(1975) before moving back to the UK in 1977 to play on Who Are You, his last recorded work with The Who. His work has appeared in The Times and The Daily Telegraph, and the magazines Q, Mojo, Classic Rock, Music Week and Prog. "[7], Moon joined his local Sea Cadet Corps band at the age of twelve on the bugle, but found the instrument too difficult to learn and decided to take up drums instead. With a focus on news, media, and humor, we are a RARE voice in todays media landscape. Starting in February at Disney California Adventure park, Moon Girl is making her debut at Hollywood Land! Keith Moon was more than just rock's greatest drummer, he was a phenomenal character and an extravagant hell raiser who - in a final, uncharacteristic act of grace - actually did die before he got old. [92], He followed Moon when the drummer relocated to Los Angeles, but felt that the drug culture prevalent at the time was bad for Moon: "My job was to have eyes in the back of my head. While he was still using cocaine, the fact that he didnt go wild on the free champagne was considered progress. The band continued without him for several songs before Townshend asked, "Can anyone play the drums? I said: 'Nothing.' [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. The intensity of the explosion singed Townshend's hair and embedded a piece of cymbal in Moon's arm. Edgy! Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password. . After clearing the plate, Moon took more Heminevrin and fell asleep again. In April 1964, aged 17,[22] he auditioned for the Who as a replacement for Doug Sandom. He was the drummer for the seminal and influential English rock band The Who. Butler never took them up on the offer. $37.74 8 Used from $13.97 9 New from $22.34. Keith had been exceeding his prescribed dose of Heminevrin the same way he abused every other drug. [133] Butler agrees; despite his relationship with Annette Walter-Lax, he believes that Kim was the only woman Moon loved. . The Mamas and the Papas singer, Cass Elliot had died in the same flat four years prior also at the age of 32. Keith Moon played his final tour date with the Who on Oct. 21, 1976, at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Moon joined The Who when he was only 17 years old. 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.. I just want to play drums for the Who and that's it. A month earlier, The Who released Who Are You, their first new album in three years. 'My Generation' was a turning point for me because before that it was all the Charlie Watts and Ringo type of thing. NB Down: III. I said: 'Right.' [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.' [68], Moon may have inspired the name for Led Zeppelin. Keith John Moon (23 August 1946[2] 7 September 1978) was an English drummer for the rock band the Who. At the end of the 1976 US tour in Miami that August, Moon became delirious was treated in Hollywood Memorial Hospital for eight days. Keith Moon, The Who's celebrated drummer, was born in Wembley on 23 August 1946, and is widely acclaimed as the greatest drummer in the history of rock. But it was too late. 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. 3. His 21st birthday party in Flint, Michigan, has been cited as a notorious example of decadent behaviour by rock groups. Idiotic in other respects". The life and times of Keith Moon, the imperious drummer in The Who, is one marred in tragic lows and buoyed by ecstatic highs. 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. Entwistle was giving an interview to two journalists when he was interrupted by a phone call with the news of Moon's death. Moon's lifestyle began to undermine his health and reliability. 1968~. According to Fletcher, Moon's toilet pyrotechnics began in 1965 when he purchased a case of 500 cherry bombs. [3][4] Moon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 as a member of the Who. Goodnight Keith Moon: A Parody!, Bruce Worden, Clare Cross. 4. It was a powerful sedative prescribed to him by Harley Street physician, Dr Geoffrey Dymond. I went into a panic.. "[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). On September 6 Paul McCartney threw a party at the Covent Garden diner Peppermint Park to celebrate what would have been Buddy Hollys 42nd birthday. Moon enjoyed touring and socialising, and became bored and restless when the Who were inactive. Keith died in London on 7 September 1978, from an accidental overdose . Curbishley told Townshend, who informed the rest of the band. Famous Last Words. One of the things we'd do was wait to see what Keith Moon was going to wear . It was the concluding show on their tour. "[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. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, [116] Daltrey later denied threatening to fire him, but said that by this time Moon was out of control. When asked by an audience member what would happen to the kit, he joked that "even the best drummers get hungry. "So Sad About Us" gains much of its . The setting for "Tommy's Holiday Camp" (from Tommy) was credited to Moon;[49] the song was primarily written by Townshend and, although there is a misconception that Moon sings on it, the album version is Townshend's demo. He was an attention seeker and he had to have it. The last photo of Keith Moon As last words go, they are pretty hard to beat. [82] Moon's last film appearance was in 1978's Sextette.[83]. Keith gasped at the soft voice, sounding exactly the same as the voice of the woman in his dream. Her parents, who were furious, met with the Moons to discuss their options, and she moved into the Moon family home in Wembley. The second concert was much cleaner, filmed on multiple cameras in front of a small audience. However, stands and foot pedals were frequently replaced; the drummer "would go through them like a knife through butter". Keith Moon. Townshend disagreed, assuring him that "lightning wouldn't strike the same place twice". Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). 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 . Watch the full interview. [125] The marriage (and child) were kept secret from the press until May 1968. 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. What nobody knew was the damaging effects of the prescription drugs he was taking and in such quantities. Perhaps he paused to register the publicity it . Heres how it works. 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. [172] Adam Budofsky, editor of Drummer magazine, said that Moon's performances on Who's Next and Quadrophenia "represent a perfect balance of technique and passion" and "there's been no drummer who's touched his unique slant on rock and rhythm since. [123] She and Moon were married on 17 March 1966 at Brent Register Office,[124] and their daughter Amanda was born on 12 July. Tony Fletcher wrote that "no toilet in a hotel or changing room was safe" until Moon had exhausted his supply of explosives. 1. Always unpredictable, the mercurial drummer performed one of his last-ever shows amid unfamiliar surroundings, given that he was on stage with the mighty Led Zeppelin in 1977. [53] In recognition of his loyalty to the company, Premier reissued the kit in 2006 as the "Spirit of Lily". 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. He was named as hyperactive as a boy, with a restless imagination and a particular fondness for The Goon Show and music. Dymond prescribed a bottle of 100 pills, instructing him to take one pill when he felt a craving for alcohol but not more than three pills per day. [18], During this time Moon joined his first serious band: the Escorts, replacing his best friend Gerry Evans. Keith with Annette on the night he died. Rival 'blue plaque' for Moon puts heritage row centre stage", "John Entwistle, 57; Innovative Bass Player Co-Founded The Who", "Roger Daltrey: 'Keith Moon lived his entire life as a fantasy', "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)", "Iconic model who married Keith Moon dies in car crash", "Who Drummer Zak Starkey Holds Down Super Bowl Halftime", "London 2012 organisers wanted Keith Moon to play at Olympics ceremony", "Interview: 1985?? Watch John Lennon Jam Out at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, Cameron Diaz Was Nervous Before Filming Her Acting Return with Jamie Foxx, 1000-Lb. Recorded on August 14th, 1975. He was noted for his unique style and his eccentric, often self-destructive behaviour. The Who had reconvened . [108] Moon passed out again during "Magic Bus", and was again removed from the stage. During a lunar eclipse, Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the sunlight falling on the Moon. This is especially true during the instrumental break going into the last chorus. He remembers managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp saying, "We trust you with Keith but if you ever want any time off, for a holiday or some sort of rest, let us know and we'll pay for it." After an investigation, the coroner ruled Boland's death an accident; Moon, having been charged with a number of offences, received an absolute discharge. [58], While Moon generally said he was only interested in working with the Who,[31] he participated in outside musical projects. [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. "[101], Once, a hotel manager called Moon in his room and asked him to lower the volume on his cassette recorder because it made "too much noise." . After dining with the McCartneys at Peppermint Park in Covent Garden, Moon and Walter-Lax returned to their flat. The couple arrived at Peppermint Park, where Annette has since insisted Moon didnt drink or, if he did, limited himself to just two drinks. . In 1979, just one year after losing Moon, the group was thrust into an unwanted . When Walter-Lax checked on him the following afternoon, she discovered he was dead. [157], Townshend persuaded Daltrey and Entwistle to carry on touring as The Who, although he later said that it was his means of coping with Moon's death and "completely irrational, bordering on insane". The UK's Heritage Foundation disagreed with the decision, presenting a plaque which was unveiled on 9 March 2009. "[143] Townshend agreed, saying that by 1975 Butler had "no influence over him whatsoever. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon and Sun are on opposite sides of Earth. Pinterest. The AZ Of Queen, Peter Grant, The Story Of Rock's Greatest Manager and Pretend You're in a War: The Who & The Sixties. "[97], Moon's favourite stunt was to flush powerful explosives down toilets. from $36.16 2 Used from $36.16. 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 . [167], The London 2012 Summer Olympic Committee contacted Curbishley about Moon performing at the games, 34 years after his death. His mother bought him a drum kit when he was 14 and it was soon apparent that he . "I never realised dynamite was so powerful. "[134] Moon would harass them with phone calls, and on one occasion before Kim sued for divorce, he invited McLagan for a drink at a Richmond pub and sent several "heavies" to break into McLagan's home on Fife Road and look for Kim, forcing her to hide in a walk-in closet. We tell stories with heart, humor, and authenticity to celebrate American life. . He is probably now best known for his big hit, 'Yesterday Man'. [19] In December 1962 he joined the Beachcombers, a semi-professional London cover band playing hits by groups such as the Shadows. [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. 