Keith Moon 16991 225956363 2008-07-16T05:09:28Z WWGB 2970138 /* The Who */ de-link {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | Name = Keith Moon | Img = | Img_capt = | Img_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels --> | Landscape = | Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | Birth_name = Keith John Moon | Alias = Moon the Loon, Moonie, Moonshine, Uncle Ernie | Born = {{birth date|1946|8|23|mf=y}} | Died = {{death date and age|1978|9|7|1946|8|23|mf=y}}<br />[[London]], [[England]] | Origin = [[Harlesden]], [[London]], [[England]] | Instrument = [[Drum kit|Drums]], [[percussion instrument|Percussion]], [[Singer|Vocals]], [[Bugle (instrument)|Bugle]], [[Trumpet]], [[Tuba]], | Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[pop music|pop]], [[rhythm and blues]], [[hard rock]] | Occupation = [[Musician]], [[Songwriter]], [[Composer]], [[Record producer|Producer]], [[Actor]] | Years_active = 1964 - 1978 | Label = | Associated_acts = [[The Who]] | URL = | Notable_instruments = [[Premier Percussion|Premier]]<br>[[Slingerland]] }} '''Keith John Moon''' ([[August 23]], [[1946]] &ndash; [[September 7]], [[1978]]) was the [[drummer]] of the rock group [[The Who]]. He gained notoriety for exuberant drumming and his destructive lifestyle. Moon joined The Who in 1964, replacing [[Doug Sandom]]. He played on all albums from their debut, 1965's ''[[My Generation]]'', to 1978's ''[[Who Are You]]'', which was released two weeks before his death. Moon is known for innovative, dramatic drumming, often eschewing basic back beats for a fluid, busy technique focused on fast, cascading rolls across the toms and cymbal crashes. Moon was one of the first to play drums as a lead instrument in an era when drums were supposed only to keep the back beat. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most distinctive rock drummers.<ref>[http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/the-who Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]</ref> ==Biography== Keith John Moon lived in [[Wembley]] as a boy, was [[Hyperactivity|hyperactive]], and had a restless imagination. As a youth, one thing that could hold his attention was music. A report from his [[secondary modern school]] was not encouraging – his art teacher commented: 'Retarded artistically. Idiotic in other respects.'<ref name="reallives">{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/R/real_lives/moon.html|title=Real Lives: The Real Keith Moon|accessdate=2007-04-25|publisher=Channel 4}}</ref> Teacher Aaron Sofocleous praised his music skills and encouraged his chaotic style, even if one school report noted "He has great ability, but must guard against a tendency to show off." Moon failed his [[eleven plus exam]] and left school in 1961. On [[17 March]] [[1966]], Moon married his pregnant girlfriend [[Kim Kerrigan]] in secrecy. Their daughter Amanda was born on [[12 July]]. In 1973, Kerrigan left Moon. In [[1974]] he began dating [[Sweden|Swedish]] model [[Annette Walter-Lax]]. The next year he and Kerrigan divorced. ==Early musical career== At 12, Moon joined his local [[Sea Cadet Corps (United Kingdom)|Sea Cadet Corps]] band as a [[Bugle (instrument)|bugle]] player but traded his position to be a drummer.<ref>[http://www.whocollection.com/Keith's%20Pictures%20of%20Lily%20Kit.htm WhoCollection.com]</ref> Moon started drums at 14 after his father bought him a kit. Moon received lessons from one of the loudest drummers at the time, [[Carlo Little]], paying him 10 [[shilling]]s a lesson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&targetRule=10&xml=/news/2005/08/17/db1702.xml |title=Obituaries: Carlo Little|accessdate=2007-04-25|date=2005-08-17|publis her=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> During this time he joined his first serious band "The Escorts".<ref name="reallives"/> He later spent 18 months as the drummer for the "The Beachcombers", a London [[cover band]] notable for renditions of songs by [[Cliff Richard]].