[167], The London 2012 Summer Olympic Committee contacted Curbishley about Moon performing at the games, 34 years after his death. When the audience demanded he do it again, Moon kicked over his drum kit. The last straw was when Keith Moon came into Drum City with a snare case and stole a full case . Moon initially told his girlfriend Annette Walter-Lax he didnt want to go to the party. Following the explosion, Moon turned the recorder back on and said, "That, dear boy, was noise. I said: 'Right.' "[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. Open verdict. It was later revealed Moon had 26 undissolved Heminevrin tablets still in his stomach when he died. In Annettes account, Moon woke up at 7:30am and told her he wanted food. THOMAS JEFFERSON. Keith died in London on 7 September 1978, from an accidental overdose . See more. 1. Bruce Willis Spotted In Public For The First Time Since Dementia Diagnosis, Riley Keough Says Sex Scene With Her Real-Life Husband In Daisy Jones & The Six Was Really Uncomfortable, Madonna, 64, Is Reportedly Dating 29-Year-Old Boxer Josh Popper, Jackson Mahomes Accused Of Assault By Restaurant Owner and Waiter, Honeymooners Sue Hawaii Snorkeling Company for $5 Million, Claiming They Abandoned Them in the Ocean, AOC Being Investigated By Congressional Ethics Committee Over Met Gala Tickets, Report: Biden Had Skin Cancer Removed From Chest Last Month, Rebel Wilson Was Banned From Disneyland for 30 Days. I was scared to death. God bless you, Harry, wherever you are but, Jesus, you know, I had . When she objected, Moon replied, "If you don't like it, you can fuck off!" The late '70s proved a double whammy for the "Let My Love Open the Door" singer and his surviving bandmates. That's why he had two sets of tom-toms. the classic rock band which still performs to this day. [42] The drummer's interest in surf music and his desire to sing led to his performing lead vocals on several early tracks, including "Bucket T" and "Barbara Ann" (Ready Steady Who EP, 1966)[43] and high backing vocals on other songs, such as "Pictures of Lily". 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. When she told him she wanted to go anyway, he changed his mind and called his dealer who delivered some cocaine. His band recently released their new album called . "[78], Early in the Who's career, Moon got to know the Beatles. Afterwards I was sitting at the bar and Pete came over. Keith Moon with the Who in 1970 - 74 was just a force of nature, and one I'm glad to have witnessed up close 3 times. 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. [151], By September 1978 Moon was having difficulty playing the drums, according to roadie Dave "Cy" Langston. The untimely loss of Keith Moon, one of the world's most skilled drummers, still hits rock music fans hard every so often. Carlos Santana is a musician who needs little introduction. [59], At an early show at the Railway Tavern in Harrow, Townshend smashed his guitar after accidentally breaking it. 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". . It was just another night in the life of a successful rock star: a film premiere and a party. 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. According to Fletcher, Moon's toilet pyrotechnics began in 1965 when he purchased a case of 500 cherry bombs. Keith gasped at the soft voice, sounding exactly the same as the voice of the woman in his dream. Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password. At the hotel he ran back to his room, grabbed the television and threw it out of the window into the swimming pool below. In 1966 Moon moved to an even larger kit,[55] but without the customary hi-hatat the time he preferred keeping ride rhythms with ride and crash cymbals, but he later reinstated the hi-hats. Their debut album, My Generation, showcased the unique style of Moons drumming: full of tom-toms, crashing cymbals, and surf music influence. But he was loud and strong. [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. Moon had been taking Heminevrin for some time. He felt very restless and didn't know what to do now.On the one hand, Nathania also felt the same anxiety. Moons closest friend in the group then broke down in tears. Close. For a short while, Daltrey's puch seemed to knock some sense into Moon. He'd move his arms forward like a skier. Daltrey said in an interview with Vulture . Sadly it wasnt. 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. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, 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 and daughter Amanda with some of his car collection. 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. 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. Heres how it works. 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. He didn't do anything to talk of. It was the concluding show on their tour. "[168], Moon's drumming has been praised by critics. "He had no idea how to be a father", Kim said. Moon's lifestyle began to undermine his health and reliability. 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. The next evening Moon systematically destroyed everything in his hotel room, cut himself doing so and passed out. [96] David Puttnam recalled, "The drinking went from being a joke to being a problem. In the days leading up to his death, Moon cut back on the booze. Goodnight Keith Moon: A Parody!, Bruce Worden, Clare Cross. Townshend disagreed, assuring him that "lightning wouldn't strike the same place twice". A month before his death, The Who released their then . 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 led a destructive lifestyle. 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. McCartney had acquired the rights to Hollys song publishing, and a biopic, The Buddy Holly Story, was premiering later that night. Shooting is set to begin on the Moon pic in June, and the casting process has been rumbling along for a few months already. Keith Moon on 6 September 1978, the night before he died, (Image credit: Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo), Keith Moon with Annette Walter-Lax in February 1978, (Image credit: John Downing / Getty Images), Keith Moon with girlfriend Annette Walter-Lax, photographed on the night he died, (Image credit: Anwar Hussein \/ / Getty Images), Gene Simmons hates Kiss' million-selling 1979 single I Was Made For Lovin' You, and not for the reason you think, The 10 best songs Jimmy Page has released since Led Zeppelin, Why you should definitely own Apple by Mother Love Bone, Meet the woman who let Metallica rehearse in her basement, Extreme announce first album in 15 years, unveil video for new single Rise, Every issue delivered direct to your door. 