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. He was in a bad mood and they argued, but Annette cooked him some more lamb. His work has appeared in The Times and The Daily Telegraph, and the magazines Q, Mojo, Classic Rock, Music Week and Prog. But his wild exterior distracted from a slate of intense addiction issues. The late '70s proved a double whammy for the "Let My Love Open the Door" singer and his surviving bandmates. "I never realised dynamite was so powerful. NB Down: III. [50], The drummer produced the violin solo on "Baba O'Riley". "[25] Daltrey said that Moon "just instinctively put drum fills in places that other people would never have thought of putting them. 3. (1975) before moving back to the UK in 1977 to play on Who Are You, his last recorded work with The Who. "[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. [134] She died in a car accident in Austin, Texas, on 2 August 2006. The official cause of death was listed on the certificate as Clomethiazole (Heminevrin) overdose, self-administered but no evidence of intention. [167], The London 2012 Summer Olympic Committee contacted Curbishley about Moon performing at the games, 34 years after his death. It's a wonder he didn't come round and personally flatten the diminutive drummer. Moon filled in for Peel in 1973's "A Touch of the Moon", a series of four programmes produced by John Walters. Paperback. His favourite musicians were jazz artists, particularly Gene Krupa (whose flamboyant style he subsequently copied). [74] The album was received poorly by critics. Townshend called vocalist Roger Daltrey and then bassist John Entwistle, who was being interviewed at the time. The last time I was in town was the first time I'd ever visited Los Angeles on anything other than business. 0 Votes. [177][178] Jazz drummer Elvin Jones praised Moon's work during "Underture", as integral to the song's effect. Moon enjoyed touring and socialising, and became bored and restless when the Who were inactive. Posted by 10 years ago. [35], Unlike contemporary rock drummers such as Ginger Baker and John Bonham, Moon hated drum solos and refused to play them in concert. [100] "All that porcelain flying through the air was quite unforgettable," Moon remembered. [51] Moon sat in on congas with East of Eden at London's Lyceum Ballroom, and afterwards suggested to violinist Dave Arbus that he play on the track. [175] The Jam paid homage to Moon on the second single from their third album, "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight"; the B-side of the single is a Who cover ("So Sad About Us"), and the back cover of the record has a photo of Moon's face. 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. Moon had been taking Heminevrin for some time. May 25, 2021, 3:00 pm 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. "[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. He quickly ended the interview when the journalist asked him about the Who's future plans. in Bournemouth. THOMAS JEFFERSON. Moon died shortly after the release of Who Are You. 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. Who producer Jon Astley said, "You didn't think he was keeping time, but he was. He was discovered by manager Bill Curbishley, who took him to a hospital, telling him "I'm gonna get the doctor to get you nice and fit, so you're back within two days. $37.74 8 Used from $13.97 9 New from $22.34. He is probably now best known for his big hit, 'Yesterday Man'. It was a powerful sedative prescribed to him by Harley Street physician, Dr Geoffrey Dymond. Keith stopped his footsteps, his heart still beating fast. After waking up, she ventured back into the bedroom, where she found Moon lying on his stomach with his left arm hanging over the side of the bed: I couldnt hear him breathing. "Drinking suited the group a lot better. "[110] Doctors told Curbishley that if he had not intervened, Moon would have bled to death. Keith Moon's (original drummer for The Who) last words were "if you don't like it, you can fuck off!" So rock and roll. Moon developed a habit of kicking over his drums, claiming that he did so in exasperation at an audience's indifference. [98], Entwistle recalled being close to Moon on tour and both were often involved in blowing up toilets. Mark Blake is a music journalist and author. 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 the evening was also Keith Moon's last. In a 1981 Los Angeles Times interview he admitted, "A lot of times when Keith was blowing up toilets I was standing behind him with the matches. The group was concerned that he would be unable to complete the last leg of the tour, which ended at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on 21 October (Moon's last public show). All rights reserved. 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. An addled Keith Moon f***ing with his kid was beyond forgiveness. September 6, 1978. [70] On 15 December 1969, Moon joined John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band for a live performance at the Lyceum Theatre in London for a UNICEF charity concert. At the end of the 1976 US tour in Miami that August, Moon became delirious was treated in Hollywood Memorial Hospital for eight days. Speaking to The Guardian, Christopher Frayling said they "decided that bad behaviour and overdosing on various substances wasn't a sufficient qualification." The real Keith Moon was a son, a brother, a father and an insecure man. In an interview with Guitar World magazine, he recalled that the drummer "taught me how to break things. "[182], In 1998 Tony Fletcher published a biography of Moon, Dear Boy: The Life of Keith Moon, in the United Kingdom. [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. But Keith's drinking and drug taking . Edgy! "[126], From 1971 to 1975 Moon owned Tara, a home in Chertsey where he initially lived with his wife and daughter. We'd go home and he'd start a fight with me. We tell stories with heart, humor, and authenticity to celebrate American life. [139], Guitarist Joe Walsh enjoyed socialising with Moon. "[29] These antics earned him the nickname "Moon the Loon".