He was the drummer for the seminal and influential English rock band The Who. [29] Moon's recklessness with money reduced his profit from the group's 1975 UK tour to 47.35 (equivalent to 423 in 2021). Moon died shortly after the release of Who Are You. Dr. Luna specializes in general, cosmetic, restorative, and advanced At the hotel he ran back to his room, grabbed the television and threw it out of the window into the swimming pool below. An addled Keith Moon f***ing with his kid was beyond forgiveness. Related articles John Lennon letter to Keith Moon and Harry Nilsson fetches 53,000 "He was too much of a child himself. The Who frontman Roger Daltrey said of Moon (via GQ), "Keith lived his entire life as a fantasy.He was the funniest man I've ever known, but he was also the saddest." Indeed, for (at least) his whole adult life, it seemed like Moon was trying to hide his real self, doing all . The Who's Pete Townshend Talks Attempts to Keep Keith Moon - Peoplemag Heminevrin quelled the craving for alcohol, but sometimes left users in a docile and forgetful state. But it's the funniest one so far, and also (to my mind) the cleverest. Earlier that night, Moon and his girlfriend, Annette Walter-Lax, attended the Buddy Holly Story premiere with Linda and Paul McCartney. (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? "[32] In the opinion of Atkins, early recordings of Moon's drumming sound tinny and disorganised;[34] it was not until the recording of Who's Next, with Glyn Johns' no-nonsense production techniques and the need to keep time to a synthesizer track, that he began developing more discipline in the studio. The band was looking for a replace their original drummer, Doug Sandom, and his audition became a quintessential Keith Moon display: already loaded, Moon played hard enough to destroy the drum kit, busting through two drumheads and breaking off the bass pedal. "[103], The drummer immediately began drinking upon his arrival in Flint. The real Keith Moon was a son, a brother, a father and an insecure man. 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.. In an interview with Guitar World magazine, he recalled that the drummer "taught me how to break things. [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. The Who's Roger Daltrey Finishes Keith Moon Biopic Script "'Tis well." 2. Tragic Details About Keith Moon - Grunge "[110] Doctors told Curbishley that if he had not intervened, Moon would have bled to death. 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. They gave him a shower and an injection of cortisone, sending him back onstage after a thirty-minute delay. [139], Guitarist Joe Walsh enjoyed socialising with Moon. [54] His first Premier kit was in red sparkle and featured two high toms. He explained that the group had totally lost their way: "Harry Nilsson, Bobby Keyes, Keith Moon. "[128] He loved Amanda, but his absences due to touring and fondness for practical jokes made their relationship uneasy when she was very young. Rare covers every corner of American culture with no slant or bias. Moon grew up in Alperton, a suburb of Wembley, in Middlesex, United Kingdom, and took up the drums during the early 1960s.After playing with a local band, the Beachcombers, he joined the Who in . [143], On 4 January 1970 Moon accidentally killed his friend, driver and bodyguard, Neil Boland, outside the Red Lion pub in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. "[78], Nevertheless, the drummer landed several acting roles. By the time that Keith Moon took to the stage at Shepperton Studios on May 25, 1978, his relationship with the rest of The Who was terribly strained. Moon's lifestyle began to undermine his health and reliability. 6. Eric Clapton featuring Carlos Santana Keith Moon - Discogs 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. According to Fletcher, Moon's toilet pyrotechnics began in 1965 when he purchased a case of 500 cherry bombs. During the concert, Moon passed out on his drum kit during "Won't Get Fooled Again". [105] Townshend claimed that the Who were banned for life from all of the hotel's properties,[106] but Fletcher wrote that they stayed at a Holiday Inn in Rochester, New York, a week later. 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. "[78], Early in the Who's career, Moon got to know the Beatles. Keith John Moon (23 August 1946[2] 7 September 1978) was an English drummer for the rock band the Who. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, The Who spent the afternoon visiting local radio stations with Nancy Lewis (then the band's publicist), and Moon posed for a photo outside the hotel in front of a "Happy Birthday Keith" sign put up by the hotel management. 