The act of a guitar colliding with concrete has become a lost art, or at least a rarity on the modern stage. Gone are the days of Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Pete Townshend, and Jimmy Page, as the time of the Rockstar as we once knew it is dwindling.
This is why it was a pleasant surprise to discover this video of Swedish shredder Yngwie Malmsteen in a partnership with Sandvik. In it, he tries to smash a guitar that they have designed and deemed to be smash-proof. Read on if you want to know more about this collaboration and a brief history of the art of smashing your guitar!
Match Made in Heaven
Yngwie Malmsteen has had quite a career. Mostly known as a shredder, he’s put out album after album of genre-defying work that makes him one of the premier guitar virtuosos in the music industry. His latest album, Blue Lightning, is a testament to this, as it is the Swede’s first blues album in his four-decade-long career. The album contains both covers and originals and is a worthy addition to the musician’s much-heralded discography.
Indeed, Malmsteen has become one of the most prominent figures in modern rock — which is why his endorsements and collaborations are one of the most sought-after in the industry. The Sandvik partnership was born out of the company’s innovations with 3D printing technology. Geek reveals that Sandvik wanted to prove that their 3D-printed guitar could withstand the guitar smashing skills of a rockstar, which led to the partnership with Malmsteen.
This isn’t the first time that Malmsteen has been tapped by the industry, as his influence is felt even in equipment in the world of rock. More than a boss collaboration between a legendary brand and guitar player, the Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Overdrive pedal gives music fans an idea of just how far the man has come as an influential guitarist, as well as how many amateurs and veterans out there are looking to shred with his iconic tone. This device alone certainly isn’t enough to copy Yngwie’s style, but it’s a pedal step in the right direction.
There’s no doubt that Malmsteen’s far-reaching impact in the industry will continue in several other forms in the future, whether through more pedal collaborations or more smashed guitars. That said, he could probably use some practice in the art of guitar wrecking. For that, let’s take a look back at the greats that have done it before.
History of the Smash
One of the first instances of this act of spectacular destruction was by Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple back in the 1970s. Kurt Cobain and Pete Townshend have also rightfully cemented their place in guitar-smashing history, after wrecking their gear too many times to count.
Today, a long line of musicians have replicated these acts, either out of real anger or as a form of showmanship. A 2012 example of the former is Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong smashing his guitar at the iHeartRadio Music Festival, outraged by an unplanned cut to their set.
Indeed, the act of smashing one’s guitar is one of the most excessive stunts in the world, but it represents a time that is long gone – an era that fans continue to long for.
If you liked this story and want a little more rock in your life, check out our article on some very cool senior citizens in Germany that snuck out of their retirement home to go to a metal festival!
Feature article for sobrosnetwork.com
Written by Carly Andrews
