Phoebe Bridgers created an internet storm on February 6 when she smashed her guitar at the end of a performance as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live.
At the end of the performance of her song ‘I Know The End’, Bridgers attempted (unsuccessfully) to smash her Danelectro guitar on a stage monitor at the front of the SNL stage.
Bridgers then found herself engaged in a Twitter storm, sparked by a tweet from classic rocker David Crosby, who branded the stunt as “pathetic.” Bridgers responded to the Tweet lightheartedly calling Crosby a “little bitch.”
In a number of tweets, Bridgers stated that the stunt had been premeditated. She revealed that she had received the guitar makers’ blessing to smash the guitar, and that SNL had provided her with a dummy monitor to break.
However, Tweets about the performance ranged from accusing Bridgers of resorting to cheap tricks instead of talent, or simply being too ‘extra’ for an SNL performance, to supporters claiming that judgements would have been less harsh in response to the same act by a male performer.
Many made the point that musicians smashing their guitars during concerts has been a consistent trope in rock history, done by guitarists from Jimi Hendrix to Kurt Cobain. Bridgers’ performance may have even been an homage to Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes, a musician with whom Bridgers has a close working relationship, who smashed his guitar onstage during a 2005 Late Late Show performance.
“People were saying it’s derived or corny. And I’m like ‘Well yeah, it’s derived and corny after the first time somebody did it.”
Phoebe Bridgers, CNN
Bridgers received some supportive tweets from others in the music industry, including the noughties rock band Wheatus, who tweeted that they were “so glad we’re finally back to parents not liking new music again.” The Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ bassist Flea tweeted on Sunday, “You rule Phoebe, Los Angeles is proud!!!”
Bridgers’ 2020 album Punisher reentered the top 20 albums on US iTunes following the performance.
Words by Ellen McVeigh
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Why is she famous? She’s massively overrated. I love how critical she is of people like Eric Clapton. Mediocre? He is way more talented than her. She wishes she was mediocre. She is subpar at best.