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. [107] During the band's recording sabbatical between 1976 and 1978, Moon gained a considerable amount of weight. Previous article Police are shocked at what this teenage treasure hunter found. You can't help but feel that some of the last words of the famous people on this list encapsulate their personas. In response the drummer asked him up to his room, excused himself to go to the bathroom, put a lit stick of dynamite in the toilet and shut the bathroom door. by Guitarist Pete Townshend was the first Who member to be told the news by the groups co-manager Jackie Curbishley. [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". 1. And Roger, who was the spokesman then, said: 'What are you doing next Monday?' Rocks greatest drummer was just 32 years old when he died. 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. "[99], Moon moved from cherry bombs to M-80 fireworks to sticks of dynamite, which became his explosive of choice. The Who had reconvened . Moon (or Entwistle) remarked that a particular suggestion had gone down like a "lead zeppelin" (a play on "lead balloon"). He said: 'You come 'ere.' The next evening Moon systematically destroyed everything in his hotel room, cut himself doing so and passed out. 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. 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. Keith John Moon was born to Alfred Charles (Alf) and Kathleen Winifred (Kit) Moon[2][5] on 23 August 1946 at Central Middlesex Hospital in northwest London, and grew up in Wembley, in the UK. [64], On the Who's early US package tour at the RKO 58th Street Theatre in New York in March and April 1967, Moon performed two or three shows a day, kicking over his drum kit after every show. [139], Guitarist Joe Walsh enjoyed socialising with Moon. Moon lived a short and talented life that was fueled by famous friendships, alcoholism, and the drums. "[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." A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. 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. [59], At an early show at the Railway Tavern in Harrow, Townshend smashed his guitar after accidentally breaking it. Paperback. How Many Murdaugh Murder Documentaries Are There and Where Can You Watch Them? It's too good for words. Who producer Jon Astley said, "You didn't think he was keeping time, but he was. Not a man prone to public displays of emotion, Entwistle continued with the interview until asked when The Who plans for the future. 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. 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. By Ken Sharp. Rare covers every corner of American culture with no slant or bias. Lets go.. from $36.16 2 Used from $36.16. Keith Moon discussed his reckless lifestyle on 'Good Morning America' just a month before his death. At the end of the 1976 US tour in Miami that August, Moon became delirious was treated in Hollywood Memorial Hospital for eight days. [98] Entwistle later said, "He decided that if it was a publicised fact that it was his 21st birthday, he would be able to drink. The band stopped playing, and a group of roadies carried Moon offstage. Q Magazine called the book "horrific and terrific reading", and Record Collector said it was "one of rock's great biographies. "We used to fight regularly", remembered Moon in later years. 'My Generation' was a turning point for me because before that it was all the Charlie Watts and Ringo type of thing. [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. [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. My Wife04. [24]:7:44, Although Moon was known for kicking over his drum kit, Haynes claimed that it was done carefully and the kit rarely needed repairs. [167], The London 2012 Summer Olympic Committee contacted Curbishley about Moon performing at the games, 34 years after his death. He us the author of Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd, Is This the Real Life: The Untold Story of Queen, Magnifico! [153], Curbishley phoned the flat at around 5:00p.m. looking for Moon, and Dymond gave him the news. 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 . some gave all Carrie Underwood: Play On Carrie Underwood: Play On Dolly Parton: slow dancing with the moon Garth Brooks: Ropin . Or why not treat yourself? Demolished. 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. McCartney had acquired the rights to Hollys song publishing, and a biopic, The Buddy Holly Story, was premiering later that night. Mark Blake is a music journalist and author. "[97], Moon's favourite stunt was to flush powerful explosives down toilets. According to Fletcher, Moon's toilet pyrotechnics began in 1965 when he purchased a case of 500 cherry bombs. [67] A clip of the incident became the opening scene for the film The Kids Are Alright. [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. 1. 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. . The kit was eventually fitted with copper fittings[58] and later given to a young Zak Starkey. [32] "He wouldn't play across his kit", he later added. He was the drummer for the seminal and influential English rock band The Who. 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. "[32] In the opinion of Atkins, early recordings of Moon's drumming sound tinny and disorganised;[34] it was not until the recording of Who's Next, with Glyn Johns' no-nonsense production techniques and the need to keep time to a synthesizer track, that he began developing more discipline in the studio. Blues singer Bessie Smith died saying, "I'm going . [125] The marriage (and child) were kept secret from the press until May 1968. God bless you, Harry, wherever you are but, Jesus, you know, I had . "[126], From 1971 to 1975 Moon owned Tara, a home in Chertsey where he initially lived with his wife and daughter. "[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. [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. [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. In 2016, the same magazine ranked him No. [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. On the album cover, he 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 words "NOT TO BE TAKEN AWAY" appear on the back of the chair. 