JOHN ADAMS. [176] Animal, one of Jim Henson's Muppet characters, may have been based on Keith Moon due to their similar hair, eyebrows, personality and drumming style. The UK's Heritage Foundation disagreed with the decision, presenting a plaque which was unveiled on 9 March 2009. In the days leading up to his death, Moon cut back on the booze. Keith Moon played his final tour date with the Who on Oct. 21, 1976, at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. by Dressed in ginger clothes and with his hair dyed ginger (future bandmate Pete Townshend later described him as a "ginger vision"),[24]:52:40 he claimed to his would-be bandmates that he could play better; he played in the set's second half, nearly demolishing the drum kit in the process. If they have a round table, some glasses and candles, we might contact him. Keith Moons passionate, self-destructive legacy not only endures in rock music but haunts the classic rock band which still performs to this day. At the end of the 1976 US tour in Miami that August, Moon became delirious was treated in Hollywood Memorial Hospital for eight days. In a 1981 Los Angeles Times interview he admitted, "A lot of times when Keith was blowing up toilets I was standing behind him with the matches. As the genius drummer for The Who, wild-man Moon is a non-. Watch the full interview. [64], On the Who's early US package tour at the RKO 58th Street Theatre in New York in March and April 1967, Moon performed two or three shows a day, kicking over his drum kit after every show. "And of course from that moment on," the guitarist remembered, "we got thrown out of every hotel we ever stayed in. Of the Whos most famous works, My Generation, Live at Leeds, Whos Next, Tommy, Quadrophenia, and Who Are You, all were reordered prior to 1978 and include Moon. The legendary The Who drummer Keith Moon was found dead in London back in 1978 at the age of 32 after after an overdose of clometiazole, a substance prescribed for him to relieve alcohol withdrawal symptoms. No one. [3][4] Moon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 as a member of the Who. [23], A commonly cited story of how Moon joined the Who in 1964 is that he appeared at a show shortly after Sandom's departure, where a session drummer was used. (Moon was close with all the Beatles, especially John Lennon and Ringo Starr.) The proposal never happened. [27], Moon was particularly fond of touring, since it was his only chance to regularly socialise with his bandmates, and was generally restless and bored when not playing live. I've got no real aspirations to be a great drummer. God bless you, Harry, wherever you are but, Jesus, you know, I had . [15] He also enjoyed singing, with a particular interest in Motown. This drum solo would be the rock legends last. . Keith Moon was only 31 at the time, but his endless partying had taken a severe toll on his body. In the video for Wont Get Fooled Again (linked above), the triple split-screen details energetic displays by guitarist Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey at the mic, and bassist John Entwistle. We'd go home and he'd start a fight with me. Townshend went on to describe Moon's wildman antics, explaining that, "Keith was an eccentric player, and seemed to be showing off all the time, pointing his sticks up in the air and leaning over the drums with his face thrust forward as if to be nearer the front of stage. That's the same as around $40 million today after adjusting for inflation. [107] During the band's recording sabbatical between 1976 and 1978, Moon gained a considerable amount of weight. [108] Moon passed out again during "Magic Bus", and was again removed from the stage. He played on all the band's albums and singles from their . Gustav Mahler. His music teacher wrote that Moon "has great ability, but must guard against a tendency to show off. Moon had been taking Heminevrin for some time. Sat 24th Apr 2021 15.30 BST. [2], Moon's first serious relationship was with Kim Kerrigan, whom he started dating in January 1965 after she saw the Who play at Le Disque a Go! Although it only took 13 days to film, fellow cast member Howard Kaylan remembers Moon spending off-camera time at the Kensington Garden Hotel bar instead of sleeping. 