Who was the first musician to smash their guitar on stage?
Of all the things that somehow became trendy, not just in rock ‘n’ roll music as a whole, smashing up a guitar on stage has to be one of the most iconic. For some reason, the simple yet anarchistic act of destroying the instrument mid-set became the ultimate symbol of rock-fuelled passion, representing one swift moment of rebellious shock value, no matter the intent behind it.
While it’s certainly not the first gimmick to captivate the rock world, what’s interesting is that it’s used both as a conduit for performance art and comedy, having become a staple of the quintessential rockstar to the point where it’s seen as almost parody-like. For instance, anybody embodying a stereotypical rock musician will likely factor guitar smashing into their presentation at some point, mainly because it’s become such an instantly recognisable trait spanning decades.
However, the true beginning of such an act is more difficult to pinpoint. There was a notable surge of musicians using it as a performance trick throughout the 1970s, but the act itself started to burgeon in the 1950s and 1960s, with some musicians toying with the notion for comedic or shock value, including Rocky Rockwell, who reportedly destroyed an acoustic guitar after a spoof rendition of Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’ on a talk show.
Others around the same time began utilising instrument destruction to communicate angst or rage, or at least incorporating the idea into their image somehow, laying the groundwork for what inevitably came next. While it wasn’t guitar smashing as we came to know and love, it certainly planted the seeds for musicians to take the idea to the stage in a more intentional way to spark a reaction.
Who revolutionised guitar smashing on stage?
Despite its hazy beginnings, the first most associated with the originator of the guitar smash is The Who’s Pete Townshend. Notably, one of the most pivotal moments for this spectacle was when he destroyed his Rickenbacker on stage in September 1964 before he went on to perform the trick for decades, as though he became aware that most people were waiting in anticipation to capture a glimpse of his gag in action.
According to The Who’s fansite, Townshend not only perfected the art but initiated it in the way we came to appreciate it, having smashed more than 30 guitars in 1967 alone. However, while Townshend provided the standard, various other names adopted different approaches to the coveted guitar move on stage, including Jeff Beck, whose trick seemed to stem more from a place of frustration than enjoyment.
Jimi Hendrix, too, did well to contribute to the movement, with one particular performance in 1967 solidifying its impact for the ages—notably, the spectacle that was his rendition of ‘Wild Thing’ at the Monterey Pop Festival when he lit his guitar on fire then smashed it up on stage. From then on, guitar smashing became some ritualistic display of power, blending rebellion and theatrics to represent the ultimate crescendo.
Though slightly comedic by today’s standards, those who contributed to its significance did so by punctuating the power of eccentricity, particularly during moments already geared up to become some of the most heated in history. It’s chaotic by nature, but only to push the boundaries of rock ‘n’ roll and push expectations into something real and tangible.
