Why did Pete Townshend smash his guitar on stage?

Pete Townshend, the guitarist of the English rock band The Who, is often credited with popularizing the act of smashing guitars on stage. However, this is not the reason why he initially started doing it. Townshend began smashing his guitars on stage as a way to express frustration and anger. The Who's music was often characterized by its high energy and intensity, and Townshend would often feel overwhelmed and frustrated by the energy of the performance. At times, he would take his frustrations out on his guitars by destroying them. It was not until later that Townshend realized the theatrical value of his guitar-smashing routine and began using it as an intentional performance element.