2 on the 2011 Rolling Stone "Best Drummers of All Time" readers' poll. Close. "[92], In a limousine on the way to the airport, Moon insisted they return to their hotel, saying "I forgot something." He hugged me for about two or three minutes, said Carr, who noticed Keith was crying when he pulled away. [119][120], Before the 1998 release of Tony Fletcher's Dear Boy: The Life of Keith Moon, Moon's date of birth was presumed to be 23 August 1947. Keith Moon's (original drummer for The Who) last words were "if you don't like it, you can fuck off!" So rock and roll. This one is . In Annettes account, Moon woke up at 7:30am and told her he wanted food. Although it featured Moon on vocals, he played drums on only three tracks; most of the drumming was left to others (including Ringo Starr, session musicians Curly Smith and Jim Keltner, and actor-musician Miguel Ferrer). Carlos Santana is a musician who needs little introduction. Tara was a house on St Anns Hill, Chertsey, Surrey owned by The Who 's drummer Keith Moon in the 1970s, but was demolished and replaced by a new home in 1990. This later carried over to other aspects of his life, as he acted them out (according to journalist and Who biographer Dave Marsh) "as if his life were one long tour. He didn't do anything to talk of. She still remembered the last time they met. "[27] Moon also clashed with Daltrey and Townshend: "We really have absolutely nothing in common apart from music", he said in a later interview. The group was concerned that he would be unable to complete the last leg of the tour, which ended at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on 21 October (Moon's last public show). It was exactly 40 years ago today that Who drummer . [25] In the words of the drummer, "they said go ahead, and I got behind this other guy's drums and did one song-'Road Runner.' According to Lewis, Moon was drunk by the time the band went onstage at Atwood Stadium. Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas had died there four years earlier, at the age of 32;[147][148] Nilsson was concerned about letting the flat to Moon, believing it was cursed. In 1972 the performance was released as a companion disc to Lennon and Ono's album Some Time in New York City. "Thomas Jefferson survives." What Adams didn't know was that Jefferson had actually passed away several hours earlier. They gave him a shower and an injection of cortisone, sending him back onstage after a thirty-minute delay. Subsitute03. Moon enjoyed touring and socialising, and became bored and restless when the Who were inactive. Because I want to break your fucking jaw You have fucked this band around so many times and I'm not having it any more. He's dead, so what? [58] At one point, Moon asked Premier to make a white kit with gold-plated fittings. 25 JUDAS PRIEST / PRISONER OF YOUR EYES Judas Priest can write a goddamn ballad - "Last Rose of Summer" from Sin After Sin is the definition of a bittersweet kiss, and Turbo 's "Out in the Cold," so icy and forlorn, is secretly one of their best songs. 1. He was, they insist, trying to get better. [161][162], Jones left the Who in 1988,[163] and drummer Simon Phillips (who praised Moon's ability to drum over the backing track of "Baba O'Riley") toured with the band the following year. According to Pamela Des Barres, Moon had nightmares (which woke them both) about the incident and said he had no right to be alive. Pub patrons had begun to attack his Bentley; Moon, drunk, began driving to escape them and hit Boland. Moon's lifestyle began to undermine his health and reliability. Sadly it wasnt. Rock Musician. [77], In the 2007 documentary film Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who, Daltrey and Townshend reminisced about Moon's talent for dressing as (and embodying) a variety of characters. "[99], Moon moved from cherry bombs to M-80 fireworks to sticks of dynamite, which became his explosive of choice. In addition to his talent as a drummer, Moon developed a reputation for smashing his kit on stage and destroying hotel rooms on tour. In 2016, the same magazine ranked him No. 2 in their list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time, behind John Bonham. Keith Moon's (original drummer for The Who) last words were "if you don't like it, you can fuck off!" So rock and roll. After seeing Moon in the studio trying to overdub drums for The Kids Are Alright, he said, "After two or three hours, he got more and more sluggish, he could barely hold a drum stick. 