Smashing Guitars - Why ?

[GinSonic]

Pete Townshend:
"When I'm on the stage - let me try to explain - when I'm on the stage, I'm not in control of myself at all. I even don't know who I am. I'm not this rational person that can sit here and talk to you. If you walked on the stage in the middle of a concert for an interview, I'd probably come close to killing you - I HAVE come close to killing people that walked on the stage. Abbie Hofmann walked on the stage at Woodstock and I nearly killed him with me guitar. A cameraman walked... a, a, a policeman came on when the bloody building of the Fillmore in New York was burning down - and I kicked him in the balls and sent him off. It's not like being possessed, you know, it's just - I do my job, and I know that I have to get into a certain state of mind to do it."

I think The Who is one of the few artists who've got it right. I remember seeing the movie, The Kids Are Alright, and Pete saying something about kids{fans} not looking so much for quality at a live concert, but more so looking for sensationalism.
Something that wow's them. Bigger than life, as it were.

Seriously. Where else but in a rock concert situation can an artist strike a simple power chord or bend a single note, let it ring and feedback for 30 seconds and receive thunderous applause. Band equipment smashing is part of the whole rebellious appeal of rock. It's all about teenage angst and such.

Of course, most of us are older and wiser now. It was fun and it still is. We beat pillows and jog now!
G.

[srommes]

Never understood/liked it either. I guess I appreciate what I have and don't feel the need to smash the shit out of it. Besides, isn't smashing your gear on stage a bit "played out" by now?

[horns666]

You got put things in perspective. Those 3 bolt Fenders are worth a pretty penny these days. They wern't that expensive then. Only if they knew. They'd prolly still done it..because it helped them become famous. I remember seeing a Zakk Wylde vid recently ..he threw one of his main LP's into the crowd..then freaked out when he relaized what he did..>

He got it back.. all fucked up..

[emperor_black]

Well, there's actually was a reason ...

In olden days, after a Judge declared a death sentence, he would write it down and break the pen's nib. that was to declare that no one can change the sentence and/or the condemned's fate.

Similarly, in the olden times, proly before hendrix, I read somewhere that musicians would actually break their priced instruments so that that performance could not be repeated by anyone else. this was way before the vintage market hype and the lack of quality in newer instruments. That act was taken to the next level by Hendrix by burning his (or someone else's guitar ) and the breaking of cheap imitations just for the sake of. But breaking any musical instrument is a despicable act.

[horns666]

That makes sense..I like it!

[GinSonic]

I guess this could be comparable to hollywood movie makers destroying classic and vintage cars for the money shot.
I can't remember the movie, but I do recall a '56 Chevy Nomad getting creamed in it.

I agree that it is played out these days. Though it's nothing new to us oldsters who witnessed the original band instrument smashers, to our kids, it's just right!
G.

[savage]

I remember seeing a Zakk Wylde vid recently ..he threw one of his main LP's into the crowd..then freaked out when he relaized what he did..>

He got it back.. all fucked up..

got i link to that? i would love to see it:ROTF:

[nhspike]

Because Yngwie's a complete and utter buffoon.

+1

Remember that video where he's showing off a bunch of his nearly identical vintage fenders that are just randomly piled up... and he was tossing them around like they were wrenches in a toolbox?

I think it's a lame attempt to show how much money he has, or something.

eh

I respect someone who respects the wood, wire, and plastic.

The have a soul I tell ya!

hehe

[axeman81]

hey Bill, I remember watching a Stratocaster 40th anniv. special on TV when I was a kid, they interviewed Dweezil at his house saying that Frank had been given the Hendrix strat that was burnt at Monterey Pop Festival (IIRC) and years later Dweezil had literally found it in a cabinet or under the stairs? or some crazy shit anyway. I think the neck had been replaced but the rest was original...he was strumming it by the pool in that programme. (err..that sounded like something that wouldn't air till after midnight )
anyway, awesome guitar for sure.

- Rune.

[horns666]

'Spike.."I respect someone who respects the wood"....yeah me too!!!

Rune ..that's awsome!! Under the stairs..wow!

[axeman81]

here ya go, found an old news clip on the Hendrix strat being reborn:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yAX_YMFcXDs

wow, my memory's pretty good for not having seen that 40th anniv special for some 14 years
I guess it goes to show the impression it made on a 13 year old budding guitar player

[horns666]

Wow..thanks for that broham. Dweezil fuggin' rocks!!!

[roodyrocker]

They busted their intstruments because they weren't Jacksons, no biggie
I like The Who but never liked the instrument smashing part even when they did it. And if it wasn't cool to me when The Who did it, it isn't cool when anyone does it

[horns666]

Yep..I'm sure its happened..but I never saw anyone smash a Jackson, PRS, Parker Fly..ect..

[El Chiguete]

got i link to that? i would love to see it:ROTF:

+1 Yeha!!