"John [Entwistle] and I used to have fights it wasn't very serious, it was more of an emotional spur-of-the moment thing. Earlier that night, Moon and his girlfriend, Annette Walter-Lax, attended the Buddy Holly Story premiere with Linda and Paul McCartney. 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. 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 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.. During the Who's early days he began taking amphetamines,[85] and in a NME interview said his favourite food was "French Blues". Moon and Entwistle left the Who for a week (with Moon hoping to join the Animals or the Nashville Teens), but they changed their minds and returned. We were trying to kill ourselves.". . Moon's performance on "Bell Boy" (Quadrophenia, 1973) saw him abandon "serious" vocal performances to sing in character, which gave him (in Fletcher's words) "full licence to live up to his reputation as a lecherous drunk"; it was "exactly the kind of performance the Who needed from him to bring them back down to earth. 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. 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". The Who performed two songs that night - I Can See For Miles, the band's first . Nevertheless, the Who powered through a nine-song set that . In the wake of Keith Moons death, The Who continued to tour although Pete Townshend has admitted that this professional push was completely irrational, bordering on insane. Following Keith Moon, The Who cycled through several drummers, including Ringo Starrs son, but none were ever the perfect replacement. [91] These acts, often fuelled by drugs and alcohol, were Moon's way of demonstrating his eccentricity; he enjoyed shocking the public with them. 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. According to Lewis, Moon was drunk by the time the band went onstage at Atwood Stadium. not for children. According to biographer Tony Fletcher, Moons elementary school music teacher noted that the boy had great ability but must guard against a tendency to show off. That performative streak would come to define the young rock drummer. Keith Moon: Classic Images of the Iconic Drummer . I suppose as a drummer, I'm adequate. [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. [92] McLagan commented that Moon "couldn't handle it. [6] His art teacher said in a report: "Retarded artistically. [125] The marriage (and child) were kept secret from the press until May 1968. His 21st birthday party in Flint, Michigan, has been cited as a notorious example of decadent behaviour by rock groups. By Ken Sharp. That's the same as around $40 million today after adjusting for inflation. 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. Outside the cinema Keith spotted Melody Maker journalist Roy Carr and grabbed him in a bear hug. "[143] Townshend agreed, saying that by 1975 Butler had "no influence over him whatsoever. [73], Moon became involved in solo work when he moved to Los Angeles during the mid-1970s. Jack McCullogh, then working for Track Records (the Who's label), recalls Moon ordering him to purchase a milk float to store in the garage at Tara. 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?? 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. Technical details. What nobody knew was the damaging effects of the prescription drugs he was taking and in such quantities. Keith Moon was an English drummer who had a net worth equal to $10 million at the time of his death in 1978. Moon filled in for Peel in 1973's "A Touch of the Moon", a series of four programmes produced by John Walters. 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. But he was loud and strong. "My Generation," released late in the previous year, shot to No. "He'd play zig-zag. Someone somewhere will say, 'Remember Keith Moon?' [123] She and Moon were married on 17 March 1966 at Brent Register Office,[124] and their daughter Amanda was born on 12 July. It was a powerful sedative prescribed to him by Harley Street physician, Dr Geoffrey Dymond. Rocks greatest drummer was just 32 years old when he died. 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. Keith Moon is one of the most outrageous rock'n'roll performers in the world. He then jumped back into the limo, saying "I nearly forgot. 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. 3. 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). The Moon indeed. He was in a bad mood and they argued, but Annette cooked him some more lamb. But Keiths drinking and drug taking had impacted on his performance and his appearance. [134] She died in a car accident in Austin, Texas, on 2 August 2006. But it was too late. At the end of the song, the drums go nuts. It's a wonder he didn't come round and personally flatten the diminutive drummer. The following year he released his only solo album, entitled Two Sides of the Moon. In his memoir, Who Am I?, Pete Townshend writes that he was terrified that Keith wouldnt be able to hide his deteriorating condition.. He bought a number of cars and gadgets, and flirted with bankruptcy. Speaking of both Nilsson and Moon, Lennon said: "I think Harry might still be trying, poor bugger. 