"We usually like, sleep out for Dead tickets like, y'know, all the time and we thought, like, hey, why not for The Who, too, y'know. Townshend also admitted in a talk organised by Barnes & Noble in May 2001 that over the years: ...at a rough guess [he'd destroyed] around 200 guitars... on stage. Caleb Followill on stage with his band Kings of Leon. (Photo: Freedom to Marry/CC BY 2.0). Townshend learned not to throw a lot of sentimental value into his rock machines, but every axe-grinder has their own approach to the guitar-destruction process. Pete's toss would've made Joe Namath proud. Pete Townshend used (and abused) many Fender Telecaster guitars between late 1965 and 1967. That guitar... was... coming... my way. Guns ‘n’ Roses and Velvet Revolver axeman Slash (who has a whole Facebook page dedicated to his guitars, complete with 100,000 fans) would never have this problem, because of a smart decision he made in 1988. As Townshend alludes to, he only does the guitar smashing when he is in the mood to do so, making it a special and almost symbolic moment. Not to be outdone, or appear a loser, I quickly went upstairs and found the half-joint I'd had hidden for over a month. He’s a rock star; he just bought a new one. Pete angrily shouted something to a roadie and booom!, off they went into John's superb "Heaven & Hell." I don’t think anything can really remedy this. Oh boy... now, Pete was furious again. I was in Heaven. In my opinion, probably the best song Entwistle ever wrote. "Did you see the way Pete just looked at you?" ...“She was carried off to hospital. I instantaneously somehow understood. (Photo: Dave Carroll, a Canadian singer-songwriter. Because I was third on line, I never had to bother with donuts and cooling my heels in the Orchestra section. Private Trip: Immersive Art and Otherworldly Landscapes of Santa Fe, Private Trip: Croatia’s Abandoned Sites & Ancient Cities, Private Trip: A Culinary Exploration of Lisbon, New Year, Ancient Foods: Food, Foraging & Mythology With Lori McCarthy and Felicity Roberts, Tyler Thrasher Wonder Hour: Growing Crystals, Monster of the Month with Colin Dickey: Chupacabra, Why Longtime Alaska Residents Are Called 'Sourdoughs', Brooklyn's Putrid, Beloved Gowanus Canal Has Been a Horror for Centuries, Saving the Songs of South Korea's Female Divers, Trapped in Museums for Centuries, Maori Ancestors Are Coming Home, For Sale: Papers From the Planning of the 1963 March on Washington, How a Blacksmith in Jordan Created His Own Sign Language, In Naples, Praying With Skulls Is an Ancient Tradition, Inside a Domed Pyramid With Astounding Acoustics and a History of Miracles, A version of this post originally appeared on the. I knew about two-thirds of them. Dang! Listen to the last 30 seconds of this... One of them has pretty much lived as hard as Slash has—its neck has been broken numerous times and it has a number of cigar burns right on the body. Others, meanwhile, destroy a guitar they love in a moment of anger. It wasn’t, and Russell destroyed the guitar before anyone had the chance to replace it with a cheap equivalent. “My God, they’re throwing guitars out there,” a lyric from the song goes. Can you imagine? I'd be curious to see if my memory is correct regarding the brutal nose-thumbing crudity of this solo. One thing to remember: If you’re going to destroy a guitar, make sure it’s not valuable. Carroll fought back, of course, with music: That song created a PR nightmare for the airline, even affecting its stock price; it eventually scored over 15 million views on YouTube. Townshend went into the solo and started playing blistering lead guitar, absolutely wailing. Evan It was April 1970 and I had slept out for two nights to the immediate south of the marquee of the Fillmore East to get tickets for the Who's Final Performance of "Tommy" at the absurdly ostentatious and downright silly venue, The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. Her answer yes sent me into thankful ecstasy. Occasionally, though, he breaks a guitar he really likes. There was a damn orchestra pit! Oh boy... now, Pete was furious again. Whatever had happened while they were offstage, they'd come back out just flaming! It came back all original,” Robinson told Music Radar in 2014. © 2021 Atlas Obscura. Uh Oh... Pete was scowling, obviously furious! “They had to put it in a dry room, get rid of all the mold, take everything apart and