Les Paul’s Historic Home Demolished; Family Outraged
Les Paul's historic Mahwah, NJ, home and laboratory were demolished without family notification, sparking outrage from his son, Gene Paul
The historic home and laboratory of guitar legend Les Paul has been quietly demolished by private developers, sparking heartbreak and outrage from his family and music historians, according to a recent report by Guitar World.
Historic Les Paul Home Demolished in New Jersey, Sparking Outrage from Family and Fans
The Mahwah, New Jersey estate—which recently sold for $990,000—was widely considered one of the most significant birthplaces of modern music.
It was within this property's workshop that the late inventor and recording pioneer made monumental leaps in studio technology, including the innovation of multi-track recording and the solid-body electric guitar.
Over the years, the home’s laboratory hosted a rotating cast of musical giants, including Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Jeff Beck, and Mary Ford.
Gene Paul
However, the unannounced bulldozing of the property has left Paul's family devastated. According to Guitar World, Gene Paul, Les Paul’s son, recently broke his silence on the demolition, stating that the family was completely shut out of the process and given no opportunity to visit the estate one last time.
“I’m not an attorney. I’m a son. And right now, I’m a heartbroken son,” Gene told Guitar World. “A few days ago, I saw my father’s home, our family home, gutted. It made me sick. That house was not just where Les Paul lived. It was his workshop. It was his laboratory. It was his journey of dreams.”
He added that historians and the family had to scramble at the last minute to save artifacts from the property. “My father had children and a family. Was that ever considered? Nobody talked to us about it,” Gene continued. “And now that the house is gone, where is the historical marker at the entrance to Deerhaven Road telling future generations that Les Paul lived here?”
Shortly before the bulldozers arrived, guitar collector Perry Margouleff visited the property after receiving a tip-off about its impending fate. Margouleff released footage of the home's final days, revealing the rooms where Paul conceptualized his earliest guitar designs left in a severe state of disrepair.
“I figured this place would be maintained as a site on the National Register of Historic places,” Margouleff narrated over the footage. “But what we found, and the footage we gathered, was horrifying... This was a travesty of American popular history and culture.”
Les Paul Foundation
The demolition has placed the Les Paul Foundation under intense public scrutiny, particularly after Executive Director Michael Braunstein publicly downplayed the loss by referring to the historic estate as merely “four walls.”
In response to the growing backlash, the Foundation issued two statements to Guitar World, pushing back against claims that they failed to safeguard Paul's legacy.
“While the loss of Les Paul’s former home is understandably emotional for those who associate the property with an important chapter of Les’ life and work, it is important to distinguish the loss of the structure from the preservation of Les Paul’s artistic and technical legacy,” Braunstein stated. He noted that a "significant collection of Les’ original recording equipment... has been preserved, meticulously restored, and is actively in use at the Les Paul Recording Studio" in Hollywood.
The Foundation further emphasized that Paul's legacy lives on in his music, inventions, and instruments, adding a logistical defense for the demolition: “One should be very aware that the house was in a residential neighborhood that would not permit the traffic, zoning and/or establishment of a public exhibition.”
Despite the Foundation's assurances, the sudden leveling of the property leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of those who viewed it as a musical monument.
“I think my father's family, his friends, his fans, and everyone whose life has been touched by his work deserve some answers," Gene concluded.
A Huge Loss
I must say we were surprised that this happened to such an iconic building, especially with all the history tied up in those four walls.
Let us know your thoughts on this story over on our Reddit channel.
Source material originally reported by Guitar World.
Why was Les Paul's historic home demolished?
The property in Mahwah, New Jersey sold for $990,000 to private developers who demolished it without advance notice to the family. The Les Paul Foundation later cited zoning restrictions in the residential neighborhood that would not permit public exhibition or the traffic associated with maintaining it as a museum.
Did Les Paul's family have a say in the demolition?
No. Gene Paul, Les Paul's son, stated the family was completely shut out of the process and given no opportunity to visit the estate one last time. He expressed devastation at not being consulted before the bulldozers arrived, saying "Nobody talked to us about it."
What made Les Paul's home historically significant?
The workshop and laboratory within the property was where Les Paul innovated multi-track recording, the solid-body electric guitar, and other foundational recording technologies. It hosted visits from guitar legends including Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Jeff Beck, and Mary Ford.
What did the Les Paul Foundation say about the demolition?
The Foundation distinguished between the loss of the structure and preservation of Les Paul's legacy, noting that his original recording equipment has been preserved and restored at the Les Paul Recording Studio in Hollywood. They also cited residential zoning restrictions as a reason the property couldn't function as a public exhibition.
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