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. "[27] Moon also clashed with Daltrey and Townshend: "We really have absolutely nothing in common apart from music", he said in a later interview. THOMAS JEFFERSON. 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. 1. He'd move his arms forward like a skier. 2 in their list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time, behind John Bonham. "Prisoner of Your Eyes," recorded during the Turbo sessions but not released until Screaming for Vengeance 's 2001 reissue . Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! [155] Police determined that there were 32 clomethiazole pills in Moon's system. [90] In addition to hotel rooms, Moon destroyed friends' homes and even his own, including throwing furniture from upper-storey windows. Keith died in London on 7 September 1978, from an accidental overdose . In April 1964, aged 17,[22] he auditioned for the Who as a replacement for Doug Sandom. This one is . She still remembered the last time they met. Next article These maps show how the world would look if the ice melted; "I never realised dynamite was so powerful. 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. [179], Ray Davies notably lauded Moon's drumming during his speech for the Kinks' induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1990: " Keith Moon changed the sound of drumming. During a lunar eclipse, Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the sunlight falling on the Moon. [164] Since 1996, the Who's drummer has been Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey, who had been given a drum kit by Moon (whom he called "Uncle Keith"). See more. [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. [67] A clip of the incident became the opening scene for the film The Kids Are Alright. by Unfortunately for Keith these ended up being his last words. "[126], From 1971 to 1975 Moon owned Tara, a home in Chertsey where he initially lived with his wife and daughter. [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. "[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. Moon's lifestyle began to undermine his health and reliability. "[99], Moon moved from cherry bombs to M-80 fireworks to sticks of dynamite, which became his explosive of choice. Keith Moon. AllMusic's Bruce Eder said, "When Keith Moon died, the Who carried on and were far more competent and reliable musically, but that wasn't what sold rock records. (Moon was close with all the Beatles, especially John Lennon and Ringo Starr.) . He claims that, to ensure Harry listened to it, he told . [132] Marsh believes that Moon never truly recovered from the loss of his family. The next evening Moon systematically destroyed everything in his hotel room, cut himself doing so and passed out. The AZ Of Queen, Peter Grant, The Story Of Rock's Greatest Manager and Pretend You're in a War: The Who & The Sixties. Upon returning home, the couple had a fight. Tony Fletcher wrote that "no toilet in a hotel or changing room was safe" until Moon had exhausted his supply of explosives. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. His work has appeared in The Times and The Daily Telegraph, and the magazines Q, Mojo, Classic Rock, Music Week and Prog. [98] Townshend remembers walking into the bathroom of Moon's hotel room and noticing the toilet had disappeared, with only the S-bend remaining. Their debut album, My Generation, showcased the unique style of Moons drumming: full of tom-toms, crashing cymbals, and surf music influence. Moon, so far gone in his addictions, was out of practice could barely keep up with the band. [104], Returning to the hotel, Moon started a food fight and soon cake began flying through the air. Rock Musician. Back at their flat, in 12 Curzon Place, Mayfair, Moon told Annette he was hungry. After all, the corpse of Keith Moon, legendary drummer for the Who, is right there on the first page. 1. Keith Moon was cremated on 13 September 1978, at Golders Green Crematorium in . This new edition includes a newly written After word that consiers Moon's lasting legacy . When he briefly considered leaving the Who in 1966, he spoke with Entwistle and Page about forming a supergroup. Who manager Bill Curbishley agreed that Moon "wasn't disciplined enough to actually turn up or commit to doing the stuff. The Jam's single was released about a month after Moon's death. Keith Moon discussed his reckless lifestyle on 'Good Morning America' just a month before his death. [100][184], Anatomy of a Drum Solo DVD, Neil Peart (2005) accompanying booklet.