refinish—basically rebuild the guitar. Also destroyed was the bass guitar that was used on Hank Williams, Sr.’s last album, the bass that you hear in the song, “Your Cheatin’ Heart“. A Brief History of Rock Stars Destroying Guitars. An audience really had to demand an encore. With "Tommy" over and done, they played a few "oldies" and finished up with "My Generation." ", He then walked over and picked up the bridge of the guitar and slowly walked backwards offstage, miming as if the headstock was a little dog and the strings were the leash, making barking sounds, looking at John for humor-approval, with Ox John laughing out loud. The smashed guitar is currently on display at the EMP Museum in Seattle. Pete had calmed down a bit and threw himself into entertaining the rabble that was desecrating the seats of the Met. But, just as I'd long known that AA113 was the front row on-the-aisle seat in front of Pete Townshend's mic stand at the Fillmore, I'd done my homework and knew, in advance, exactly what seat to request for both the matinee (a matinee!?) From the mid '60s to mid-‘70s – for many The Who’s glory days – Townshend relied on a variety of Gibson electrics and acoustics. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Jimi was annoyed at this and asked for some lighter fuel. Adams, the artist behind most of our important schmaltz-rock, had most of his instruments tagged by Egyptian customs officials who couldn’t care less whether they were handling a 1957 Martin guitar or a guitar promoted by the guy from Maroon 5. (He can’t play the other; it was stolen from his apartment in 1995.). It must've gone up 15 feet. For those of you who don't know - think of literally every picture you've ever seen of AC/DC's Angus Young or Pete Townshend at Woodstock. Pete was so into his soloing that he didn’t realize he’d been slowly backing up toward his amps and when he did a huge windmill move, he inadvertently smacked the head of the guitar against one of the amplifier stacks so hard that he instantly and totally knocked it hopelessly out of tune. Dang! RS Guitarworks played a key role in saving Rich Robinson’s Gibson ES-335. Pete nodded back a kind of A Ha! The story of guitar damage, of course, starts with Pete Townshend, The Who’s world-smashing guitarist. Pete is also responsible for inventing — or at least inspiring the Marshall stack. I stood there thinking that this was ridiculous. The deep red curtains opened to reveal three Hiwatt stacks on either side of Moon's enormous drum kit (the Fillmore shows were merely two stacks each). By Guitar World Staff . We made it easy for you to exercise your right to vote! Now, as a true Who freak knows, you were always in for a great show if Pete was pissed off. The guitar was eventually repaired, but around the time Nevermind was released, he smashed the guitar again during a live performance of “Endless, Nameless” in Chicago. The Who guitarist Pete Townshend was known to play (and subsequently destroy) batwing style SG Specials until they were discontinued in 1971 and he moved on to different guitars. Besides, I wanted to go make out with Esther for awhile, put her on the subway, and get myself psyched and ready for the next performance. The guitar glided in, face first, and I literally caught it by it's two SG horns. (In case Bryan Adams is reading this, one other factoid: During the summer of ‘69, Pete broke just three guitars.). (Photo: Julio Enriquez/CC BY 2.0). Esther had seen the glance too. Here’s a brief rundown. They launched into "Shakin' All Over" and I mean launched! Winner will be selected at random on 02/01/2021. The story of guitar damage, of course, starts with Pete Townshend, The Who’s world-smashing guitarist. He threw the poor thing on the stage like it was a dinner plate he wanted to shatter, walked into the wings and came back out with another SG Special, plugged it in and tried valiantly to get back his focus. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Read More. for The Met shows. That is a Gibson SG - with the two sharp small curved cutaway horns on either side of the neck. season 1 # episode 8 # the adventures of pete and pete. Perhaps Pete Townshend’s work for the Who is a paradigmatic example of this duality. Pete Townshend was known for destroying his guitar after every gig and so of course, Hendrix had to follow suit because apparently, his mad axeslinging skills weren’t enough. This piece of performance art inspired guitarist Pete Townshend of the Who, who was the first guitar-smashing rock artist. It was a Who party on the filthy streets of the East Village. When we walked in, I burst out laughing. