Thought for the day - Nov 15th

Bob-Dubery

There ought to be a law with no bail
Smash a guitar and you go to jail
With no chance for early parole
You don't get out till you get some soul

Have a good weekend y'all

Malkav

If that law were instated years ago it would have put Jimi Hendrix in jail, and then were would we be today? hmmm?

Bob-Dubery

Chad Adam Browne wrote If that law were instated years ago it would have put Jimi Hendrix in jail, and then were would we be today? hmmm?

Who was it who started the guitar smashing thing? IIRC it was Pete Townsend. There are tales about how music shops would hang up the "closed" or "back in 10 minutes" signs when they saw Townsend coming down the road because they all knew what was going to happen. Pete would "borrow a guitar just for tonight", smash it on stage, move on to the next gig in the next town.

Explorerlover

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it Townsend's fault that there are almost no '64 SG's left?

Squonk

I think Bob is right. Watching people smash guitars doesn't agree with me at all. There should be laws introduced similar to the animal cruelty laws.

Bob-Dubery

Explorerlover wrote Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it Townsend's fault that there are almost no '64 SG's left?

Well I don't know about that ?

But certainly he was smashing guitars whilst Hendrix was still on the Chitlin circuit. I'd be surprised if Hendrix could afford to smash guitars in those days.

Well Townsend couldn't either really. The Who weren't making much money then (probably a lot to do with guitars going through amps and drum kits exploding), but Townsend would be more able to walk into a store and "borrow" a guitar.

Renesongs

I heard that that Pete started smashing guitars on stage because the insurance per day on the equipment was more than what the Who were being paid per performance - it might be an urban legend though.

Squonk

In the Kid's are alright, the one scene in the studio where he smashes everything including spearing the amplifiers, breaking the presenters guitar etc. Didn't you almost want to say "Hey Pete dont do it, give it to me instead"

Matt-White

Thats why I like that tune by John Hiatt so much - I agree!
It might have been in fashion during the wild 60s, but why still do it? Its been done, finish and klaar. Go find your own showstopper!
I've seen Albert Frost and Jan Blohm doing it ... both huge Jimi fans of course.

Bob-Dubery

Renesongs wrote I heard that that Pete started smashing guitars on stage because the insurance per day on the equipment was more than what the Who were being paid per performance

Unlikely. The rate they were smashing things either they wouldn't get insurance or the premiums would make it not worth their while.

Bob-Dubery

Renesongs wrote I heard that that Pete started smashing guitars on stage because the insurance per day on the equipment was more than what the Who were being paid per performance - it might be an urban legend though.

The story goes that the first smash was accidental. Townsend swung the guitar up above his head, as was his wont, but the stage had a low ceiling, the headstock broke and there was some laughter from the audience. So Townsend grabbed his backup guitar and smashed that too - presumably to suggest that it was part of the act and not an accident.

Riaan-Combrink

Bob Dubery wrote The story goes that the first smash was accidental. Townsend swung the guitar up above his head, as was his wont, but the stage had a low ceiling, the headstock broke and there was some laughter from the audience. So Townsend grabbed his backup guitar and smashed that too - presumably to suggest that it was part of the act and not an accident.

Pete: (After cracking the headstock) I was expecting everybody to go, “Wow, he’s broken his guitar, he’s broken his guitar,” but nobody did anything, which made me kind of angry in a way. And determined to get this precious event noticed by the audience. I proceeded to make a big thing of breaking the guitar. I bounced all over the stage with it and I threw the bits on the stage and I picked up my spare guitar and carried on as though I really had meant to do it.

Look at this bunch of criminals:

Riaan

They should all be flogged in public... >☹