<ref>Fletcher, Tony: "Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend</ref> Moon initially played in the style of American surf rock and [[rhythm and blues|R&B]] drummers, utilising grooves and fills of those genres, particularly [[Hal Blaine]] of [[The Wrecking Crew (music)|Wrecking Crew]]. However, he played faster and louder, with more persistence and authority. Moon's favourite drummers were jazz greats [[Gene Krupa]], who inspired him to be the showman he was, and [[Sonny Rollins]]. ==The Who== At 17, Moon joined The Who (in April 1964), a replacement for [[Doug Sandom]]. Sandom had left less than a month earlier and the remaining members hired a [[session musician|session drummer]] to fulfill [[Concert|show]]s they had agreed to play. Moon attended one of these shows. [[Pete Townshend]] described him as looking like a "ginger man" with his hair dyed [[Red hair|ginger]] and wearing ginger-coloured clothes. As stated in ''Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who,'' Moon looked up to [[Roger Daltrey]] during the show and said "I hear you're looking for a drummer. Well, I'm much better than the one you've got."<ref>''[[The Kids Are Alright]]''</ref> The band knew they needed Moon after seeing him practically smash the drum kit to pieces.<ref name="reallives"/> Moon started on various three or five-piece kits but moved to a [[Double bass drumming#Double bass drum|double bass]] kit, made by [[Premier Percussion|Premier]], in late 1965. Moon took two kits and put them together. This widened his playing; he abandoned his [[hi-hat cymbal]]s almost entirely and started basing his grooves on a double bass [[ostinato]] with eighth note [[flam]]s, and a wall of [[white noise]] created by riding a [[crash cymbal|crash]] or [[ride cymbal]]. On top of this he played fills and cymbal accents. This became his trademark. Moon's Classic Premier setup comprised two 14x22-inch bass drums, three 8x14 (Tuna Can) mounted toms, two 16x16 floor toms, a 5x14 metal snare (usually a Ludwig Supraphonic), and one extra floor tom of different sizes but mainly 16x18 or 16x16. Moon's classic cymbal setup consisted of two [[Paiste]] 18" crashes and one 20" ride. In 1973, Moon added a second row of tom-toms (first four, then six) and, in 1975, two more [[timbales]]. These huge kits became well known, notably the amber set in the films, ''[[Tommy]]'' and ''[[Stardust]],'' and in footage shot by the [[BBC]] at [[Charlton, London|Charlton]] in 1974. The 1975/76 white kit with gold fittings was given by Moon to a young [[Zak Starkey]], son of [[Ringo Starr]]. His final kit, a dark metallic one, is seen in the footage from ''[[The Kids Are Alright]]'' at [[Shepperton Studios|Shepperton]] in 1978. Early in The Who's career, live sets culminated in "[[auto-destructive art|auto destruction]]", members destroying their equipment in elaborate fashion, an act that imitated by other bands and artists including [[Jimi Hendrix]] in his breakout performance at the 1967 [[Monterey Pop Festival]]. Moon showed a zeal for this, kicking and smashing his drums. During the ''[[Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour]]'' television show, he loaded a drum with explosives which detonated during the finale of "[[My Generation (song)|My Generation]]," singeing Townshend's hair and embedding a piece of cymbal in his arm (this has been speculated as starting Townshend's [[tinnitus]]). Another time, he filled clear acrylic drums with water and goldfish, playing them for a television appearance. When an audience member asked "What happens with your goldfish?" he replied with a grin, "Well I mean, you know...even the best drummers get hungry."<ref>"Keith Moon and goldfish." 00:50.