Keith Moon: We Miss You

Who drummer Keith Moon died on this day in 1978.
I will never forget this first line from the article in Rolling Stone
Keith Moon died before he got old.
Rest in peace Moonie

Best-
Norm

 

Indeed, he was one of a kind. There is still no drummer in rock capable of delivering the kind of magical, frenetic performances he did, while at the same time coming up with very intelligent, tricky rhythms that fit perfectly into well-written songs. Although he was "Moon the Loon," compare his form of musical insanity to today's calculated bafoonery!

 

Keith was something else--incomparable to anyone. For anyone interested in "Moon the Loon" and The Who in general--Tony Fletcher wrote a wonderful biography of Keith Moon. "Dear Boy"--highly recommended.

 

Keith in action

 

"practicing" for the role of Uncle Ernie

 

another action shot

 

Monterey Pop

 

There was a really good radio piece on NPR's "Weekend Edition" this morning covering Moon's life with the Who. Pretty sad ending for an amazing muscian. Mentioned that Daltry is working on producing a compilation of video featuring Moon plus the "Kids Are Alright" being released later this month on DVD.

 

I still really miss Moonie, wonderful drummer. The Who were never the same, no offense to Kenny Jones, Simon Phillips, Zak Starkey. The Who were one of my two or three favorite bands of all time. Luckily I'm old enough to have seen the original Who live a few times. Unforgettable concerts, Moon, Townshend and Daltry all battling for center stage at once, what sublime lunacy.

Jeff

 

The world was a more fun, dynamic and noisy place with Keith Moon around. I miss him a lot.

 

I've heard of this guy. Didn't he did in tragic circumstances? Drove his Rolls Royce into a swimming pool and drowned?

 

No, he survived that. Did it proudly. He took medication for alcoholism, overdosed after drinking quite heavily at a party, and his girl found him dead the next morning.

If I remember, he took twice the dose by accident. He forgot his 1st dose, and before he went to bed, he took some more. On top of that, he was drinking until 2AM. I'm sure someone can correct me here...

 

In truth, I think The Who lost it long before Moon died. Their albums were nearly always awful from Tommy onwards - Next excluded - and their singles were uniformly crap after Won't Get Fooled. I saw them live a few times in the Moon days and they weren't that good.

And there was really no need for them at all once the Jam came along.

I don't suppose anyone here will agree with me.

 

My initial post here was a little on the harsh side. In retrospect, I thought I would delete it.

 

Well, you're right, I don't agree with you. Quadrophenia awful? Gimme a break. Who By Numbers?? Great album, IMHO. Saw them live and they weren't that good? Well I guess you caught them on a rare off night

I've seen the Jam live, and, yes, they were very good, however nothing, and I mean nothing (except maybe Bruce Springsteen), compares to The Who live in the Keith Moon era.

Well, different opinions make the world go 'round. Glad to read yours, hope you enjoyed reading mine.

Jeff

 

The Who are my all-time second favorite band(after the Fabs). Nothing like them ever in rock. Keith Moon, especially, is unheralded in all of any kind of music. Think of another drummer who plays even remotely like him. Zak Starkey may come close, but even he cannot summon the mayhem that Keith did on a regular basis(at least, until around 1975).

The best Rock & Roll(did someone say, "best, ever"?)drummer of all time.

Evan

 

For those who missed the NPR tribute this morning check this out. There's an interview with Roger Daltrey and Moon biographer Tony Fletcher. Well worth a listen.

http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_1420254.html

 

By total coincidence I was watching the bonus material of The Who from the Criterion Monterrey Pop DVD (Substitute, Summertime Blues and A Quick One) today. I was reminded of how unique, furious and just damn entertaining it was to watch Keith Moon play. With energy that intense, he just couldn't keep on going at that pace.

My son looked in just as Keith totally tears up the refrain from Substitute.

"Look at 'im go dad! Did he always play like that?"

"Yeah, even during the ballads".

 

Well, certainly I don't agree with you but I guess that should be pretty obvious since I started the thread.

Since I have read some of your other posts I am not feeling paranoid here. You have crapped other threads besides this one.

The guy is dead. He's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is considered by many to be the greatest rock drummer of all time.

Stay retired please
Goodbye-
Norm

 

I hope Moonie really does rest in peace.

He was a supernatural, both in his astounding talent and the voraciousness with which he destroyed it. Like a large rocket on the 4th of July, he put on a great show, never letting up for a moment, yet the fuel burned towards exhaustion all the while.

My favorite drummer in my favorite band

Ken

 

You said it, brother. I still remember Greil Marcus's words, which were something to the effect of "when you listen to Moon's drumming, he doesn't just sound like the best rock-n-roll drummer of all time, which he obviously was. He sounds like the only one."

I saw the Who in the fall of 1975. To this day, I've never seen the combination of precision and abandon I saw then. Nothing can compare.

 

I once saw Robbie Williams at a small club in Montreal (at the same point in time he was appearing at Wembley in England). I came away appreciating not so much his music, but his Keith Moon-like personality. My favourite Moonie moments — the whirling dervish Shake and Shimmy in The Kids Are Alright, the wild A Quick One (Rock and Roll Circus) and the Who Are You video near the end of The Kids Are Alright.