What ever happened to Townsend's Woodstock guitar?

[wrxplayer]

I believe at the end of The Who's set, Townsend jettisoned his SG into the crowd. Anybody know what happened to that particular guitar?

[mike shaw]

I read that it was basically a stunt. The guitar was thrown into the hands of a roadie.

[musicofanatic5]

I read that it was basically a stunt. The guitar was thrown into the hands of a roadie.

Another version is that he chucked it randomly , but roadies went after it and retrieved it.

Did you want to hear someone say" "It's under my bed"?

[EXPcustom]

I'd like to know what happened to Layne Staley's SG that was jettisoned into the crowd in Rotterdam back in 93.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

I read that it was basically a stunt. The guitar was thrown into the hands of a roadie.


I seriously doubt that. It was like an afterthought, he went back, grabbed it and just tossed it. I'm sure Pete really didn't give a crap about playing a game of catch.

[newswede]

Yes, it was thrown to the crown but a roadie quickly retrieved it from the passive hippie ;) You'd have to rip it from my cold, muddy, dead hands.

Kinda sucks for that audience member, because I'm sure Townshend really did mean to throw it to the crowd. More than likely the roadie knew there was only one guitar left and knew they would need it. Back then The Who didn't tour with many spares.

[JDW3]

I knew a guy who worked on guitars in Flint. A middle aged woman came in with an SG Special wanting it repaired. It was to be a surprise for her husband, who had been trying to learn to play on it for years. The headstock was broken off and was hanging by the veneer on the front. So the guy sorta glued it.

He asked what happened. She said he caught it at the Who's concert at the IMA in '69.

It looked very possible. What was left of the guitar was very clean; not 35 years of play on it. Serial number checked out. I had pics but they were stolen with my computer a couple years ago.

[phoghat]

There were a couple of them. This one is currently in the Hard Rock memorabilia warehouse:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w294/phoghat/petetownshendguitar092281_png.jpg
We used it as part of our Woodstock homage backstage at the Grammy awards this year. It's in pretty bad shape and has an inexpert repair job at the neck heel. The frets are rusted beyond recognition. I've handled a number of old Townshend guitars and many of them were very hastily repaired. Follow this link if you want to see this guitar in much, much more detail:
http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/?item=092281

[TommyMambo]

I once caught a '65 Strat that Ian Hunter chucked out into the crowd...made a beeline for the door when a bouncer that was three times as big as me grabbed the guitar in one hand and me in the other, and pulled us apart like two halves of a sandwich!

Much later, when I interviewed Ian, I told him the story and he said "I don't blame you...if somebody gives you something, you SHOULD have it!"

[Marc_O]

I'd like to know what happened to Layne Staley's SG that was jettisoned into the crowd in Rotterdam back in 93.


It is under my bed

[hammersig]

I'd like to know what happened to Layne Staley's SG that was jettisoned into the crowd in Rotterdam back in 93.
Word!

[dr.slide]

it's fun when artists give their fans a momento from a show, i actually caught out of mid-air a 100% authenticed vintage 1979 rick nielsen guitar pick with his picture on it (he only throws out a couple thousand of 'em at every show, dontchaknow) .... i am still patiently waiting for him to toss me one of his '58 les pauls (that would be a pre-hartley model for those of you who are keeping track).......just havin a little fun this morning, hope this post brings a smile to someones face!!........the doc

[Lotis]

Friend of mine was at the Fillmore watching Jimi and a turqoise button popped off his vest, flew up in the air and my pal caught it. Had it inlaid into a ring which he has worn ever since....cool!

[FirstBassman]

Another version is that he chucked it randomly , but roadies went after it and retrieved it.



Just for historical background.
The builders at Woodstock erected a seven-foot high wooden fence about eight feet in front of the stage.
You can see it in photos below.

The fence served two purposes:
1. It would help reduce the chance and impact of people rushing the stage because if one got too close to the fence they would be unable to see.
2. It created a work-space for the camera operators and other technicians and stagehands.

In the film, it appears that Pete's toss would barely make it over the fence.
I'd guess that the guitar may have landed in that gap area ... where a roadie would easily be able to fetch it.


http://www.alvinlee.de/page8hs1/Woodstock-Stage.jpg



http://cache.thephoenix.com/secure/uploadedImages/The_Phoenix/News/Flashbacks/Flashback_woodstock_stage.jpg


- Mark, Woodstock '69 alum

[EXPcustom]

It is under my bed

Just the neck or both halves?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPll0LtWa1Q at 1:05

[musicofanatic5]

I'd like to know what happened to Layne Staley's SG that was jettisoned into the crowd in Rotterdam back in 93.


Uhh, yeah, umm...whatza Layne Staley? Nevermind...

[Sub City]

I was thinking that the other day when I rented the Woodstock DVD at the local library. He didn't fling it out there, but tossed it a couple of feet. Seems reasonable it never made it beyond the fence.

[Marc_O]

Just the neck or both halves?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPll0LtWa1Q at 1:05

Two necks, a Fender and a Gibson neck...but if I tell you more, I'd probably have to kill you...:banana

[bgl]

http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/sg.htm

According to this, a roadie DID snatch it.

GREAT website for fans of Pete's playing and all his guitars over the years. I also love those Schecter teles. Too cool. Go to the guitar tabs page to get to the gear stuff. Totally exhaustive as far as guitars and amps. Loads of photos as well.