</ref> Antics like these earned him the nickname "Moon the Loon." His determination to add his voice to Who songs led other members to banish him from the studio when vocals were recorded. This led to a game, Moon sneaking in to join the singing. At the end of "Happy Jack," Townshend can be heard shouting "I saw you!" It is said that he noticed Moon trying to join in {{Fact|date=February 2007}} Moon can be heard singing on several tracks, including a section of "A Quick One While He's Away" ([[A Quick One]], 1966), "[[Armenia City in the Sky]]" (''[[The Who Sell Out]],'' 1967), "Bell Boy" (''[[Quadrophenia]],'' 1973), "[[Pictures of Lily]]" (1967), "Instant Party Mixture" (''[[My Generation|My Generation Deluxe Edition]]'', 1965), "Bucket T" and "[[Barbara Ann]]" (''Ready Steady Who'' EP, 1966). He was credited as composer of "I Need You," which he also sang, and the instrumental "Cobwebs and Strange" (from ''A Quick One,'' 1966), the single B-sides "In The City" (co-written by Moon and Entwistle), "Dogs Part Two" (1969) (sharing credits with Townshend's and Entwistle's dogs, Towser and Jason) and "Wasp Man" (1972), 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). He also co-composed the instrumental "The Ox" (from the debut album "My Generation") with Townshend, Entwistle and pianist [[Nicky Hopkins]]. "Tommy's Holiday Camp" (from [[Tommy]]) was credited to Moon, who suggested the action should take place in a holiday camp. The song was written by Townshend, and although many think Moon sings on the track, the version on the album is Townshend's demo. However Moon did sing it live and on the [[Tommy (film)|Tommy film]]. He also produced "[[Baba O'Riley]]"'s violin solo (which he had suggested), and was recorded by [[Dave Arbus]], a friend. Daltrey said Moon's drumming style held the band together; that Entwistle and Townshend "were like needles... and Keith was the wool." ==A reputation for destruction== Moon was destructive. He laid waste to hotel rooms, the homes of friends, even his own home, throwing furniture out of high windows and destroying the plumbing with [[fireworks]].<ref>Fletcher, Tony: "Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend</ref> He flushed powerful fireworks ([[Cherry bomb]]s) down the toilet and detonated toilets for amusement. The acts, though often fueled by drugs and alcohol, were his way of expressing his eccentricity, as well as the joy he got from shocking the public.<ref>Fletcher, Tony: "Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend</ref> In Moon's biography, ''Full Moon'', Dougal Butler observed, "He would do anything if he knew that there were enough people around who didn't want him to do it." Moon's pranks bear a similarity to those of Australian comedian [[Barry Humphries]], who affected the same maniacal stare as Moon. A darker side to Moon's behaviour, tentatively diagnosed as caused by a [[Borderline Personality Disorder]] in Fletcher's biography, was physical violence towards three women in his life: his wife Kim, girlfriend Annette, and only daughter Mandy. He was also prepared to pay someone to break his ex-wife's second husband's fingers out of jealousy. [[Annette Walter-Lax]] described his [[Mr Hyde]]-like change into a growling, uncontrollable beast as something out of a horror movie. She begged [[Malibu]] neighbour [[Larry Hagman]] to check Moon into a clinic to dry out, but when doctors recorded Moon's intake at breakfast (a full bottle of champagne along with [[Courvoisier]] ), they concluded there was no hope.<ref>{{cite web|title=keith moon biography Part 5 |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC4I0Ab25fCYP9dq}}</ref> [[Alice Cooper]] remembers his drinking club, [[The Hollywood Vampires]], commenting that Moon ('the [[Puck]] of Rock 'n' Roll") used to enter dressed up as the Pope. <ref>{{cite web|title=keith moon biography Part 6|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch=v=YbPBofY|7D4}}</ref> [[Joe Walsh]] has recorded chats with Moon, finding it remarkable how witty and alert the inebriated drummer managed to stay, ad-libbing his way through surrealistic fantasy stories à la [[Peter Cook]]. <!-- Deleted image removed: --> One story concerns his driving a [[lincoln continental]] into a swimming pool. Daltrey subsequently witnessed the resulting US $50,000 bill.