INSTRUMENT DESTRUCTION

'The of musical instruments' is a tradition in pop and rock music with a long history. It is normally carried out by band members during a live performance, particularly at the end of the gig. The most famous of these acts is smashing one's guitar.

Contents

Early years

Later guitar smashing

See also

Notes

Early years

Jerry Lee Lewis may be the first rock artist to destroy his equipment onstage, with several possibly apocryphal stories of him destroying and burning pianos in the 1950s.^[1]
In the mid 1960s, guitarist Pete Townshend of The Who was the first guitar smashing rock artist. Rolling Stone magazine included his smashing of a guitar at the Railway Hotel in September of 1964^[2][3] in their list of the "50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock & Roll".^[4] He saw his guitar smashing as a kind of auto-destructive art. Keith Moon, The Who's drummer, was also known for destroying his drum set. The most spectacular episode of this occurred during The Who's debut on U.S. television on the ''Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour'' in 1967. Moon overloaded his bass drum with explosive charges which were detonated during the finale of the song, "My Generation." The exposion caused guest Bette Davis to faint, set Pete Townshend's hair on fire and, according to legend, resulted in permanent damage to his hearing. Moon was also injured in the explosion when shrapnel from the cymbals cut his arm.^[5] VH1 later placed this event in the top ten of their list of the 100 Greatest Rock and Roll Moments on Television.^[6]
Jeff Beck, then a member of the Yardbirds, destroyed a guitar in the 1966 film ''Blowup'' after being told to emulate The Who by director Michelangelo Antonioni.^[7] Jimi Hendrix is also famous for guitar destruction, namely for setting guitars on fire at a number of different shows, most notably the Monterey Pop Festival.

Later guitar smashing

Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple and Rainbow smashed guitars in performance through the seventies.^[8]
Paul Simonon of The Clash famously destroyed his bass on stage, with a photograph of the event becoming the iconic cover to their ''London Calling'' album.^[9]
Kurt Cobain would frequently smash guitars at the end of Nirvana shows, but they were often cheap Japanese Stratocasters that were brought onstage simply for the purpose of destruction.
Paul Stanley, the rhythm guitarist from KISS would frequently smash his signature Ibanez Iceman guitars, at the end throwing the halves into the crowd. These were specially prepared guitars, modified so as to be easy to smash, and to destruct in a consistent and controlled manner.
Nikki Sixx, bassist of Mötley Crüe also smashes basses at the end of concerts, usually a Precision copy, but sometimes a Gibson Thunderbird.
Trent Reznor, lead singer of Nine Inch Nails, was known for smashing his guitar out of frustration in the early years of his band. Later on, his band mates destroyed their guitars for a show closer.
Ryan Key, lead singer and guitarist of Yellowcard has often smashed his most notable guitar, the Gibson Les Paul, to end many of Yellowcard's performances and has also thrown the halves into the audience.

See also

★ Shock rock

Notes

1. About.com
2. Rock and Roll: A Social History
3. The Marquee Club
4. The Moments
5. The Who, Smothers Brothers, 1967
6. VH1
7. Anyway Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of The Who
8. Parade
9. Parade