The long, disputed history of one of rock music’s most iconic guitars (Flickr/Eden, Janine and Jim) Posted By: ledzepnews 1st February 2026 The 1959 Gibson Les Paul known as the “Keithburst” is one of rock music’s most iconic, and likely most valuable, electric guitars. Now, it’s at the centre of a public controversy covered by outlets as diverse as The New York Times and Billboard after Mick Taylor’s manager and partner alleged after it was donated to New York’s prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art that the guitar is stolen property.Played by Keith Richards on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on October 25, 1964, the guitar helped kickstart a surge of interest in the Les Paul model among rock fans. It was also played by Jimmy Page in a mid-1960s studio session and by Eric Clapton at an early Cream performance in 1966 before being sold to Taylor.The key dispute around the guitar takes place arou…