Keith John Moon (23 August 1946 – 7
September 1978) was an
English drummer who played with the English rock band
the Who. He was noted for his unique style and his eccentric, often
self-destructive behaviour. His drumming continues to be praised by critics and
musicians. He was posthumously inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in
1982, becoming only 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.
 | |
| Moon in 1967. Photo by Klaus Hiltscher. Moon was born 70 years ago. |
The Who are an English rock band that
formed in 1964. Their classic line-up consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey,
guitarist Pete Townshend, bass guitarist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith
Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th
century, selling over 100 million records worldwide and holding a reputation
for their live shows and studio work.
 |
| The Who in 1975. Photo by Jim Summaria. |
A commonly cited story of how Moon joined
the Who is that he appeared at a show shortly after Sandom's departure, where a
session drummer was used. Dressed in ginger clothes and with his hair dyed
ginger (future bandmate Pete Townshend later described him as a "ginger
vision"), he claimed to his would-be bandmates that he could play better;
he played in the set's second half, nearly demolishing the drum kit in the process.
In the words of the drummer, "they said go ahead, and I got behind this
other guy's drums and did one song-'Road Runner.' 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. I figured that was it. I was scared
to death. Afterwards I was sitting at the bar and Pete came over. He said: 'You
... come 'ere.' I said, mild as you please: 'Yes, yes?' And Roger, who was the
spokesman then, said: 'What are you doing next Monday?' I said: 'Nothing.' I
was working during the day, selling plaster. He said: 'You'll have to give up
work ... there's this gig on Monday. If you want to come, we'll pick you up in
the van.' I said: 'Right.' And that was it." 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.
