![The man who inspired Pete Townshend to smash his guitars – Gustav Metzger, pioneer of auto-destructive art, has died aged 90 The man who inspired Pete Townshend to smash his guitars – Gustav Metzger, pioneer of auto-destructive art, has died aged 90](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/art/2017/03/02/thehow_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqgGkfkDQxy4meE2pwF2fWRM6-_yyKj17MZ64dtxvfMtI.jpg?imwidth=480)
The man who inspired Pete Townshend to smash his guitars – Gustav Metzger, pioneer of auto-destructive art, has died aged 90
![The Who's Pete Townshend smashed his guitars up carefully so they could be repaired | Daily Mail Online The Who's Pete Townshend smashed his guitars up carefully so they could be repaired | Daily Mail Online](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/10/14/08/34373654-8838159-image-a-12_1602662336177.jpg)
The Who's Pete Townshend smashed his guitars up carefully so they could be repaired | Daily Mail Online
![Kathy Shaidle on Twitter: "My @takimag column about Pete Townshend, Gustav Metzger and the history of #guitar smashing: https://t.co/HZnpbpFKTO #rock #music #art https://t.co/9Ush77I3lX" / Twitter Kathy Shaidle on Twitter: "My @takimag column about Pete Townshend, Gustav Metzger and the history of #guitar smashing: https://t.co/HZnpbpFKTO #rock #music #art https://t.co/9Ush77I3lX" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6qZWbPW0AEexby.jpg)
Kathy Shaidle on Twitter: "My @takimag column about Pete Townshend, Gustav Metzger and the history of #guitar smashing: https://t.co/HZnpbpFKTO #rock #music #art https://t.co/9Ush77I3lX" / Twitter
![Double-necked standards: When men smash guitars, it's rock'n'roll. When Phoebe Bridgers does it, it's a debate | The Independent Double-necked standards: When men smash guitars, it's rock'n'roll. When Phoebe Bridgers does it, it's a debate | The Independent](https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/02/11/09/newFile-14.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
Double-necked standards: When men smash guitars, it's rock'n'roll. When Phoebe Bridgers does it, it's a debate | The Independent
![The Who's Pete Townshend smashed his guitars up carefully so they could be repaired | Daily Mail Online The Who's Pete Townshend smashed his guitars up carefully so they could be repaired | Daily Mail Online](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/10/14/08/34373654-0-image-a-3_1602662251087.jpg)