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. Lunar Phases and Eclipses | Earth's Moon - NASA Solar System Exploration "[84] She begged Malibu neighbour Larry Hagman to check Moon into a clinic to dry out (as he had attempted to do before), but when doctors recorded Moon's chemical intake at breakfast a bottle of champagne, Courvoisier and amphetamines they concluded that there was no hope for his rehabilitation. How Keith Moon Saved Carlos Santana's Debut Performance "[102], On 23 August 1967, on tour opening for Herman's Hermits, Moon celebrated what he said was his 21st birthday (although it was thought at the time to be his 20th) at a Holiday Inn in Flint, Michigan. 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. During a lunar eclipse, Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the sunlight falling on the Moon. [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. 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. [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. 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 . "We used to fight regularly", remembered Moon in later years. 2 in their list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time, behind John Bonham. Talking to Moons biographer Tony Fletcher, Annette remembered Keith taking his usual glass of water and bucket of pills before falling asleep around 4:am. PETE TOWNSHEND Recalls Keith Moon Joining THE WHO The Legendary Drummer Who Killed His Bodyguard - Medium [53] In 1973 Premier's marketing manager, Eddie Haynes, began consulting Moon about specific requirements. Keith Moon: The Final 24 (Full Documentary) - YouTube Back at the hotel a mle erupted; fire extinguishers were set off, guests (and objects) thrown into the swimming pool and a piano reportedly destroyed. We were trying to kill ourselves.". (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.) After an investigation, the coroner ruled Boland's death an accident; Moon, having been charged with a number of offences, received an absolute discharge. "[89], According to Townshend, Moon began destroying hotel rooms when the Who stayed at the Berlin Hilton on tour in late 1966. The next evening Moon systematically destroyed everything in his hotel room, cut himself doing so and passed out. In Annettes account, Moon woke up at 7:30am and told her he wanted food. "[143] Townshend agreed, saying that by 1975 Butler had "no influence over him whatsoever. Moon filled in for Peel in 1973's "A Touch of the Moon", a series of four programmes produced by John Walters. He hugged me for about two or three minutes, said Carr, who noticed Keith was crying when he pulled away. [41] At the end of "Happy Jack", Townshend can be heard saying "I saw ya!" My Wife04. Moon had been dead for some time, but was officially pronounced dead at 5:50pm at Middlesex Hospital. Although that supergroup was never formed, Page remembered the phrase and later adapted it as the name of his new band. He was restless, said Annette. By 1966, The Who had become bona fide pop stars. [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. Louder is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. According to Louder Sound, he had been trying to reduce his drug use, even going so far has to use the sedative Heminevrin to combat his alcohol cravings. 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. Keith Moon: Classic Images of the Iconic Drummer. Back in print, Moon is the brilliant and heralded biography of one of rock & roll's most notorious and beloved figures: The Who's legendary drummer Keith Moon. Rocks greatest drummer was just 32 years old when he died. Butler never took them up on the offer. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon and Sun are on opposite sides of Earth. Open verdict. It was later revealed Moon had 26 undissolved Heminevrin tablets still in his stomach when he died. On That'll Be the Day it was social drinking. He left school by 15 and was in his first band, The Beachcombers; this was around the summer of 1963. [24]:7:44, Although Moon was known for kicking over his drum kit, Haynes claimed that it was done carefully and the kit rarely needed repairs. At a Madison Square Garden show on 10 June 1974, Townshend and Entwistle decided to spontaneously stop playing during "Waspman" to listen to Moon's drum solo. Track Records-MCA released a Moon solo single in 1974, comprising cover versions of the Beach Boys' "Don't Worry, Baby" and "Teenage Idol". He was credited on the album as "You Know Who". Rock Musician. The Mamas and the Papas singer, Cass Elliot had died in the same flat four years prior also at the age of 32. This new edition includes a newly written After word that consiers Moon's lasting legacy . 