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} It occurred at a Holiday Inn hotel in [[Flint, Michigan]] on Bristol Road and was seen by DJ "Peter C" Cavanaugh, the first DJ to play The Who in America.<ref>http://www.wildwednesday.com Local DJ A Rock N Roll History</ref> A [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxyYK9WBylc video interview] of Cavanaugh recounting events is now available. Daltrey said on an episode of the BBC TV motoring show ''[[Top Gear (current format)|Top Gear]]'' that Moon did not drive a Rolls-Royce into a swimming pool, but he did drive a [[Chrysler Wimbledon]] into an ornamental [[pond]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2005/06/stories/13/1.html|title=James May on Second-hand celebrity|accessdate=2007-07-18|date=2005-06-01|publisher=Top Gear}}</ref> According to the book ''The Who In Their Own Words'', Moon said the incident was at the Holiday Inn in [[Flint, Michigan]] (at Moon's birthday party - publicized as his 21st, but in fact his 20th), and the car was a [[Lincoln Continental]]. He said this was how he broke his front tooth. According to [[John Entwistle]], Moon lost his tooth by slipping on birthday cake while running away from a cop, and in fact, didn't even see a swimming pool that day. Whatever events occurred that day, the story goes that The Who was banished from every Holiday Inn. Although his behaviour was outrageous, it was in the humorous vein<ref>Fletcher, Tony: "Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend</ref> as his friend [[Vivian Stanshall]], of the [[Bonzo Dog Band]] claimed. Moon produced Stanshall's version of [[Elvis Presley]]'s Suspicious Minds. According to Townshend, Moon's reputation for erratic behaviour was something he cultivated. Once, on the way to an airport, Moon insisted they return to their hotel, saying , "I forgot something. We've got to go back!" When the limo returned, Moon ran to his room, grabbed the TV while it was plugged in, threw it out the window and into the pool. He then jumped back into the limousine, sighing "I nearly forgot." On [[January 4]], [[1970]], Moon was involved in a car-pedestrian death outside the Red Lion pub in [[Hatfield, Hertfordshire]]. Trying to escape hostile [[skinheads]] from the pub who had begun to attack his [[Bentley]], Moon ran over and killed his friend and [[bodyguard]], [[Neil Boland]]. Although the [[coroner]] said Boland's death was an accident, and Moon was given an [[absolute discharge]] having been charged with driving offences, those close to him said Moon was haunted by the accident for the rest of his life. Boland's daughter investigated and suggested that Moon may not have been driving.<ref>[http://www.ijamming.net/?page_id=74 An interview with Jean Battye about the death of Neil Boland]</ref> Moon's penchant for the wild life was detrimental to his drumming and his reliability as a band member. On the 1973 [[Quadrophenia]] tour, at the [[Cow Palace]] in [[Daly City]], [[California]], Moon took a large mixture of [[PCP]] and [[brandy]]. He passed out during "[[Won't Get Fooled Again]]" and again in "[[Magic Bus (song)|Magic Bus]]." Townshend asked the audience, "Can anyone play the drums? - I mean somebody good." An audience member, [[Scot Halpin]], filled in for the rest of the show. During the band's recording sabbatical between 1975 and 1978, Moon put on a great deal of weight. Moon's close friend and legendary drummer [[Ringo Starr]] was seriously concered about his 'Rock Star' lifestyle and told Moon that if he kept going the way he was he would eventually kill himself. Moon simply replied 'Yeah, I know.' {{Fact|date=July 2008}} Moon owned a [[Lilac (color)|lilac]]-coloured Rolls-Royce, painted with house paint. On ''[[Top Gear (current format)|Top Gear]]'',<ref>(aired 2004/12/12)</ref> Daltrey commented that Moon liked to take upper-class icons and make them working class. The car is now owned by Middlebrook Garages (based in [[Nottinghamshire, England]]). ==Work outside The Who== Although Moon's work with The Who dominated his career, he participated in minor side projects. In 1966, he teamed with [[Yardbirds]] guitarist [[Jeff Beck]], session man [[Nicky Hopkins]], and future [[Led Zeppelin]] members [[Jimmy Page]] and [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]] to record an instrumental, "[[Beck's Bolero]]," released as a single-double later that year. He also played [[timpani]] on another track, "Ol' Man River" (credited on the back of the album as "You Know Who"). Moon is said to have named [[Led Zeppelin]]. When an early version of the band was being discussed that would have had himself, [[John Entwistle]] on bass, [[Jimmy Page]] on guitar, and an undecided vocalist, he stated the potential group would "go down like a [[lead]] [[zeppelin]]." He joined Zeppelin on stage and drummed with [[John Bonham]] for encores in a show on [[23 June]] [[1977]] at the [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|L.A. Forum]] (recorded on Led Zeppelin bootlegs). In 1974 Track Records/MCA released a solo single: "Don't Worry, Baby" b/w "Teenage Idol", the former a reflection of his love of [[The Beach Boys]]. In 1975 he released his only solo album, pop covers entitled ''[[Two Sides of the Moon]].'' Although this featured Moon's singing, much drumming was left to other artists including [[Ringo Starr]], [[session musician]]s Curly Smith and [[Jim Keltner]] and actor/musician [[Miguel Ferrer]] (''[[Twin Peaks]]'' and ''[[Crossing Jordan]]''). Moon played drums on only three tracks. In late 1975, he played drums on the track "Bo Diddley Jam" on [[Bo Diddley]]'s ''The 20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll'' all-star album. In 1971 he had a [[cameo role]] in [[Frank Zappa]]'s film ''[[200 Motels]].'' He acted in drag as a nun fearful of death from [[drug overdose|overdosing on pills]]. In 1973 he appeared in ''[[That'll Be The Day (film)|That'll Be the Day]],'' playing J.D. Clover, the drummer at a [[holiday camp]] during the early days of [[British rock|British rock 'n' roll]]. Moon reprised the role for the sequel ''[[Stardust (1974 film)|Stardust]]'' in 1974. The film co-starred Moon's friend [[Ringo Starr]] of the [[Beatles]]. He appeared as "Uncle Ernie" in [[Ken Russell]]'s 1975 film adaptation of ''[[Tommy (rock opera)|Tommy]].'' In 1976, he covered the Beatles' "[[When I'm Sixty-Four]]" for the soundtrack of the documentary ''[[All This and World War II]].'' He impersonated a camp fashion designer in "[[Sextette]]" (1978), starring [[Mae West]]. He was to have a part in [[Monty Python]]'s ''[[Life of Brian]]'' and stayed in the Caribbean with the six Python members as they wrote the script. He died before filming. The published edition of the screenplay to ''Life of Brian'' is dedicated to Moon. Moon once owned a hotel, The Crown and Cushion in [[Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire|Chipping Norton]]. ==Death== Moon was [[Paul McCartney]]'s guest at a film preview of ''[[The Buddy Holly Story]]'' on the evening of [[6 September]] [[1978]]. After dining with Paul and [[Linda McCartney]], Moon and his girlfriend, [[Annette Walter-Lax]], returned to a flat on loan from [[Harry Nilsson]] in [[Curzon Place]], [[London]] (near [[Shepherd Market]]), where Moon died of an overdose of [[Clomethiazole]] (Heminevrin), a medication he was taking to wean him off [[alcohol]]. The police determined there were 32 pills in his system, 26 of them undissolved.