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. [54] His first Premier kit was in red sparkle and featured two high toms. Keith stopped his footsteps, his heart still beating fast. Moon overdosed on prescribed Heminevrin, a strong sedative meant to ease alcohol withdrawal symptoms as he struggled to get sober. That's the same as around $40 million today after adjusting for inflation. After all, the corpse of Keith Moon, legendary drummer for the Who, is right there on the first page. Butler never took them up on the offer. Upon returning, he asked the manager to stay for a moment, as he wanted to explain something. "The general perception of Keith Moon as a drummer is that he was . [122] By the end of the year she discovered she was pregnant. 1 on its list of "50 Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Drummers",[171] and he was ranked No. [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. Andrew Neill and Matthew Kent estimated that his destruction of hotel toilets and plumbing cost as much as 300,000 ($500,000). Mikey Dolenz tells a story about bringing Badfinger's "Without You" to the attention of Nilsson. His 21st birthday party in Flint, Michigan, has been cited as a notorious example of decadent behaviour by rock groups. We tell stories with heart, humor, and authenticity to celebrate American life. Author Nick Talevski described him as "the greatest drummer in rock", adding that "he was to the drums what Jimi Hendrix was to the guitar. This one is . 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 . I was scared to death. In 1972 the performance was released as a companion disc to Lennon and Ono's album Some Time in New York City. "[89], According to Townshend, Moon began destroying hotel rooms when the Who stayed at the Berlin Hilton on tour in late 1966. 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. Go! [2], Moon's first serious relationship was with Kim Kerrigan, whom he started dating in January 1965 after she saw the Who play at Le Disque a Go! [88] "[We] went through the same stages everybody goes through the bloody drug corridor", he later reflected. "[78], Nevertheless, the drummer landed several acting roles. GEORGE WASHINGTON. 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. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). At the age of 12, he had joined the Sea Cadet Corp and was given his first musical instrument, the bugle. [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 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. It was just another night in the life of a successful rock star: a film premiere and a party. 4: 'Who Are You' (live at Ramport Studios in Battersea, 1978) Filmed at The Who's Ramport Studios in Battersea, south London, Moon's performance, with his headphones gaffer-taped to his . The untimely loss of Keith Moon, one of the world's most skilled drummers, still hits rock music fans hard every so often. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. (Moon was close with all the Beatles, especially John Lennon and Ringo Starr.) [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. Annette rang Dr Dymond, who called an ambulance. en.wikipedia.org. Actor: Tommy. It was the concluding show on their tour. 1990. He was restless, said Annette. They gave him a shower and an injection of cortisone, sending him back onstage after a thirty-minute delay. [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. (1975) before moving back to the UK in 1977 to play on Who Are You, his last recorded work with The Who. In 2000, the book was released in the US as Moon (The Life and Death of a Rock Legend). 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. Featured Specials and Programs. He was credited on the album as "You Know Who". 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). He began to endorse Premier Drums in late 1965, and remained a loyal customer of the company. Bessie Smith. Keith Moon: Classic Images of the Iconic Drummer. Nevertheless, the Who powered through a nine-song set that . At the hotel he ran back to his room, grabbed the television and threw it out of the window into the swimming pool below. Most would agree that the apartment was cursed, although Townshend assured his friend that lightning wouldnt strike the same place twice. How wrong he was. Right there and then I knew something was wrong. Her parents, who were furious, met with the Moons to discuss their options, and she moved into the Moon family home in Wembley. The destruction mesmerised him, and enhanced his public image as rock's premier hell-raiser. When she refused, he said, "If you don't like it, you can fuck off!" Those were his last words - he was found dead of an overdose after. [82] Moon's last film appearance was in 1978's Sextette.[83]. Shooting is set to begin on the Moon pic in June, and the casting process has been rumbling along for a few months already. He was offered the job on the spot and immediately began drumming for The Who. [9] On his way home from school, Moon would often go to Macari's Music Studio on Ealing Road to practise on the drums there, learning his basic skills on the instrument. His music teacher wrote that Moon "has great ability, but must guard against a tendency to show off. Bath 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. [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. 2 in their list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time, behind John Bonham. [78] Reed later said that Moon "showed me the way to insanity. [133] Butler agrees; despite his relationship with Annette Walter-Lax, he believes that Kim was the only woman Moon loved. According to Lewis, Moon was drunk by the time the band went onstage at Atwood Stadium. [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. He was bloated and out of practice. 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.
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