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. Close. The Death of Cass Elliot and Keith Moon at Harry Nilsson's - Flashbak [54], By 1970 Moon had begun to use timbales, gongs and timpani, and these were included in his setup for the rest of his career. Moon's contribution. What John Lennon said about Keith Moon's tragic death [86] He spent his share of the band's income quickly, and was a regular at London clubs such as the Speakeasy (where manager Roy Flynn recalls having to throw him out on three occasions[87]) and The Bag O'Nails; the combination of pills and alcohol escalated into alcoholism and drug addiction later in his life. He was an attention seeker and he had to have it. 1. Los Angeles Is Burning: Ian Winwood on Rock Music in L.A. "Prisoner of Your Eyes," recorded during the Turbo sessions but not released until Screaming for Vengeance 's 2001 reissue . Abracadabra In Osaka (Elton Dean, Allan Holdsworth, Hugh Hopper, John Mark Blake is a music journalist and author. That's why he had two sets of tom-toms. Emily Mack I mean somebody good?" "[44], Moon composed "I Need You", the instrumental "Cobwebs and Strange" (from the album A Quick One, 1966),[45] the single B-sides "In The City" (co-written with Entwistle)[46] and "Girl's Eyes" (from The Who Sell Out sessions featured on Thirty Years of Maximum R&B and a 1995 re-release of The Who Sell Out), "Dogs Part Two" (1969), "Tommy's Holiday Camp" (1969)[47] and "Waspman" (1972). Chris Andrews (born Christopher Frederick Andrews in Romford on 15 October 1942) is an English-German singer-songwriter whose musical career started in the late 1950s. A drummer in the audience, Scot Halpin, came up and played the rest of the show. It was Professor Keith Simpson, as it was with Cass Elliot, who performed the post mortem. The Who's famous drummer ended his career as a musician and comedian when he lost his life on Sep. 7, 1978. The WhoMaple Leaf GardensToronto, Ontario, CanadaOctober 21, 1976Audience Recording by JEMS01. Today. One Last Song: The Final Photos Of 16 Musicians Who Died Too - Favrify It was the concluding show on their tour. Watch Keith Moon's Final TV Interview, Filmed a Month Before His Death A long-gestating biopic about The Who drummer Keith Moon will begin filming this summer after 20 years. Moons final performance with the band took place on May 25, 1978, just months before the musicians premature death at the age of 32. "[158][149] In November 1978, Faces drummer Kenney Jones joined the Who. He played on all the band's albums and singles from their . Featured Specials and Programs. 5 crazy Keith Moon moments | MusicRadar The band stopped playing, and a group of roadies carried Moon offstage. These were his last words. But Keith's drinking and drug taking . Born in Wembley, a suburb of London, England, at age 12 he joined the local Sea Cadet Corps where he learned to play the bugle and later, the drums. [80] He reprised the role for the film's 1974 sequel, Stardust,[81] in Jim MacLaine's (David Essex) backing band the Stray Cats and played Uncle Ernie in Ken Russell's 1975 film adaptation of Tommy. A month earlier, The Who released Who Are You, their first new album in three years. [28] Although Townshend described him as a "completely different person to anyone I've ever met",[24]:38:48 the pair had a rapport in the early years and enjoyed practical jokes and improvised comedy. Moons closest friend in the group then broke down in tears. He became addicted to alcohol, particularly brandy and champagne, and acquired a reputation for decadence and dark humour; his nickname was "Moon the Loon". During much of 1964 and 1965 his setups consisted of Ludwig drums and Zildjian cymbals. Keith John Moon was born to working class parents in Wembley, London, England, on the 23rd August, 1946. Their debut album, My Generation, showcased the unique style of Moons drumming: full of tom-toms, crashing cymbals, and surf music influence. The intensity of the explosion singed Townshend's hair and embedded a piece of cymbal in Moon's arm. Someone somewhere will say, 'Remember Keith Moon?' The kit was eventually fitted with copper fittings[58] and later given to a young Zak Starkey. During the 1973 Quadrophenia tour, at the Who's debut US date at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, Moon ingested a mixture of tranquillisers and brandy. "So Sad About Us" gains much of its . They remembered his dream of getting out of music and becoming a Hollywood film actor,[16][bettersourceneeded] although Daltrey did not think Moon had the patience and work ethic required of a professional actor. [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. [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. His last word was "Mozart!". Jul 9, 2019 - Knowing the last words that someone spoke can sometimes throw light on their character or on the circumstances in which they died. I said, mild as you please: 'Yes, yes?' Keith died in London on 7 September 1978, from an accidental overdose . Rock, R&B, rap, country, metal CDs - Music | Facebook Marketplace The Last Words Spoken By Famous People (106 Pics) | Keith moon, Famous He's dead, so what? Moon is recording skits to play between songs while filling in for disc jockey John . Gustav Mahler. [116] Daltrey later denied threatening to fire him, but said that by this time Moon was out of control. [19] In December 1962 he joined the Beachcombers, a semi-professional London cover band playing hits by groups such as the Shadows. [100][184], Anatomy of a Drum Solo DVD, Neil Peart (2005) accompanying booklet. [79] Moon's next film role was J.D. Afterwards I was sitting at the bar and Pete came over. