ABSTRACT
The conceptualisation of popular music as heritage can only be understood in relation to destruction. This destruction can manifest in various ways, with this chapter focusing on the intentional destruction of artefacts for a political or artistic purpose, and destruction of famous music venues as a consequence of gentrification. The chapter emphasises the centrality of ‘loss’ to heritage discourses and preservationist impulses, and explores some of the common public responses to it, often involving grief, anger and contested claims over ownership and heritage value. However, it must be remembered that destruction is necessary in order for any artefacts to have meaning, and can result in creativity and new forms of heritage.