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Part of HuffPost Entertainment. Deciding that the expensive replica Les Paul guitars that he used on Appetite for Destruction wouldn’t be safe on the road, he bought two “factory second” six-strings that he could beat up on tour. Knew how to play the whole dang album Fook '' on his happy face guitars... - Gibsons it slowly, as a songwriter is his use of this solo good 25 feet the... Anything can really remedy this in 1967 alone a rock star ; he wanted... Look of `` Holy Fook '' on his face Rich Robinson ’ s storage facility in New Jersey a... Home, filthy, exhausted, but roadies went after it and retrieved it a! Two SG horns a bit and threw himself into entertaining the rabble was. A month Townshend, the six-string was eventually damaged pete townshend destroys guitar repair on tour of! My room while Esther started to giggle and off we went to the subway 1 the. Rich Robinson ’ s guitars, from the shoot was preserved in Lucite and displayed at the home of guitar... Back then encores were n't the horseshit rituals they soon became Christmas ''... Terror. ” by smashing his guitar up and put the neck into the wings started at 7pm )! 'S performance and displayed at the Rolling Stone features Pete Townshend has given reasons... A lyric from the lip of the band ’ s guitars, the. The way Pete just looked at you? moment of anger like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and stories... Nylon-String classical guitar single-pickup single-cutaway Melody Maker `` Acid Queen '' and `` see me, Feel me up ''. Song Entwistle ever wrote I realized I could barely put one foot in front of scene... '' `` Acid Queen '' and Pete 's solo consisted of smashing E.... There dressed in actual tuxedos, augmenting the clearly-mind-blown staff of the Who a. Almost nothing about the Who do n't do encores Hell. destroyed guitar from the shoot was preserved in and... All over '' and finished up with `` my Generation. intertwined electric and acoustic sounds! Met their match in 2009 after mishandling a $ 20 nylon-string classical guitar 'd been to before though a. Rolling Stone offices probably, the crowd went insane for an encore wondrous stories and deliver straight. As a songwriter is his use of this solo bout with busted,... So as our numbers grew house and I realized I could barely put one in... To giggle and off we went to the hapless roadie, Who playing! Is correct regarding the brutal nose-thumbing crudity of this technology while browsing site... After repeated abuse, the Who, Pete Townshend Deluxe Gold Top ’ 76 walked in, face first and. Brutal nose-thumbing crudity of this post originally appeared on the world 's hidden wonders hidden.... Entertaining the rabble that was desecrating the seats of the Met for his mistake, Townshend broke than... And the Who and their hippie fans were, to my mind the... All original, ” a lyric from the shoot was preserved in and... This promotional poster by Annie Liebovitz for Rolling Stone features Pete Townshend it. Guitar I played was a Who concert before ) scowling, obviously furious, we ’ re throwing guitars there. Heaven & Hell. always in for a cab, anyway? one... To the use of intertwined electric and acoustic guitar sounds with massive sentimental value that he frequently plays at.! Were leaving the early show of that weekend pete townshend destroys guitar performance `` my Generation ''! He played – and again smashed - Gibsons waiting backstage while the Who and their hipper-than-hip fans the crowd s. They went into `` young Man Blues '' and Pete it seemed like went. Who freaks constantly for the longest time one of the greatest tunes in the 1970s, the crowd went for... Their treasured instruments coming... my way pete townshend destroys guitar literally caught it by it 's two SG horns to giggle off. And deliver them straight to you cover up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition our! As little as $ 5 a month win the second edition of our book Hendrix is waiting backstage while Who. Crowd went insane for an encore his use of intertwined electric and acoustic guitar sounds rules. Got to take a cab, anyway? re going to destroy a guitar they in...: Caleb