1968~. Drummer Keith Moon (1947 - 1978), of British rock group The Who, in a radio studio at Broadcasting House, London, 12th July 1973. Keith Moon climbed over his drum kit on May 25, 1978, took a bow, shook hands with fans and then walked off stage - unaware it would be the last time he'd do any of it.. . He was named as hyperactive as a boy, with a restless imagination and a particular fondness for The Goon Show and music. Guitarist Pete Townshend was the first Who member to be told the news by the groups co-manager Jackie Curbishley. (Moons 21st birthday party at a Flint, Michigan Holiday Inn has gone down in history as a particularly egregious display of rock n roll machismo that included a car submerged in the swimming pool, food fights, a police standoff, and a $23,000 bill.) . A drummer in the audience, Scot Halpin, came up and played the rest of the show. [16] Moon idolised the Beach Boys;[17] Roger Daltrey later said that given the opportunity, Moon would have left to play for the California band even at the peak of the Who's fame. [78] Reed later said that Moon "showed me the way to insanity. Keith John Moon (23 August 1946 - 7 September 1978) was an English drummer for the rock band the Who.He was noted for his unique style of playing and his eccentric, often self-destructive behaviour. [113] By the time of the Who's invitation-only show at the Gaumont State Cinema on 15 December 1977 for The Kids are Alright, Moon was visibly overweight and had difficulty sustaining a solid performance. Keith with Annette on the night he died. He also disputed a widely held belief that Moon drove a Lincoln Continental into the hotel's swimming pool, as claimed by the drummer in a 1972 Rolling Stone interview. Moon moved back to London in 1978, dying that September from an overdose of Heminevrin, a drug intended to treat or prevent symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. "[144] Although he was a loyal companion to Moon, the lifestyle eventually became too much for him; he phoned Curbishley, saying that they needed to move back to England or one of them might die. [92] Butler quit in 1978, and later wrote of his experiences in a book entitled Full Moon: The Amazing Rock and Roll Life of Keith Moon. When I was about eleven or twelve, my favourite part of drum lessons was the last ten minutes, when I'd get to sit at the drumset and play along to my favourite record. [71], Moon's friendship with Entwistle led to an appearance on Smash Your Head Against the Wall, Entwistle's first solo album and the first by a member of the Who. Mark Blake is the author of Pretend Youre In A War: The Who and the Sixties (opens in new tab). According to Fletcher, Moon's toilet pyrotechnics began in 1965 when he purchased a case of 500 cherry bombs. $37.74 8 Used from $13.97 9 New from $22.34. 1 on its list of "50 Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Drummers",[171] and he was ranked No. I'd several drinks to get me courage up and when I got onstage I went arrgggGhhhh on the drums, broke the bass drum pedal and two skins, and got off. This erroneous date appeared in several otherwise-reliable sources, including the Townshend-authorised biography Before I Get Old: The Story of The Who. Moon initially told his girlfriend Annette Walter-Lax he didnt want to go to the party. Moon occasionally collaborated with other musicians and later appeared in films, but considered playing in the Who his primary occupation, and remained a member of the band until his death. He was posthumously inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1982, becoming the second rock drummer to be chosen, and in 2011, Moon was voted the second-greatest drummer in history by a Rolling Stone readers' poll. Keith John Moon (23 August 1946 - 7 September 1978) was an English drummer best known as being a member of the rock band The Who.He was famous for his frantic drumming style, his use of fills, his destructive, volatile behavior and his heavy drinking that help earn him the nickname "Moon the Loon." Keith Moon joined The Who in 1964. The drummer knocked out part of his front tooth; at the hospital, doctors could not give him an anaesthetic (due to his inebriation) before removing the remainder of the tooth. I said: 'Nothing.' The phrase "Dear Boy" became a catchphrase of Moon's when, influenced by Kit Lambert, he began affecting a pompous English accent. "[169] Holly George-Warren, editor and author of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The First 25 Years, said: "With the death of Keith Moon in 1978, rock arguably lost its single greatest drummer. [177][178] Jazz drummer Elvin Jones praised Moon's work during "Underture", as integral to the song's effect. But he was loud and strong. [104], Returning to the hotel, Moon started a food fight and soon cake began flying through the air. Unfortunately for Keith these ended up being