4 Musicians That Are Know To Destroy Their Instruments

There’s something undeniably magnetic about watching a musician go wild on stage—especially when that moment ends with the destruction of their own instrument. It’s shocking, chaotic, and strangely poetic. The guitar, long seen as a sacred object in rock and roll, becomes both a weapon and a sacrifice in these fiery displays of emotion.

While many artists treat their gear with reverence, some have taken the opposite route, smashing guitars into splinters under stage lights. The act isn’t always about anger—it can be rebellion, release, or even an artistic statement. After all, what better way to leave a lasting impression than by destroying the very thing that helped you create?

This kind of spectacle sticks with audiences. It reminds us that music isn’t just about precision or perfection—it’s about raw feeling. In this article, we look at four musicians who made instrument destruction part of their mythos, each one turning the stage into a place of both creation and collapse.

The Who

When you think of guitar smashing, Pete Townshend of The Who is often the first name that comes to mind. He famously shattered a Rickenbacker guitar during a live show at the Railway Tavern in 1964, creating one of rock music’s most unforgettable moments. This wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment impulse—Townshend made it part of his stagecraft and turned destruction into performance art.

Townshend’s rampage didn’t stop with a single show. In fact, it became a regular feature of The Who’s concerts. By 1967, he had reportedly destroyed more than 35 guitars, using them as both musical tools and dramatic props. His act of smashing instruments became symbolic of the band’s raw energy and rebellion.

And it wasn’t just Townshend wreaking havoc. Drummer Keith Moon had his own destructive tendencies, often demolishing his drum kit in spectacular fashion. While Moon’s antics were chaotic in their own right, Townshend’s deliberate and theatrical smashing helped define The Who’s reputation as one of rock’s most explosive live acts.

Phoebe Bridgers

Fast forward several decades, and Phoebe Bridgers brought instrument destruction to a new era—and a new audience. In 2021, she closed her performance of “I Know The End” on Saturday Night Live by smashing her black electric guitar into the stage. The moment caught many viewers by surprise, and some critics, including David Crosby, even took issue with it.

Bridgers, however, stood by her decision. For her, the act wasn’t about mimicry or shock value—it was a personal release, a moment of catharsis on a major platform. In a genre often dominated by male performers, her guitar smash challenged norms and added a rebellious exclamation point to her performance.

Though the backlash was strange, it ultimately sparked conversations about performance, gender, and tradition in rock music. Bridgers didn’t just break her guitar—she broke through expectations, cementing her place among modern artists who use destruction as a form of expression.

Nirvana

Kurt Cobain never seemed particularly interested in preserving the tools of his trade. With Nirvana, smashing instruments became an extension of Cobain’s angst, frustration, and general disdain for mainstream expectations. Guitars, amps, and even entire drum sets fell victim to the band’s unhinged performances.

Cobain’s destruction was less theatrical and more visceral. It was an outburst, a reaction to the pressure of fame and the commercialization of his art. Watching Nirvana live often felt like witnessing a slow-motion collapse—one that ended with splinters, sparks, and feedback. For Cobain, wrecking his gear was a way to destroy what he couldn’t control.

Bandmates Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl often joined in, demolishing equipment alongside him. Nirvana’s chaos became iconic, and even decades later, those on-stage breakdowns remain a defining image of the grunge era.

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix took guitar destruction to a more spiritual level. At the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, he famously knelt before his guitar, poured lighter fluid on it, and set it ablaze. The act wasn’t just loud and rebellious—it was ritualistic, as if Hendrix was offering the instrument to the gods of sound and fire.

Unlike others who smashed guitars purely out of rage or showmanship, Hendrix’s approach was layered with meaning. He saw his guitar as an extension of himself, and its destruction wasn’t careless—it was intentional and symbolic. “I’d just finished painting it that day,” he later remarked, adding a note of irony to the sacrifice.

Though Hendrix only burned guitars at a handful of shows, the impact of those moments lingers. His blend of performance art, musical genius, and theatrical destruction helped solidify his legend. It wasn’t just a stunt—it was a statement.