smashing equipment- a lost art?

[runmikeyrun]

Our drummer from our old band had a music store. We used to piece together old bass and guitar parts and make "barely useable" instruments. We'd play them on the last song and then smash them. People loved it and always fought over the parts. It was also extremely satisfying. As long as we cleaned it up the soundguy/club never cared. In fact, we usually asked permission before going on and no one ever denied us.

Old, usually broken but easily fixed, guitars and basses are always on craigslist for next to nothing, as is First Act/Esteban stuff that's dirt cheap. You can also go to mom-and-pop music stores and get something that's broken from their back room for super cheap and fix it so that it will last you one song.

So why is it that no one smashes equipment anymore? Not even bigger bands do. I think Nirvana were the last mainstream band to regularly smash stuff, and I NEVER see local bands do it, ever.

Anyone else do it? I've got an old Memphis in the basement with a cracked neck that's just itching for it...

 

[SirMjac28]

Lol everybody's broke and afraid of getting sued somebody gets barely touched by a piece of anything these days and they want millions

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Yeah, and I think the days of such stage antics from the likes of Pete Townsend, trashing hotel rooms like Led Zep, etc., are over. We are a kinder and gentler group of artists.

 

[bassteban]

IMO, smashing instruments=the very definiton of overdone/posingness, although I'm sure many would disagree & love to go all *wild & crazy rebel youth* like that.

 

[Beersurgeon]

I'm unable to smash my stuff cuz I don't have the money for a new bass

 

[keiththebassist]

I don't do it because No matter how crappy the gear may be, I'd still rather give it to some kid in the audience or on the street and give someone the ability to play music.

 

[Beersurgeon]

I don't do it because No matter how crappy the gear may be, I'd still rather give it to some kid in the audience or on the street and give someone the ability to play music.

+1 good point sir!

 

[Waffles and Scotch]

Why would I want to play some crappy "barely usable" bass on our last song of the evening?

 

[JamiePalm3r]

I don't do it because No matter how crappy the gear may be, I'd still rather give it to some kid in the audience or on the street and give someone the ability to play music.

Wow. That was a really refreshing perspective.

I'd also agree that the cost/upkeep of equipment and destructive theatrics aren't nearly what they used to be.

 

[dave64o]

Maybe I'm just an old fart, but smashing equipment just doesn't seem as rock 'n roll as it used to seem. If you're in a Who tribute band, OK, go for it. Otherwise, it's not 1968 any more.


Now get off my lawn!

 

[Jools4001]

We'd play them on the last song and then smash them. People loved it and always fought over the parts. It was also extremely satisfying. As long as we cleaned it up the soundguy/club never cared. In fact, we usually asked permission before going on and no one ever denied us.

"Mom, can we smash our guitars up on stage"

"Of course you can Timmy, as long as you promise to clean up after you now"

Rock 'n' Roll rebellion

 

[J_Funk_77]

I see valid points in everyone's perspective here. Recently my guitarist/frontman suggested the idea and I told him to go for it but I didnt have anything to smash. And Im to poor to buy a $50 bass off craigslist and smash it, but I would happy to dive into the drum kit. Well, at least once at 35 and a bad back that might be the one and only dive I take.

I recently read that Nikki Sixx kept some Squier bass's around to smash. For someone like him especially back in the day that wasnt nothing to him probably and I dont think they did it on a night in night out basis, but honestly I just cant recall. Ive also read and heard interviews with Nirvana saying they did it to get off stage. Dont have to play encores if you smash up the stage. But, I think the coolest was when Eddie Vedder would smash a hole in the stage and then the band would exit stage hole.

I also think the reason you dont see it today more so than not. Is the vibe isnt right. Now I dont keep up with whats radio friendly any more. I do listen to bands like The Black Keys and The Strokes but I dont know just how popular they are. The bands that are the mainstream, to me, dont seem to have the proper image to smash gear or they are really to old to start smashing stuff now.

 

[cnltb]

Our drummer from our old band had a music store. We used to piece together old bass and guitar parts and make "barely useable" instruments. We'd play them on the last song and then smash them. People loved it and always fought over the parts. It was also extremely satisfying. As long as we cleaned it up the soundguy/club never cared. In fact, we usually asked permission before going on and no one ever denied us.

Old, usually broken but easily fixed, guitars and basses are always on craigslist for next to nothing, as is First Act/Esteban stuff that's dirt cheap. You can also go to mom-and-pop music stores and get something that's broken from their back room for super cheap and fix it so that it will last you one song.

So why is it that no one smashes equipment anymore? Not even bigger bands do. I think Nirvana were the last mainstream band to regularly smash stuff, and I NEVER see local bands do it, ever.

Anyone else do it? I've got an old Memphis in the basement with a cracked neck that's just itching for it...

A lost "art"?

 

[MoldyLocks]

Didn't Nirvana do that so they could end their set (usually early)? If they smashed their instruments, they couldn't keep playing, show's over.

 

[Lethgar]

Check out the The Chariot live on youtube. That whole scene is quite fond of it, and I was in a rather Chariot-inspired band and have thrown quite a few basses around. Not so much anymore, but there are bands out there doing it. DoctorDoctor out of South Bend used to end their set with knocking over an 810, throwing various parts of the drum kit at each other on stage, throwing guitars in the air, etc.

 

[ggunn]

It's been done. The shock value is gone. Anyone who does it now is just copycatting.

Cue John Hiatt.

 

[Dave W]

I don't do it because No matter how crappy the gear may be, I'd still rather give it to some kid in the audience or on the street and give someone the ability to play music.

This was always my stance on smashing anything. It's dumb.

 

[fishdreams]

I've never smashed anything in my life. That said, I can totally see it as a satisfying shared experience with the audience, as the OP suggests. I''ll go out on a limb and suggest that these days people seem to be more self-righteous and self-conscious than they used to be. Maybe we're nearing the point where smashing an instrument will be truly rebellious again.

 

[Sixpack324]

....
So why is it that no one smashes equipment anymore? ...

Because it's stupid.

 

[Jaco D]

Art? You're kidding, right?