Instrument destruction

In 1956, on the Lawrence Welk Show, a zoot-suited performer billed as "Rockin' Rocky Rockwell" did a mocking rendition of Elvis Presley's hit song "Hound Dog."

The explosion caused guest Bette Davis to faint, set Pete Townshend's hair on fire and, according to legend, contributed to his later partial deafness and tinnitus.

[12] In an effort to out-do the Who's destruction of their instruments earlier at the same event, Hendrix poured lighter fluid over his guitar and set it on fire, even though "I'd just finished painting it that day" as he would later remark.

[15] Paul Simonon of the Clash famously destroyed his Fender Precision Bass only once at the side of the stage, out of frustration over the bouncers at the show not allowing the audience to stand up from their seats.

[16] In 1991, country artist Garth Brooks and then-band-member Ty England smashed their acoustic guitars at the end of "Friends In Low Places" at the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.

[18][19] Cobain's wife, Courtney Love, the frontwoman of Hole, also sometimes destroyed her guitars onstage,[20] as well as smashing microphones,[21] pushing over amplifier stacks, and dismantling drum kits.

[22] Pearl Jam often destroyed their instruments at shows, most famously at the 1993 MTV Music Awards at the end of their performance of "Keep On Rockin' In The Free World" with Neil Young.

[23] This trend continues to today where as recently as 2022 where at the final show of their European Tour, Mike McCready smashed a $15,000 Fender during a closing performance of the same song.

[24] Nine Inch Nails were famous for destroying many instruments, and also sound equipment that failed on stage, with their 1991 Lollapalooza tour having ten guitars smashed every concert,[25] as well as Trent Reznor either throwing Yamaha DX7 keyboards or using his boot to remove its keys.

[28] In the famous toga party scene in the movie National Lampoon's Animal House, John Belushi's character Bluto comes across a folk singer (portrayed by singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop, who is credited as "Charming Guy With Guitar") performing "The Riddle Song" for a group of college girls.