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. It's too good for words. Unfortunately for Keith these ended up being his last words. Moons playing was erratic and unreliable, and he was made to pose Christine Keeler-style for the cover photograph so as to conceal a paunch. Banger O'Riley. I said: 'Nothing.' "[180], "God bless his beautiful heart" Ozzy Osbourne told Sounds a month after the drummer's death. His life was a truly tumultuous ride. 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. His music blends a unique mix of rock, jazz and influences from his Mexican heritage. Moon led a destructive lifestyle. I've got no real aspirations to be a great drummer. TIL that Keith Moon, the drummer for The Who, asked his then-girlfriend, Walter-Lax, to cook him steak and eggs. With a focus on news, media, and humor, we are a RARE voice in todays media landscape. [57] This kit was not used at the Who's performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. While he was still using cocaine, the fact that he didnt go wild on the free champagne was considered progress. Upon returning home, the couple had a fight. Outside the cinema Keith spotted Melody Maker journalist Roy Carr and grabbed him in a bear hug. [35], Unlike contemporary rock drummers such as Ginger Baker and John Bonham, Moon hated drum solos and refused to play them in concert. The Who's Keith Moon is routinely championed as one of music's most explosive and creative drummers. For a short while, Daltrey's puch seemed to knock some sense into Moon. You can't help but feel that some of the last words of the famous people on this list encapsulate their personas. Roger Daltrey: 'Keith Moon lived his entire life as a fantasy' - British GQ NB Down: II. But he was loud and strong. Clover, drummer for the fictional Stormy Tempest (played by Billy Fury) at a holiday camp during the early days of British rock 'n' roll, in 1973's That'll Be the Day. The band continued without him for several songs before Townshend asked, "Can anyone play the drums? I said, Whats wrong? He said, No, no, you suddenly realise who your friends are Moon didnt elaborate, and Carr later admitted the drummer looked, shagged out and like a caricature of himself., Inside the cinema, Keith seemed agitated and insisted they leave an hour into the movie. NB Down by Law: Last of the Sharpshooters Dream Theater: Awake.NB Dreamtheater: Images and words.NB Dreamtheater: systematic chaos with bonus cd.NB Dropkick Murphys: Do or Die. Keith Moon - The Who Q Magazine called the book "horrific and terrific reading", and Record Collector said it was "one of rock's great biographies. He felt very restless and didn't know what to do now.On the one hand, Nathania also felt the same anxiety. Townshend called vocalist Roger Daltrey and then bassist John Entwistle, who was being interviewed at the time. 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. 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. McCartney had acquired the rights to Hollys song publishing, and a biopic, The Buddy Holly Story, was premiering later that night. Keith Moon Was An Incredible Drummer, And Here's The Proof - UPROXX He then jumped back into the limo, saying "I nearly forgot. The Who performed two songs that night - I Can See For Miles, the band's first . The Who's Keith Moon final interview weeks before his death [146], In mid-1978, Moon moved into Flat 12, 9 Curzon Place (later Curzon Square), Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London, renting from Harry Nilsson. But Annette hadnt realised quite how many pills he was taking. Tony Fletcher wrote that "no toilet in a hotel or changing room was safe" until Moon had exhausted his supply of explosives. He wanted to get sober, but because of his fear of psychiatric hospitals, he wanted to do it at home. [134] She died in a car accident in Austin, Texas, on 2 August 2006. Keith Moon and daughter Amanda with some of his car collection. A month before his death, The Who released their then . 0 Votes. Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! But it worked. Moon had been taking Heminevrin for some time.