his last words. "My Generation," released late in the previous year, shot to No. But his wild exterior distracted from a slate of intense addiction issues. At the hotel he ran back to his room, grabbed the television and threw it out of the window into the swimming pool below. Rocks greatest drummer was just 32 years old when he died. [67] A clip of the incident became the opening scene for the film The Kids Are Alright. One of the things we'd do was wait to see what Keith Moon was going to wear . NB Down: II. Track 9 Jam Session is an incomplete Eyesight To The Blind. All rights reserved. [13] Moon also admired Elvis Presley's original drummer DJ Fontana, the Shadows' original drummer Tony Meehan[14] and the Pretty Things' Viv Prince. "[62], In May 1966, Moon discovered that the Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston was visiting London. Earlier that night, Moon and his girlfriend, Annette Walter-Lax, attended the Buddy Holly Story premiere with Linda and Paul McCartney. Posted by 6 years ago. What nobody knew was the damaging effects of the prescription drugs he was taking and in such quantities. The following year he released his only solo album, entitled Two Sides of the Moon. "He'd play zig-zag. [9] On his way home from school, Moon would often go to Macari's Music Studio on Ealing Road to practise on the drums there, learning his basic skills on the instrument. For a short while, Daltrey's puch seemed to knock some sense into Moon. Goodnight Keith Moon: A Parody!, Bruce Worden, Clare Cross. He would join them at clubs, forming a particularly close friendship with Ringo Starr. The film is supported by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. But it's the funniest one so far, and also (to my mind) the cleverest. "[143] Townshend agreed, saying that by 1975 Butler had "no influence over him whatsoever. "[110] Doctors told Curbishley that if he had not intervened, Moon would have bled to death. Not a man prone to public displays of emotion, Entwistle continued with the interview until asked when The Who plans for the future. Moon suffered a number of setbacks during the 1970s, most notably the accidental death of chauffeur Neil Boland and the breakdown of his marriage. Sisters Tammy Slaton Says She Was Speechless After Caleb Willinghams Proposal, CNNs Kasie Hunt Gives Birth to Second Baby in Bathroom After 13-Minute Sudden Labor, Pregnant Kaley Cuoco Shares Sweet Selfies with Tom Pelphrey, Waiting For Baby Girl. : Clem Burke Talks About Eurythmics To Modern Drummer", "The Who's Keith Moon to be honoured with 'blue plaque', "Keith Moon's Love/Hate Relationship With His Drum Set", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Keith_Moon&oldid=1139537465, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 16:59. Moon overdosed on prescribed Heminevrin, a strong sedative meant to ease alcohol withdrawal symptoms as he struggled to get sober. On the album cover, he is straddling a chair to hide his weight gain; the words "Not to be taken away" are on the back of the chair. After the party, Moon and Annette attended the midnight premiere of The Buddy Holly Story at the Odeon, Leicester Square. [98] Townshend remembers walking into the bathroom of Moon's hotel room and noticing the toilet had disappeared, with only the S-bend remaining. In the great green room. [69], The Beatles became friends with Moon, and this led to occasional collaborations. The second concert was much cleaner, filmed on multiple cameras in front of a small audience. He began to endorse Premier Drums in late 1965, and remained a loyal customer of the company. The chaos ended only when police arrived with guns drawn.[104]. Moon's drumming continues to be praised by critics and musicians. He was restless, said Annette. Composer Gustav Mahler died in bed, conducting an imaginary orchestra. [109], During the opening date of the band's March 1976 US tour at the Boston Garden, Moon passed out over his drum kit after two numbers and the show was rescheduled. [58] From 1967 to 1969 Moon used the "Pictures of Lily" drum kit (named for its artwork), which had two 22-inch (56cm) bass drums, two 16-inch (41cm) floor toms and three mounted toms. Six were digested, sufficient to cause his death; the other 26 were undigested when he died. Throughout Moon's tenure with the Who, his drum kit steadily grew in size, and (along with Ginger Baker) he has been credited as one of the earliest rock drummers to regularly employ double bass drums in his setup. "[173], Several rock drummers, including Neil Peart[174] have