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. by [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. 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. In 1972 the performance was released as a companion disc to Lennon and Ono's album Some Time in New York City. 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. [18], During this time Moon joined his first serious band: the Escorts, replacing his best friend Gerry Evans. Van der Valk Miss Scarlet & The Duke Antiques Roadshow PBS Newshour Finding Your Roots Editors Note: This article was originally published November 7, 2020. "[89], According to Townshend, Moon began destroying hotel rooms when the Who stayed at the Berlin Hilton on tour in late 1966. [165][166] Starkey had previously toured in 1994 with Roger Daltrey. 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 . Keith Moon played his final tour date with the Who on Oct. 21, 1976, at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Keith Moon: Classic Images of the Iconic Drummer. [177][178] Jazz drummer Elvin Jones praised Moon's work during "Underture", as integral to the song's effect. His music teacher wrote that Moon "has great ability, but must guard against a tendency to show off. You can't help but feel that some of the last words of the famous people on this list encapsulate their personas. 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. [126] Moon was occasionally violent towards Kim:[127] "if we went out after I had Mandy", she later said, "if someone talked to me, he'd lose it. "He'd play zig-zag. [147] Moon then took some clomethiazole tablets. TIL that Keith Moon, the drummer for The Who, asked his then-girlfriend, Walter-Lax, to cook him steak and eggs. SOFT WORKS - Abracadabra In Osaka (2CD) 6 panels eco-wallet with 20 pages booklet. "[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. Unfortunately for Keith these ended up being his last words. Moon overdosed on prescribed Heminevrin, a strong sedative meant to ease alcohol withdrawal symptoms as he struggled to get sober. : 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. "[180], "God bless his beautiful heart" Ozzy Osbourne told Sounds a month after the drummer's 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 explained that the group had totally lost their way: "Harry Nilsson, Bobby Keyes, Keith Moon. He's dead, so what? His favourite musicians were jazz artists, particularly Gene Krupa (whose flamboyant style he subsequently copied). [92] McLagan commented that Moon "couldn't handle it. "[78], Nevertheless, the drummer landed several acting roles. 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. It was Professor Keith Simpson, as it was with Cass Elliot, who performed the post mortem. We tell stories with heart, humor, and authenticity to celebrate American life. Moon, in the words of Fletcher, had a "lack of control and timing," but Moon enjoyed playing. [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 Moon, Melody Maker, September 1970[31], Moon's style of drumming was considered unique by his bandmates, although they sometimes found his unconventional playing frustrating; Entwistle noted that he tended to play faster or slower according to his mood. New Musical Express's Roy Carr wrote, "Moonie, if you didn't have talent, I wouldn't care; but you have, which is why I'm not about to accept Two Sides of the Moon. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 band continued without him for several songs before Townshend asked, "Can anyone play the drums? [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. 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. Rare covers every corner of American culture with no slant or bias. And that was it. The last time I was in town was the first time I'd ever visited Los Angeles on anything other than business. The last photo of Keith Moon As last words go, they are pretty hard to beat. "John [Entwistle] and I used to have fights it wasn't very serious, it was more of an emotional spur-of-the moment thing. He was named as hyperactive as a boy, with a restless imagination and a particular fondness for The Goon Show and music. It was exactly 40 years ago today that Who drummer . Longtime friend and personal assistant Butler observed, "He was trying to make people laugh and be Mr Funny, he wanted people to love him and enjoy him, but he would go so far. At the age of 12, he had joined the Sea Cadet Corp and was given his first musical instrument, the bugle. 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. One of the things we'd do was wait to see what Keith Moon was going to wear . Keith with Annette on the night he died. By 1966, The Who had become bona fide pop stars. 2 on the 2011 Rolling Stone "Best Drummers of All Time" readers' poll. 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 . But it worked. After a two-year break from touring, the bandmates were meeting to film one last set for the rockumentary, The Kids Are Alright but their first attempt had been dismal. Moons final performance with the band took place on May 25, 1978, just months before the musicians premature death at the age of 32. [118] Even when the group became relatively financially stable after Tommy, Moon continued to rack up debts. [138] In the early 1970s Moon helped Stanshall with his "Radio Flashes" radio show for BBC Radio 1, filling in for the vacationing John Peel. [155] Police determined that there were 32 clomethiazole pills in Moon's system. [13] Moon also admired Elvis Presley's original drummer DJ Fontana, the Shadows' original drummer Tony Meehan[14] and the Pretty Things' Viv Prince. "[33] Contemporary critics questioned his ability to keep time, with biographer Tony Fletcher suggesting that the timing