Ongoing History Daily: A history of smashing instruments (part 1)

The smashing and destruction of instruments onstage has a long and storied history. If we have to trace it back to one person, it’s probably Pete Townshend of The Who, who, in a fit of anger, destroyed his Rickenbacker at the Railway Tavern in Harrow and Wealdstone in London. The ceiling was low, and at one point, he cracked the headstock when he swung it a little too high. He responded by destroying the rest of it. This eventually became his (and the band’s) signature move.

Next came Jeff Beck when he was playing with The Yardbirds. The band was featured in a 1966 film called Blowup. Beck trashed his Hofner guitar when his amp shorted out. The kids loved that scene. About a year later, Jimi Hendrix set his Fender Strat on fire at the Monterey Pop Festival using lighter fluid and a match. Paul Stanley if KISS came next in the 70s when many an Ibanez was killed during the band’s wild theatrics.

More next time.