<ref>Fletcher, Tony: "Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend</ref> Moon died in the room in which [[Cass Elliot]] of [[The Mamas & the Papas]] had died four years earlier. On the audio DVD commentary to [[The Criterion Collection]]'s release of the [[Monty Python]] film ''[[Life of Brian]]'', [[Eric Idle]] talks about the dinner party. Idle relates that Moon was excited about his role as a [[prophet]] in the movie. After launching into his speech for the film, Idle and Moon exchanged a "big, warm hug," with Idle commenting that "he was just such a wonderful enthusiast." Moon died a couple of weeks after the release of ''[[Who Are You]].'' On the album cover, Moon is seated on a chair back-to-front to hide the weight gained over three years (as discussed in Tony Fletcher's book "Dear Boy"). The chair is labeled "NOT TO BE TAKEN AWAY." Moon was cremated. His ashes were scattered in the Gardens of Remembrance at [[Golders Green Crematorium]] in London. ==Events after his death== While Moon was alive, The Who performed with four members. Afterwards, he was replaced by [[Small Faces]]/[[The Faces|Faces]] drummer [[Kenney Jones]] and later [[Simon Phillips]]. The Who also added keyboardist [[John Bundrick|John "Rabbit" Bundrick]] to the live band. The Who's drum position is currently occupied by [[Zak Starkey]], son of [[Ringo Starr]]. Starkey was taught by Moon and referred to him as Uncle Keith. Daltrey recorded a song, "Under a Raging Moon", as a tribute to Moon and the "middle bar" in the London Astoria is named after him. A biography was written about Moon by [[Tony Fletcher]], entitled ''Dear Boy: The Life of Keith Moon.'' "Dear Boy" became a [[catchphrase]] of Moon's when he started affecting a pompous English accent around 1969, particularly when ordering drinks.<ref>Fletcher, Tony: "Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend</ref> In early 2006, Moon's signature ''Pictures of Lily'' drum kit was reissued by [[Premier Percussion]] under the name ''Spirit of Lily.'' Moon's ex-wife, Kim, was married to [[Ian McLagan]] of [[The Faces]] in 1978, the year that Moon died. She was killed in a traffic accident near [[Austin, Texas]] on [[August 2]], [[2006]]. Moon's daughter, Mandy, is married to a graphic artist. She has two daughters and lives in Southern California. Daltrey is producing a biopic about Moon called ''See Me Feel Me: Keith Moon Naked for Your Pleasure,'' which will be released in 2009. Comedian [[Mike Myers (actor)|Mike Myers]] will play the main role. ==References== {{reflist}} [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0380788276 Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend] by Tony Fletcher [http://www.amazon.com/dp/1402728387 Anyway Anyhow Anywhere (Revised Edition): The Complete Chronicle of The Who 1958-1978] by Andrew Neill and Mathew Kent ==External links== * [http://www.thewho.net/linernotes/ thewho.net: Album Liner Notes and Song Information] *[http://www.wholocations.co.uk The Who Location Guide] * [http://www.thewhoforum.co.uk/ The Who Forum: Includes Keith Moon news,views and discussion.] * [http://www.punkinthegutter.com/ Punk in the Gutter: Discussion/News Repository Website about The Who, including a Keith Moon Appreciation Archive] (registration required) * [http://www.petetownshend.co.uk/towsertv/ The Who ("Towser") TV: Online Webcasts, including Moon footage] * [http://www.shepherdmarket.co.uk/history.htm Keith Moon's Place of death] * [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=1260 Profile for Keith Moon] at [[Find A Grave]] * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zbsqlec__g] Photographic Homage to Keith Moon {{The Who}} * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC4I0aB25Fcyp9DQ] Documentary on Keith Moon, Part 5 * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbPBofY|7D4] Documentary on Keith Moon, Part 6 {{lifetime|1946|1978|Moon, Keith}} [[Category:English rock drummers]] [[Category:English drummers]] [[Category:The Who members]] [[Category:People from Alperton]] [[Category:Accidental deaths]] [[Category:Drug-related deaths]] [[Category:1946 births]] [[Category:1978 deaths]] [[cs:Keith Moon]] [[da:Keith Moon]] [[de:Keith Moon]] [[et:Keith Moon]] [[es:Keith Moon]] [[eo:Keith Moon]] [[fr:Keith Moon]] [[ga:Keith Moon]] [[it:Keith Moon]] [[he:קית' מון]] [[hu:Keith Moon]] [[nl:Keith Moon]] [[ja:キース・ムーン]] [[no:Keith Moon]] [[pl:Keith Moon]] [[pt:Keith Moon]] [[ru:Мун, Кит]] [[fi:Keith Moon]] [[sv:Keith Moon]]