The maelstrom of rock: playing the guitar and then smashing it on the stage
Although the origins of this trend can be attributed to Pete Townshend, guitarist of The Who, the truth is that the first documented destruction of a guitar on stage was the work of a rock 'n' roll singer-songwriter named Rockin' Rocky Rockwell in 1956. Years later, in 1964, without the former's gesture having any repercussions, Pete Townshend's guitar broke during a break in a concert and, enraged, he ended up smashing it to pieces. After the success of this first sacrifice, the guitarist decided to include breaking a guitar in all of The Who's concerts. This action did not go unnoticed and soon many began to imitate it, among them Keith Moon, drummer of the same band as Townshend, who even destroyed his drum kit during a live performance on American television. Many musicians have broken their guitars in the middle of a concert. From Jimmy Hendrix (who first unstrung it and then burned it) to Billie Joe Armstrong, guitarist for Green Day, and others like Kurt Cobain, Paul Stanley, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, and Matt Bellamy of the band Muse. For now, this trend has only affected rock and, specifically, the electric guitar, which should provide a respite for the Spanish guitar.