on Tommy was "all over the place." Gustav Mahler. Annette rang Dr Dymond, who called an ambulance. Someone somewhere will say, 'Remember Keith Moon?' [60] Subsequent live sets culminated in what the band later described as "auto-destructive art", in which band members (particularly Moon and Townshend) elaborately destroyed their equipment. The AZ Of Queen, Peter Grant, The Story Of Rock's Greatest Manager and Pretend You're in a War: The Who & The Sixties. [35], Unlike contemporary rock drummers such as Ginger Baker and John Bonham, Moon hated drum solos and refused to play them in concert. And it was this version of Keith Moon that led to his untimely death on September 7 1978. I'd bring in 'My Generation'. "[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. [79] Moon's next film role was J.D. (1975) before moving back to the UK in 1977 to play on Who Are You, his last recorded work with The Who. [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. This drum solo would be the rock legends last. Moon was . Heminevrin quelled the craving for alcohol, but sometimes left users in a docile and forgetful state. (Moon was close with all the Beatles, especially John Lennon and Ringo Starr.) Previous article Police are shocked at what this teenage treasure hunter found. [19] In December 1962 he joined the Beachcombers, a semi-professional London cover band playing hits by groups such as the Shadows. Andrew Neill and Matthew Kent estimated that his destruction of hotel toilets and plumbing cost as much as 300,000 ($500,000). Moon filled in for Peel in 1973's "A Touch of the Moon", a series of four programmes produced by John Walters. Moon attended Alperton Secondary Modern School after failing his eleven plus exam, which precluded his attending a grammar school. Stay up to date with in depth music reviews, exclusive interviews and widespread coverage of whats happening from your favourite music genre. [10] Moon then enrolled at Harrow Technical College; this led to a job as a radio repairman, enabling him to buy his first drum kit. [95] Around the same time he became a severe alcoholic, starting the day with drinks and changing from the "lovable boozer" he presented himself as to a "boorish drunk". 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. 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. 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. 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. These were his last words. Moon joined The Who when he was only 17 years old. Her parents, who were furious, met with the Moons to discuss their options, and she moved into the Moon family home in Wembley. The couple arrived at Peppermint Park, where Annette has since insisted Moon didnt drink or, if he did, limited himself to just two drinks. He said, I dont want to sit through this. 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. [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. Annette Walter-Lax says the Who drummer's last words were "If you don't like it, you can f*** off!" After Annette left the flat, Moon took a deadly amount of Heminevrin: 32 pills. But Keith's drinking and drug taking . (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? And Roger, who was the spokesman then, said: 'What are you doing next Monday?' Featured Specials and Programs. The Who's Keith Moon is routinely championed as one of music's most explosive and creative drummers. And it was this version of Keith Moon that led to his untimely death on September 7 1978. Keith Moon. He provided humorous commentary during song announcements, although sound engineer Bob Pridden preferred to mute his vocal microphone on the mixing desk whenever possible. Moon developed a habit of kicking over his drums, claiming that he did so in exasperation at an audience's indifference. Lets go.. In 1979, just one year after losing Moon, the group was thrust into an unwanted . [57] This kit was not used at the Who's performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. The Moon indeed. [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. September 6, 1978. [151] Max Glatt, an authority on alcoholism, wrote in The Sunday Times that Moon should never have been given the drug. In 2000, the book was released in the US as Moon (The Life and Death of a Rock Legend). But it was too late. Here, we take a look at five crazy, funny, and often dangerous Keith Moon moments. "[75] Dave Marsh, reviewing the album in Rolling Stone, wrote: "There isn't any legitimate reason for this album's existence. . 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. some gave all Carrie Underwood: Play On Carrie Underwood: Play On Dolly Parton: slow dancing with the moon Garth Brooks: Ropin . What nobody knew was the damaging effects of the prescription drugs he was taking and in such quantities. Curbishley told Townshend, who informed the rest of the band. 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. [8] He was interested in practical jokes and home science kits, with a particular fondness for explosions. [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. 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 . This is the 'Oo. The Who performed two songs that night - I Can See For Miles, the band's first . Moon also played timpani on another track, a cover of Jerome Kern's "Ol' Man River". Article. [11], Moon took lessons from one of the loudest contemporary drummers, Screaming Lord Sutch's Carlo Little, at 10 shillings per lesson. Falling in love with drum playing, he soon joined a group called The. [12] Moon's early style was influenced by jazz, American surf music and rhythm and blues, exemplified by noted Los Angeles studio drummer Hal Blaine. It was a powerful sedative prescribed to him by Harley Street physician, Dr Geoffrey Dymond. The kit was eventually fitted with copper fittings[58] and later given to a young Zak Starkey. The official cause of death was listed on the certificate as Clomethiazole (Heminevrin) overdose, self-administered but no evidence of intention. [132] Marsh believes that Moon never truly recovered from the loss of his family. After the party, Moon and Annette attended the midnight premiere of The Buddy Holly Story at the Odeon, Leicester Square.