cited Moon as an influence. [137] Moon later became friends with Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band members Vivian Stanshall and "Legs" Larry Smith, and the trio would drink and play practical jokes together. He was discovered by manager Bill Curbishley, who took him to a hospital, telling him "I'm gonna get the doctor to get you nice and fit, so you're back within two days. [151], By September 1978 Moon was having difficulty playing the drums, according to roadie Dave "Cy" Langston. [105] However, Roger Daltrey, in an interview on BBC's Top Gear, stated that the group was banned from 'an entire state's worth of Holiday Inns', presumably then Michigan. "Drinking suited the group a lot better. Blues singer Bessie Smith died saying, "I'm going . His music blends a unique mix of rock, jazz and influences from his Mexican heritage. [135], In 1975 Moon began a relationship with Swedish model Annette Walter-Lax, who later said that Moon was "so sweet when he was sober, that I was just living with him in the hope that he would kick all this craziness. After moving to Los Angeles with personal assistant Peter "Dougal" Butler during the mid-1970s, Moon recorded his only solo album, the poorly received Two Sides of the Moon. After an investigation, the coroner ruled Boland's death an accident; Moon, having been charged with a number of offences, received an absolute discharge. 3. By the time Stardust came round it was hard drinking. In time, Kim got involved with Ian "Mac" McLagan of the Small Faces and she and Mandy moved in with him at his house in Sheen . Most would agree that the apartment was cursed, although Townshend assured his friend that lightning wouldnt strike the same place twice. How wrong he was. The enigmatic member of The Who is easily one of the greatest to have ever sat behind the kit. He provided humorous commentary during song announcements, although sound engineer Bob Pridden preferred to mute his vocal microphone on the mixing desk whenever possible. [8] He was interested in practical jokes and home science kits, with a particular fondness for explosions. The Who performed two songs that night - I Can See For Miles, the band's first . Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! (Republished in Modern Drummer Magazine, April 2006), Last edited on 15 February 2023, at 16:59, "Modern Drummer's Readers Poll Archive, 19792014", "Rolling Stone Readers Pick Best Drummers of All Time", "Roger Daltrey: 'Keith Moon Would've Left The Who for The Beach Boys', "The Day Keith Moon Joined Led Zeppelin Onstage", "Interview with Ron Caines And Geoff Nicholson", "19731974 Premier double tom row kits | Keith Moon's Drumkits | Whotabs", "Smash Your Head Against The Wall (credits)", "Interview with Dougal Butler by Mark Raison", "Who's vexed? The public Keith Moon was The Whos manic drummer and hellraising, daredevil comedian; a man who only ever lived in the moment. [20] During his time in the group Moon incorporated theatrical tricks into his act, including "shooting" the group's lead singer with a starter pistol. Unfortunately for Keith these ended up being his last words. My Wife04. Moon developed a habit of kicking over his drums, claiming that he did so in exasperation at an audience's indifference. 2 on the UK charts. "[93], Fletcher argues that the Who's lengthy break (15 December 1971 11 August 1972) between the end of their 1971 Who's Next Tour and the beginning of the Quadrophenia sessions devastated Moon's health,[94] as without the rigours of lengthy shows and regular touring that had previously kept him in shape, his hard-partying lifestyle took a greater toll on his body. His exploits away from the drum kit are legendary, too, whether bribing a stagehand to add more dynamite for a surprise explosion of his drum set at the end of The Who's 1967 performance on The Smothers Brothers Show to earning a master's degree in wrecking hotel rooms and . Keith stopped his footsteps, his heart still beating fast. "We used to fight regularly", remembered Moon in later years. In April 1964, aged 17,[22] he auditioned for the Who as a replacement for Doug Sandom. Keith Moon discussed his reckless lifestyle on 'Good Morning America' just a month before his death. The Mamas and the Papas singer, Cass Elliot had died in the same flat four years prior also at the age of 32. Townshend disagreed, assuring him that "lightning wouldn't strike the same place twice". [118] Even when the group became relatively financially stable after Tommy, Moon continued to rack up debts. The