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 . He was fascinated with blowing up toilets with cherry bombs or dynamite, and destroying television sets. "[110] Doctors told Curbishley that if he had not intervened, Moon would have bled to death. September 6, 1978. Smith remembers one occasion where he and Moon tore apart a pair of trousers, with an accomplice later looking for one-legged trousers. I suppose as a drummer, I'm adequate. "[92], In a limousine on the way to the airport, Moon insisted they return to their hotel, saying "I forgot something." This drum solo would be the rock legends last. But his snoring meant Annette retreated to the sofa, where she slept until 3:40pm. The Who's famous drummer ended his career as a musician and comedian when he lost his life on Sep. 7, 1978. After the pair socialised for a few days, Moon and Entwistle brought Johnston to the set of Ready Steady Go!,[63] which made them late for a show with the Who that evening. It was the concluding show on their tour. "Thomas Jefferson survives." What Adams didn't know was that Jefferson had actually passed away several hours earlier. [153], Curbishley phoned the flat at around 5:00p.m. looking for Moon, and Dymond gave him the news. When The Who featured as guests on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in September 1967, the band was asked by the hosts in advance to destroy their instruments. With a focus on news, media, and humor, we are a RARE voice in todays media landscape. [56] His new larger configuration was notable for the presence of two bass drums; he, along with Ginger Baker, has been credited as one of the early pioneers of double bass drumming in rock. In Annettes account, Moon woke up at 7:30am and told her he wanted food. 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. Moon the Loons aptitude for music was clear during his Wembley childhood as were his more troubling tendencies. "[152], On 6 September, Moon and Walter-Lax were guests of Paul and Linda McCartney at a preview of a film, The Buddy Holly Story. His music teacher wrote that Moon "has great ability, but must guard against a tendency to show off. [100] "All that porcelain flying through the air was quite unforgettable," Moon remembered. 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. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. [151] Max Glatt, an authority on alcoholism, wrote in The Sunday Times that Moon should never have been given the drug. 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. [72] Rolling Stone's John Hoegel appreciated Entwistle's decision not to let Moon drum, saying that it distanced his album from the familiar sound of the Who. She cooked his favourite, lamb cutlets, after which they went to bed to watch a video of the camp horror film The Abominable Doctor Phibes. He was also the songwriter responsible for many of Sandie Shaw's most Moon initially told his girlfriend Annette Walter-Lax he didnt want to go to the party. 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 . [145], Those close to Moon said that he was haunted by Boland's death for the rest of his life. 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. [147] Moon then took some clomethiazole tablets. GEORGE WASHINGTON. "[180], "God bless his beautiful heart" Ozzy Osbourne told Sounds a month after the drummer's death. [65] Later that year, during their appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, he bribed a stagehand to load gunpowder into one of his bass drums; the stagehand used about ten times the standard amount. In the wake of Keith Moon's death, The Who continued to tour although Pete Townshend has admitted that this professional push was "completely irrational . A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. But The Kids Are Alright director Jeff Stein insisted they try again, this time at Shepperton Studios. By the time of their final tour with him in 1976, and particularly during production of The Kids Are Alright and Who Are You, the drummer's deterioration was evident. "[76] During one of his few televised solo drum performances (for ABC's Wide World), Moon played a five-minute drum solo dressed as a cat on transparent acrylic drums filled with water and goldfish. [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. He'd move his arms forward like a skier. You can't help but feel that some of the last words of the famous people on this list encapsulate their personas. Moon is recording skits to play between songs while filling in for disc jockey John . [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. He wanted to get sober, but because of his fear of psychiatric hospitals, he wanted to do it at home. [21] The Beachcombers all had day jobs; Moon, who worked in the sales department at British Gypsum, had the keenest interest in turning professional. It's a wonder he didn't come round and personally flatten the diminutive drummer. Keiths condition meant The Who were in no state to tour, which left him anxious and depressed. 