Footage of Damien Hirst smashing up a busker’s records using a log and poker at his Claridge’s suite will be turned into an NFT

• Damien Hirst destroyed thousands of his paintings in the name of art recently
• Now, footage of him destroying a busker’s record will be auctioned as an NFT
• The footage was taken 12 years ago as a collaboration with singer, Daniel Spiller
• Mr Spiller said he was inspired to turn the footage into an NFT by Hirst 

He recently set millions of pounds worth of his own paintings on fire, but Damien Hurst got his first taste of destroying art 12 years ago.

At the time, he was enlisted by busker and musician Daniel Spiller, 43, to help destroy his records right before his very eyes in the name of art.

The pair spent hours smashing up the records using a log and poker in his suite at Claridge’s – one of the most expensive hotels in the world. 

Now, footage of the historic day is set to become available for the first time – in the form of a non-fungible token (NFT).

Weeks after Hirst set fire to his own paintings, video of him destroying a CD by Mr Spiller’s former band The Broken Record Project will be auctioned as a digital artwork.

The pair spent hours smashing up the records using a log and poker in his suite at Claridge’s – one of the most expensive hotels in the world. Pictured: Footage of the stunt

Weeks after Hirst set fire to his own paintings, video of him destroying a CD by Mr Spiller’s former band The Broken Record Project will be auctioned as a digital artwork

At the time, he was enlisted by busker and musician Daniel Spiller, 43, to help destroy his records right before his very eyes in the name of art

An NFT is authenticated by blockchain, which certifies its originality and ownership. They can be purchased with cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ether – the currency of the Ethereum network.

Mr Spiller approached Hirst, along with several other celebrities including Boris Johnson and comedian Hugh Dennis, to pitch the controversial stunt.

The British artist, 57, was so taken by the idea that he invited the singer, who now busks on Southbank, London, to one of the most expensive hotel suites in the world for a day.

The pair spent ‘wild’ hours together destroying the music, and Mr Spiller said Hirst was so enthusiastic about the stunt he even hung the shattered disc from his nose as part of a ‘funny’ gag.

‘Damien was brilliant. His generosity with time and in spirit was incredible,’ Mr Spiller said.

Mr Spiller approached Hirst, along with several other celebrities including Boris Johnson (pictured also participating in the stunt)

Hirst’s recent The Currency collection, saw 4,851 out of 10,000 of his A4 paintings set alight and turned into NFTs

‘Hours were spent as he talked, asked questions, provided beers, he was just incredibly welcoming. He loved the concept and seemed to enjoy the mischief and understand the artistic meaning.’

Throughout the process of destroying the CDs, Mr Spiller said he ‘serenaded’ Hirst by singing and playing the guitar.

‘The destruction of my art, as I created it in front of him… it seemed to touch him on an artistic level,’ he said.

‘I remember thinking to myself, ”I’m a busker from the street but I’m sitting with the world’s most expensive artist, in his suite at the most expensive hotel, singing sweetly into his ear as he smashes my music… how utterly surreal”.’

Video footage of the day were nearly lost until Mr Spiller found them in trash he was taking to the tip, only realising when the bag split and its contents spilled out.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=oIOdAgq9SB8%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US

Inside were fragments of the record and the log Hirst had used to smash the CD which he had also signed.

Mr Spiller says Hirst’s recent The Currency collection, which saw 4,851 out of 10,000 of his A4 paintings set alight and turned into NFTs, reminded him ‘of the destruction of my art’.

‘I thought of the grand Claridge’s fireplace, the wood and poker used for the smashing,’ he said.

‘Destruction is a powerful visual and typical of Damian’s brilliance.

‘Since we shared that day twelve years ago, I’ve continued to busk in London and he’s continued his reign at the top as the world’s most creative and expensive artist – that tells you plenty about his magic.’

The digital artwork will be auctioned on the musician’s website danielspiller.com in the coming weeks, with those keen to get their hands on the unseen footage, and the signed log, able to register their interest now. 

Mr Spiller has already had some ‘fun propositions’ of alternative payment methods – including swapping his NFT for one from Hirst’s recent polka-dot art collection.

‘Destroying my art had meaning and value to me, as well as causing a stir,’ he said, adding that one day he might display the other broken record videos in a gallery.

‘There is something powerful about the dark and almost-grainy footage of my art being destroyed.’

Other celebrities also took part in the stunt throughout the same year. It proved a hit with Dennis, presenter Fearne Cotton and Boris Johnson, who would go on years later to become prime minister.

Mr Spiller revealed he had only managed to get the former prime minister onboard after sneaking into a party Mr Johnson was at with a friend.

Mr Spiller approached several artists to participate in his stunt back in 2010

‘I sidled up beside him and asked him if he would destroy some music, he thought it was a trap,’ he said.

Mr Johnson said he didn’t want to be filmed appearing to destroy something, worried it could later be taken out of context.  

But soon, Mr Spiller said, he gained Mr Johnson’s trust and the latter ‘got into the spirit of it’.

‘He was super fun… He grabbed the music from my hand, clenched his fist, and finally proclaimed to everyone that the record was broken,’ Mr Spiller recalled.

‘When the camera was turned off he whispered he’d enjoyed the whole thing and said it was a great idea.

‘He was superb.’

Mr Spiller now hopes the sale of the Hirst NFT will help turn his ‘recent bad luck’ around – after his busking business took a hit during the pandemic.

‘It’s been hard recently, buskers seem to pay a high price – the pandemic meant we lost our performance places on the Tube, footfall is still down, and a cashless society now makes it harder,’ he said.

‘Tough recent times? Yes, but that doesn’t hide the fact that I love what I do – sharing music with people is the greatest joy – I see how it brightens their day.’

Mr Spiller approached several artists to participate in his stunt back in 2010

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