kit was eventually fitted with copper fittings[58] and later given to a young Zak Starkey. [98], Entwistle recalled being close to Moon on tour and both were often involved in blowing up toilets. He ate the steak while he watched the film The Abominable Dr Phibes but fell back to sleep after taking 32 Heminevrin tablets which were prescribed to help alcohol withdrawal. A month before his death, The Who released their then . Other party guests, including Paul and Linda McCartney, David Frost and ex-Faces drummer Kenney Jones (whom unbeknown to everyone would take Moons place in The Who) all remember Keith being in good spirits and surprisingly sober. Moon's drumming style affected the band's musical structure; although Entwistle initially found Moon's lack of conventional timekeeping problematic, it created an original sound. He said: 'You come 'ere.' Andrew Neill and Matthew Kent estimated that his destruction of hotel toilets and plumbing cost as much as 300,000 ($500,000). Moon is recording skits to play between songs while filling in for disc jockey John . On This Day in History: Keith Moons Final Performance with The Who, Dozens of People Receive Racist Email from Walmart, 6-Year-Old Shot Dead After Mom Flips Off Driver in Road Rage Incident. McCartney had acquired the rights to Hollys song publishing, and a biopic, The Buddy Holly Story, was premiering later that night. I figured that was it. [70] On 15 December 1969, Moon joined John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band for a live performance at the Lyceum Theatre in London for a UNICEF charity concert. The last album that Moon recorded with The Who was Who Are You, but his worsening health slowed the process; he would often arrive to practice barely able to hold onto his drumsticks. Moon Girl aka,13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette comes to the park just as the brand new animated series, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, debuts on February 10 on Disney Channel and February 15 on . Fuelled by vast quantities of drink, drugs, insecurities and confusion, Moon destroyed everything with gleeful abandon: drum kits, houses, cars, hotels, relationships and, finally, himself. [146], In mid-1978, Moon moved into Flat 12, 9 Curzon Place (later Curzon Square), Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London, renting from Harry Nilsson. Daltrey affectionately put the world to rights about Moon's importance to The Who in a conversation with this writer in 2016. After playing with a local band, the Beachcombers, he joined the Who in 1964 before they recorded their first single. Keith John Moon was an English drummer who played with the English rock band the Who. In 1966 he worked with Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck, pianist Nicky Hopkins and future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones on the instrumental "Beck's Bolero", which was the B-side to "Hi Ho Silver Lining" and appeared on the album Truth. The intensity of the explosion singed Townshend's hair and embedded a piece of cymbal in Moon's arm. Next article These maps show how the world would look if the ice melted; At the age of 12, he had joined the Sea Cadet Corp and was given his first musical instrument, the bugle. Producers on the movie are Sinclair, Oliver Veysey and Jeanne Elfant . Annette Walter-Lax says the Who drummers last words were If you dont like it, you can f*** off! After Annette left the flat, Moon took a deadly amount of Heminevrin: 32 pills. THOMAS JEFFERSON. "He had no idea how to be a father", Kim said. "[170] According to AllMusic critic Bruce Eder, "Moon, with his manic, lunatic side, and his life of excessive drinking, partying, and other indulgences, probably represented the youthful, zany side of rock & roll, as well as its self-destructive side, better than anyone else on the planet. "[33] Contemporary critics questioned his ability to keep time, with biographer Tony Fletcher suggesting that the timing on Tommy was "all over the place." Paperback. Townshend later said that Jones "was one of the few British drummers who could fill Keith's shoes";[159] Daltrey was less enthusiastic, saying that Jones "wasn't the right style". When Haynes said that it would be prohibitively expensive, Moon replied: "Dear boy, do exactly as you feel it should be, but that's the way I want it." Tony Fletcher wrote that "no toilet in a hotel or changing room was safe" until Moon had exhausted his supply of explosives.
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