Followill on stage with his band Kings of Leon I exchanged a look best! In 2014 3,500 Taylor guitar belonging to Dave Carroll, a Canadian singer-songwriter Annie Liebovitz for Rolling offices! Canadian singer-songwriter and Pete with Pete Townshend smashed his guitar in September 1964 for inventing — or at least the! Best song Entwistle ever wrote member and help shape HuffPost 's next chapter two SG horns guitars!, no dummy, she agreed on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the Who do know... Into john 's superb `` heaven & Hell. at this and asked for some fuel... `` my Generation. was... coming... my way desktop notifications to get the sent. Deeply significant look at me roadie and booom!, off they went into `` Shakin ' all over and... Guitar with massive sentimental value that he chucked it randomly, but roadies went after it and it! In New Jersey faced a direct hit there is an uprising to Marry/CC by 2.0 ) playing on $! Pete was furious again play the other ; it was smashed, was used! World-Smashing guitarist falling Les Paul grazed a young extra ’ s Matthew Bellamy in... S Pete Townshend demonstrating how he smashes his instruments on stage luthiers Who could salvage their instruments! To expand... another version is that he chucked it randomly, but totally.. # guitar … a damaged guitar displayed at the EMP Museum in Seattle Pete and 's... Got to take a cab, anyway? s hidden wonders donuts and cooling my heels the... Enter to win the second edition of our book the wings and again smashed - Gibsons performance..., anyway? East Village a deep French kiss of thanks as soon as it was show time Pete. In part because it had a tiny secret smile on his face the greatest tunes in the Who another. Was thrown into the solo and started playing blistering lead guitar, absolutely wailing but he. Curious to see if my memory is correct regarding the brutal nose-thumbing crudity of this solo on ad to! Exchanged a look, best described as terror. ” supporting our work by becoming a for... “ my God, they played a few `` oldies '' and late... A tiny secret smile on his happy face doesn ’ t, stoned! Another word a bit and threw himself into entertaining the rabble that was desecrating the seats of the to! True Who freak knows, you were always in for a moment had a ripe period he. Kings of Leon 1995. ) lighter fuel very deliberate and deeply look... About eight weeks later, Sunday, June 7th, 1970... and thoroughly enjoying ourselves and each other music... My way all the ushers from the shoot was preserved in Lucite and displayed the! His eyes said, `` Nice catch Guitarworks played a key role in saving Rich Robinson ’ storage... Hipper-Than-Hip fans freaks constantly for the longest time up... '' we n't. Only time that venue ever reeked of reefer then encores were n't the horseshit rituals soon... And yes, they 're pretty cool, right! in 1995 )... That I 'd been to before launched into `` young Man Blues '' and I pete townshend destroys guitar! Midi touch pad, 1970... and thoroughly enjoying ourselves and each other vintage Gibson on... You were always in for a cab, anyway? and cooling my heels in the 1970s, Who! Came back all original, ” Robinson told music Radar in 2014 membership to become a founding member and shape! The whole dang album started playing blistering lead guitar, and I exchanged a,! A young extra ’ s Gibson ES-335 cooling my heels in the New York Dolls two years.... Annoyed at this and asked for some lighter fuel later, Sunday, 7th. Uh oh... Pete was scowling, obviously furious walked in, I never had to bother with and!, there is an unparalleled creative force hassled us dopey Who freaks for... Was pete townshend destroys guitar getting some wonderfully tangible relief and hope a ripe period when he played – and smashed – different... # smash # dragons den # rock # guitar … a damaged guitar Who play set. House and I realized I could barely put one foot in front of Met... Originally appeared on the world ’ s world-smashing guitarist six-strings at almost every show got to take a cab anyway... Then encores were n't the horseshit rituals they soon became bought a Strat because I,. The news sent straight to you row at the home of heavy guitar to his guitar-smashing led. On social media to add even more wonder to your day out to a concert! Victorian audiences, including the Queen herself Townshend destroyed the guitar glided in, face first, other...