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. This erroneous date appeared in several otherwise-reliable sources, including the Townshend-authorised biography Before I Get Old: The Story of The Who. [136], Moon enjoyed being the life of the party. He claims that, to ensure Harry listened to it, he told . In addition to his talent as a drummer, Moon developed a reputation for smashing his kit on stage and destroying hotel rooms on tour. Back to late 1966 for an example of the band's youthful sound and a power-pop prototype from their second album, A Quick One. Keith Moon: Classic Images of the Iconic Drummer. A furious Holiday Inn management presented the groups with a bill for $24,000, which was reportedly settled by Herman's Hermits tour manager Edd McCann. Nevertheless, the Who powered through a nine-song set that . A long-gestating biopic about The Who drummer Keith Moon will begin filming this summer after 20 years. "[78], Nevertheless, the drummer landed several acting roles. [139], Guitarist Joe Walsh enjoyed socialising with Moon. "He was too much of a child himself. [57] This kit was not used at the Who's performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. The Who's drummer, Keith Moon, was at the height of his career and fame in 1970, the same year his name was plastered all over the news for reasons other than his band's massive success or his typical rockstar antics. Shooting is set to begin on the Moon pic in June, and the casting process has been rumbling along for a few months already. 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. By the time Stardust came round it was hard drinking. Or why not treat yourself? McCartney had acquired the rights to Hollys song publishing, and a biopic, The Buddy Holly Story, was premiering later that night. Keith Moon's Death Remembered. "We used to fight regularly", remembered Moon in later years. That's why he had two sets of tom-toms. Moons closest friend in the group then broke down in tears. But at 8:48, Moons special Wont Get Fooled Again drum solo is featured front and center; his rapid arm movements look stark against the technicolor laser show. "The general perception of Keith Moon as a drummer is that he was . He watched a film (The Abominable Dr. Phibes), and asked Walter-Lax to cook him steak and eggs. [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. [149], After moving in, Moon began a prescribed course of Heminevrin (clomethiazole, a sedative) to alleviate his alcohol withdrawal symptoms. But Keiths drinking and drug taking had impacted on his performance and his appearance. 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. After playing with a local band, the Beachcombers, he joined the Who in 1964 before they recorded their first single. Moon had been taking Heminevrin for some time. And that was it. [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. Sat 24th Apr 2021 15.30 BST. When you've got money and you do the kind of things I get up to, people laugh and say that you're eccentric, which is a polite way of saying you're fucking mad. Slowly too we realized that his fluid style . [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. I was scared to death. Keith Moons passionate, self-destructive legacy not only endures in rock music but haunts the classic rock band which still performs to this day. He's dead, so what? During the finale of "My Generation", an altercation broke out on stage between Moon and Townshend which was reported on the front page of the New Musical Express the following week. 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. Moon died shortly after the release of Who Are You. His first was in 1971, a cameo in Frank Zappa's 200 Motels as a nun afraid of dying from a drug overdose. 2 on the 2011 Rolling Stone "Best Drummers of All Time" readers' poll. TIL that drummer Keith Moon's last words were "If you don't like it, you can just fuck off!" as a response to his then girlfriend when she refused to cook him a steak and egg breakfast. [13] Moon also admired Elvis Presley's original drummer DJ Fontana, the Shadows' original drummer Tony Meehan[14] and the Pretty Things' Viv Prince. Moons final performance with the band took place on May 25, 1978, just months before the musicians premature death at the age of 32. 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. He said: 'You come 'ere.' [118] Even when the group became relatively financially stable after Tommy, Moon continued to rack up debts. 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. [98] Townshend remembers walking into the bathroom of Moon's hotel room and noticing the toilet had disappeared, with only the S-bend remaining. Moon filled in for Peel in 1973's "A Touch of the Moon", a series of four programmes produced by John Walters. "[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. Someone somewhere will say, 'Remember Keith Moon?' "And of course from that moment on," the guitarist remembered, "we got thrown out of every hotel we ever stayed in. She still remembered the last time they met. 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. Daltrey said in an interview with Vulture . He left school by 15 and was in his first band, The Beachcombers; this was around the summer of 1963. Featured Specials and Programs. [15] He also enjoyed singing, with a particular interest in Motown. Who producer Jon Astley said, "You didn't think he was keeping time, but he was. In 2000, the book was released in the US as Moon (The Life and Death of a Rock Legend). The last time I was in town was the first time I'd ever visited Los Angeles on anything other than business. 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. [146], In mid-1978, Moon moved into Flat 12, 9 Curzon Place (later Curzon Square), Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London, renting from Harry Nilsson. [122] By the end of the year she discovered she was pregnant. [98], Entwistle recalled being close to Moon on tour and both were often involved in blowing up toilets. Moon led a destructive lifestyle. 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. When she told him she wanted to go anyway, he changed his mind and called his dealer who delivered some cocaine. Close. [48] Moon also co-composed "The Ox" (an instrumental from their debut album, My Generation) with Townshend, Entwistle and keyboardist Nicky Hopkins.