recording their album, "Exile on Main Street." The thieves were local drug dealers owed money by Richards.

The stolen guitar found its way into the hands of Mick Taylor, a replacement for Peter Green in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Taylor purchased the guitar from Richards in 1967 before joining the Bluesbreakers. The guitar became Taylor's main instrument until it disappeared again in 1971, during the recording of "Exile on Main Street."

The guitar was not just a Rolling Stones' possession; it was also used by Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. Page played the guitar during his tenure as a session musician, while Clapton used it at a Cream show in July 1966 after his own instrument was stolen.

The guitar's journey post-theft is a subject of much controversy. Mick Taylor claims he never received compensation for the theft and that the guitar in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection belonged to him. However, the museum disputes his ownership, stating that the guitar has a well-documented provenance starting with its purchase by John Bowen in 1961. Marlies Damming, Taylor's business manager, has revealed that the guitar in the Met's collection belonged to Taylor.

Despite the dispute, it is undeniable that the 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard has a rich history of being played by various musicians in different bands such as The Rolling Stones, Cream, and as a session instrument. The guitar was even used by Taylor during the Rolling Stones' infamous Altamont Speedway show in late 1969.

The theft of the 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard has been a significant event, involving multiple famous musicians and resulting in its use by various artists. Despite its controversial history, the guitar continues to be a symbol of rock and roll's wild and unpredictable past.

No official comment has been made by the Met regarding the guitar's ownership, leaving the story of the 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard shrouded in mystery and intrigue.