Watch The Who smash a 1993 RM !!!

winston · Post by **winston** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:50 am

You know Peter,

I lived in Southampton through the whole Mods and Rocker era. I never understood the anger that was expressed by smashing instruments, amplifiers and drums. Hey, maybe it was cool to some people in the audience for a whole span of 10 seconds. The carnage in the mind however lasted much longer.

The Who back then were a great band. I saw them in Woolston in their very early days. They were a very tight, and extremely loud band. They were too poor to intentionally break their equipment then.

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:13 am

Pete: LOL!

Brian: Legend has it that Pete smashed his first Rick at gig with a low ceiling above the stage. He accidentally stuck the headstock through the ceiling, the crowd went crazy, so he finished the guitar off. I think I remember reading that he was simultaneously making payments to Rose-Morris for six Rickenbackers that had already been destroyed. He used to run into the store, grab a guitar off the wall and they'd send the bill to his manager. I'm not sure if The Who in those days could really afford the destruction. That's why they had to stay on the road all the time. Townshend was also an expert with wood glue, gaffer tape, and a soldering iron. He smashed some of those guitars more than once, but that still doesn't make it right!

jmonster · Post by **jmonster** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:21 am

It's art by the emotion and discussion it creates. It's self-indulgent, iconoclastic art, but it is art.

I don't mind someone smashing the **** out of some Squire Strat, but that does mean the musician doesn't respect the audience enough to play that song on a high quality guitar. I just like to see people end sets by cranking up the amp and leaning the guitar against it.

I saw The Decemberists a few months ago, and the guitarist had what looked like a 381 (I was way in the back on the opposite side). At the end of the set he got crazy with it: rubbing the strings on stuff, holding it out for the crowd to play, smacking it around, and breaking a few strings. I had been admiring it all show, and I got a little sick at the end. I tried to find him after the show to yell at him...

circles · Post by **circles** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:39 am

Remember, we're only talking about Rose Morris 1993's because PT smashed them. Like it or loathe it, he made them what they are... and I don't just mean rare!!!

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:47 am

Randy, you have mail!

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:52 am

Pete: I'll check my mail when I get home. If you want to email me here send to-

[email protected]

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:54 am

Randy, It's on it's way...

winston · Post by **winston** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:03 am

OK

Here courtesy of Websters dictionary is the definition of Iconclastic:

Main Entry: icon·o·clast
Pronunciation: -"klast
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin iconoclastes, from Middle Greek eikonoklastEs, literally, image destroyer, from Greek eikono- + klan to break -- more at CLAST
1 : one who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration
2 : one who attacks settled beliefs or institutions
- icon·o·clas·tic /(")I-"kä-n&-'klas-tik/ adjective
- icon·o·clas·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb

and here is one of their definitions of art:

Main Entry: 2art
Pronunciation: 'ärt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin art-, ars -- more at ARM
1 : skill acquired by experience, study, or observation <the>
2 a : a branch of learning: (1) : one of the humanities (2) plural : LIBERAL ARTS b archaic : LEARNING, SCHOLARSHIP
3 : an occupation requiring knowledge or skill <the>
4 a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced b (1) : FINE ARTS (2) : one of the fine arts (3) : a graphic art
5 a archaic : a skillful plan b : the quality or state of being artful
6 : decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter

synonyms ART, SKILL, CUNNING, ARTIFICE, CRAFT mean the faculty of executing well what one has devised. ART implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power <the>. SKILL stresses technical knowledge and proficiency <the>. CUNNING suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing <a >. ARTIFICE suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature <believed>. CRAFT may imply expertness in workmanship <the>.

Your thoughts on these definitions as they apply to the "art" of smashing a guitar? Anyone?

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:09 am

I didn't think it was art when, in the late '60's, I was roadying for £2 a week and would have sold my soul for a Rickenbacker!

winston · Post by **winston** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:54 am

To put this all in some sort of context or to frame it as we say in North America.

I made ten shillings and sixpence (10s/6d) a week in 1961 doing an evening paper route (6 days a week). I made a further 10s/6d doing a morning paper route (6 days a week). I also worked on Saturday afternoons collecting money for the newspaper shop that I worked for making a further 10s/6d .

That totals £1/11s/6d a week.

By 1964, all I could afford was a used Hofner guitar at a cost of £50 . My parents bought me a Vox AC30 on hire-purchase (credit).

A Ric obviously was well beyond my reach.

Therefore the very thought of smashing a Ric made me feel sick.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 12:31 pm

That's what they call "show"... it attracts public, to some extent... but is this "art"? Well. I dunno.
But i'd certainly be glad if PT gave me one of his guitars, instead of smashin' it!

ted_williams · Post by **ted_williams** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 12:42 pm

That was a long time ago. I'm sure you can forgive them now. If that gimmick is what it took to get the world to pay attention to their great music, then so be it.

winston · Post by **winston** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 12:50 pm

Ted I agree. The Who is one of my all time favorite bands. Forgiven of course. But looking back I still wonder why PT did that.

The quality of their music propelled them to stardom. When I first saw them live, Can't Explain was already released and in the charts.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 1:03 pm

Because he probably was the only one who did it at the time!!!!!

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 1:25 pm

I think I heard about the Who's instrument smashing before I heard their music. The art of promotion.