[30]. A month before his death, The Who released their then . Keith died in London on 7 September 1978, from an accidental overdose . "[27] Moon also clashed with Daltrey and Townshend: "We really have absolutely nothing in common apart from music", he said in a later interview. [161][162], Jones left the Who in 1988,[163] and drummer Simon Phillips (who praised Moon's ability to drum over the backing track of "Baba O'Riley") toured with the band the following year. "[143] Townshend agreed, saying that by 1975 Butler had "no influence over him whatsoever. Technical details. Floor count. Keith Moon. Back at their flat, in 12 Curzon Place, Mayfair, Moon told Annette he was hungry. Mikey Dolenz tells a story about bringing Badfinger's "Without You" to the attention of Nilsson. [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. In the great green room. My Wife04. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, 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. "[142], Peter "Dougal" Butler began working for the Who in 1967, becoming Moon's personal assistant the following year[143] to help him stay out of trouble. But it was too late. [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. 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. [adsense-gallery] [zergnet] Prev 7 of 7 Next. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). 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. By Ken Sharp. [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. "[180], "God bless his beautiful heart" Ozzy Osbourne told Sounds a month after the drummer's death. Moon, in the words of Fletcher, had a "lack of control and timing," but Moon enjoyed playing. SOFT WORKS - Abracadabra In Osaka (2CD) 6 panels eco-wallet with 20 pages booklet. He played on all the band's albums and singles from their . The life and times of Keith Moon, the imperious drummer in The Who, is one marred in tragic lows and buoyed by ecstatic highs. [133] Butler agrees; despite his relationship with Annette Walter-Lax, he believes that Kim was the only woman Moon loved. [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". Moon's contribution. "[92], In a limousine on the way to the airport, Moon insisted they return to their hotel, saying "I forgot something." [104], Returning to the hotel, Moon started a food fight and soon cake began flying through the air. Her parents, who were furious, met with the Moons to discuss their options, and she moved into the Moon family home in Wembley. "Prisoner of Your Eyes," recorded during the Turbo sessions but not released until Screaming for Vengeance 's 2001 reissue . Baba O'Riley05. As the genius drummer for The Who, wild-man Moon is a non-. Moon led a destructive lifestyle. [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"). While he was still using cocaine, the fact that he didnt go wild on the free champagne was considered progress. 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. "[181], Clem Burke of Blondie has said "Early on all I cared about was Keith Moon and the Who. . [122] By the end of the year she discovered she was pregnant. He was an attention seeker and he had to have it. 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 . 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'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. Squ. At the age of 12, he had joined the Sea Cadet Corp and was given his first musical instrument, the bugle. Keith Moon was an English drummer who had a net worth equal to $10 million at the time of his death in 1978. At Moons funeral Daltrey told the mourners he still half-expected Keith to leap from the coffin, claiming it was all a joke. See more. The proposal never happened. That's why he had two sets of tom-toms. 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. [61] Townshend later said, "A set of skins is about $300 [then 96] and after every show he'd just go bang, bang, bang and then kick the whole thing over. "He'd play zig-zag. [112], Entwistle has said that Moon and the Who reached their live peak in 197576. They gave him a shower and an injection of cortisone, sending him back onstage after a thirty-minute delay. "[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. Track 9 Jam Session is an incomplete Eyesight To The Blind. On September 7, 1978, Keith Moon died at the age of 32 in a flat he was renting from Henry Nillson in Mayfair, London. During a lunar eclipse, Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the sunlight falling on the Moon. Close. Of the thirty-two Heminevrin tablets he found in Moon's stomach, twenty-six were undissolved. 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. [125] The marriage (and child) were kept secret from the press until May 1968. [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. 1. He's dead, so what? 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. It was Professor Keith Simpson, as it was with Cass Elliot, who performed the post mortem. "'Tis well." 2. 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. 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. Famous Last Words. Emily Mack Moon lived a short and talented life that was fueled by famous friendships, alcoholism, and the drums. I said: 'Right.' . The Jam's single was released about a month after Moon's death. He was the drummer for the seminal and influential English rock band The Who. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. It was the concluding show on their tour. [153], Curbishley phoned the flat at around 5:00p.m. looking for Moon, and Dymond gave him the news. That's the same as around $40 million today after adjusting for inflation. He said, I dont want to sit through this. Close. Published on 07/26/2019. Upon returning, he asked the manager to stay for a moment, as he wanted to explain something. Related articles John Lennon letter to Keith Moon and Harry Nilsson fetches 53,000 Moons closest friend in the group then broke down in tears. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The intensity of the explosion singed Townshend's hair and embedded a piece of cymbal in Moon's arm. 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. According to Pamela Des Barres, Moon had nightmares (which woke them both) about the incident and said he had no right to be alive. I just want to play drums for the Who and that's it. In Annettes account, Moon woke up at 7:30am and told her he wanted food. 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. In 2000, the book was released in the US as Moon (The Life and Death of a Rock Legend). 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 . He was also the songwriter responsible for many of Sandie Shaw's most "[98] He quickly developed a reputation for destroying bathrooms and blowing up toilets. Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! He did not keep a drum kit or practise at Tara, and began to deteriorate physically as a result of his lifestyle. [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". According to Lewis, Moon was drunk by the time the band went onstage at Atwood Stadium. "He was too much of a child himself. This is the 'Oo. Moon, so far gone in his addictions, was out of practice could barely keep up with the band. Keith Moon was more than just rock's greatest drummer, he was also its greatest character and wildest party animal. While touring with the Who, on several occasions he passed out on stage and was hospitalised. [41] At the end of "Happy Jack", Townshend can be heard saying "I saw ya!" But his snoring meant Annette retreated to the sofa, where she slept until 3:40pm. In April 1964, aged 17,[22] he auditioned for the Who as a replacement for Doug Sandom. [67] A clip of the incident became the opening scene for the film The Kids Are Alright. [141] Although Reed matched Moon drink for drink, he appeared on set the next morning ready to perform; Moon, on the other hand, would cost several hours of filming time. 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. Townshend disagreed, assuring him that "lightning wouldn't strike the same place twice". But Annette hadnt realised quite how many pills he was taking. 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. The following year he released his only solo album, entitled Two Sides of the Moon. In Dear Boy, Tony Fletcher has captured lightning in a bottle - the essence of a totally . And that was it. I figured that was it. 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. 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. He left school by 15 and was in his first band, The Beachcombers; this was around the summer of 1963. 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. Nevertheless, the Who powered through a nine-song set that . Who manager Bill Curbishley agreed that Moon "wasn't disciplined enough to actually turn up or commit to doing the stuff. The kit was eventually fitted with copper fittings[58] and later given to a young Zak Starkey. [13] Moon also admired Elvis Presley's original drummer DJ Fontana, the Shadows' original drummer Tony Meehan[14] and the Pretty Things' Viv Prince. With a focus on news, media, and humor, we are a RARE voice in todays media landscape. But Keiths drinking and drug taking had impacted on his performance and his appearance. [150] The pills were prescribed by Geoffrey Dymond, a physician who was unaware of Moon's lifestyle. His mother bought him a drum kit when he was 14 and it was soon apparent that he . Moon suffered a number of setbacks during the 1970s, most notably the accidental death of chauffeur Neil Boland and the breakdown of his marriage. 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. After an investigation, the coroner ruled Boland's death an accident; Moon, having been charged with a number of offences, received an absolute discharge. "[24]:52:29, Moon's arrival in the Who changed the dynamics of the group. He ate the steak while he watched the film The Abominable Dr Phibes but fell back to sleep after taking 32 Heminevrin tablets which were prescribed to help alcohol withdrawal. If you want to come, we'll pick you up in the van.' You can't help but feel that some of the last words of the famous people on this list encapsulate their personas. Keith Moon: Classic Images of the Iconic Drummer. some gave all Carrie Underwood: Play On Carrie Underwood: Play On Dolly Parton: slow dancing with the moon Garth Brooks: Ropin . "[26] Moon later claimed that he was never formally invited to join the Who permanently; when Ringo Starr asked how he had joined the band, he said he had "just been filling in for the last fifteen years. 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. His life was a truly tumultuous ride. 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. Daltrey, Townshend, Robin Gibb and Moon's mother Kit were present at the ceremony. [160] Keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick, who had rehearsed with Moon earlier in the year,[115] joined the live band as an unofficial member. "[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." Or why not treat yourself? Moon (or Entwistle) remarked that a particular suggestion had gone down like a "lead zeppelin" (a play on "lead balloon"). "[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. Daltrey affectionately put the world to rights about Moon's importance to The Who in a conversation with this writer in 2016. 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. 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. Smith remembers one occasion where he and Moon tore apart a pair of trousers, with an accomplice later looking for one-legged trousers. "[144] Although he was a loyal companion to Moon, the lifestyle eventually became too much for him; he phoned Curbishley, saying that they needed to move back to England or one of them might die. [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. 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. Keith Moon was born on 23 August 1946, spending his formative years in Wembley, not far from the famous stadium. Just four months prior, Moon performed live for the last time with The Who, which fans can watch below. [100][184], Anatomy of a Drum Solo DVD, Neil Peart (2005) accompanying booklet. The UK's Heritage Foundation disagreed with the decision, presenting a plaque which was unveiled on 9 March 2009. GEORGE WASHINGTON. 1 on its list of "50 Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Drummers",[171] and he was ranked No. [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. Moon's lifestyle began to undermine his health and reliability. Rocks greatest drummer was just 32 years old when he died.