Image Source: Wikipedia

Keith Moon

Keith John Moon (23 August 1946 – 7 September 1978) was an English drummer for the rock band the Who. He was noted for his unique style of playing and his eccentric, often self-destructive behaviour.

Moon grew up in Wembley and took up the drums during the early 1960s. After playing with a local band, the Beachcombers, he joined the Who in 1964 before they recorded their first single. Moon was recognised for his drumming style, which emphasised tom-toms, cymbal crashes, and drum fills. Throughout his tenure with the Who, his drum kit steadily grew in size, and (along with Ginger Baker) he has been credited as one of the earliest rock drummers to regularly employ double bass drums in his setup. 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.

In addition to his talent as a drummer, Moon developed a reputation for smashing his kit on stage and destroying hotel rooms on tour. He was fascinated with blowing up toilets with cherry bombs or dynamite, and destroying television sets. Moon also enjoyed touring and socialising, and became bored and restless when the Who were inactive. His 21st birthday party in Flint, Michigan, has been cited as a notorious example of decadent behaviour by rock groups.

Moon suffered a number of setbacks during the 1970s, most notably the accidental death of chauffeur Neil Boland and the breakdown of his marriage. He suffered from alcoholism and acquired a reputation for decadence and dark humour; his nickname was "Moon the Loon". While touring with the Who, on several occasions he passed out on stage and was hospitalised. By the time of their final tour with him in 1976, and particularly during production of The Kids Are Alright and Who Are You, the drummer's deterioration was evident. 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's drumming continues to be praised by critics and musicians. He was posthumously inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1982, becoming the second rock drummer to be chosen, and in 2011 he was voted the second-greatest drummer in history by a Rolling Stone readers' poll. Moon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 as a member of the Who.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 23, 1946 (Central Middlesex Hospital), Died September 7, 1978 (Mayfair)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1957 - 1971

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 116038 1965 I don't mind Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116039 1965 Heat wave Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116040 1965 Daddy Rolling Stone Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116041 1965 Lubie come back home Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116042 1965 Out in the street (you're going to know me) Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116043 1965 Please, please, please Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116044 1965 I'm a man Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116045 1965 Leaving here Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116046 1965 Motoring Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116047 1965 Anytime you want me Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116048 5/3/1965 Shout and shimmy Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116049 5/3/1965 Anyway, anyhow, anywhere Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116915 approximately 12/1/1965-1/31/1966 Instant party Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119443 10/10/1967 Bone dry Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119518 10/18/1967 I can see for miles Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119562 11/10/1967 (Armenia city) In the sky Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119563 11/10/1967 Heinz baked beans Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119564 11/10/1967 Odorano Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119565 11/10/1967 Tattoo Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119566 11/10/1967 Our love was, is Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119567 11/10/1967 I can't reach you Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119568 11/10/1967 Early morning, cold taxi Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119569 11/10/1967 Spotted Henry Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119570 11/10/1967 I'm a boy Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119571 11/10/1967 Someone's coming Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119572 11/10/1967 Relax Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119641 11/29/1967 Silas Stingy Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119642 11/29/1967 Sunrise Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119643 11/29/1967 Rael Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119977 2/23/1968 Call me lightning Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119978 2/23/1968 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 120562 7/9/1968 Magic bus Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 120563 7/9/1968 Someone's coming Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121165 2/18/1969 Pinball wizard Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121166 2/18/1969 Dogs part two Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121447 1968-1969 Overture Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121448 1968-1969 It's a boy Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121449 1968-1969 You didn't hear it Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121450 1968-1969 Amazing journey Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121451 1968-1969 Sparks Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121452 1968-1969 Christmas Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121453 1968-1969 Cousin Kevin Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121454 1968-1969 The acid queen Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121455 1968-1969 Underture Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121456 1968-1969 Do you think it's alright Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121457 1968-1969 Fiddle about ; Pinball wizard Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121458 1968-1969 There's a doctor I've found Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121459 1968-1969 Go to the mirror boy Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121460 1968-1969 Tommy can you hear me Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121461 1968-1969 Smash the mirror Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121462 1968-1969 Sensation Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121463 1968-1969 Miracle cure Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121464 1968-1969 Sally Simpson Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121465 1968-1969 I'm free Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121466 1968-1969 Tommy's holiday camp Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121467 1968-1969 Welcome Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121468 1968-1969 We're not gonna take it Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 121523 1968-1969 Eyesight to the blind Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 122560 3/20/1970 The seeker Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 122561 3/20/1970 Here for more Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 122668 2/14/1970 Young man (Blues) Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 122669 2/14/1970 Substitute Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 122670 2/4/1970 Summertime blues Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 122671 2/14/1970 Shakin' all over Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 122672 2/14/1970 My generation ; See me, feel me, touch me ; Higher ; Over bridge ; Coming out to get you ; Underture ; Driving four Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 122673 2/14/1970 The magic bus Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 122916 6/17/1970 Heaven and hell Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123092 8/21/1970 See me, feel me Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123093 8/21/1970 Overture from Tommy Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123555 6/4/1971 Won't get fooled again Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123556 6/4/1971 I don't even know myself Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123586 7/8/1971 Baba O' Riley Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123587 7/8/1971 Bargain Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123588 7/8/1971 Love ain't for keeping Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123589 7/8/1971 My wife Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123590 7/8/1971 Song is over Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123591 7/8/1971 Getting in tune Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123592 7/8/1971 Going mobile Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123593 7/8/1971 Behind blue eyes Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123692 8/8/1971 The magic bus Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123693 8/8/1971 Substitute Who, The instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 123694 8/8/1971 I'm a boy Who, The instrumentalist, drums  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Moon, Keith," accessed November 12, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/332327.

Moon, Keith. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/332327.

"Moon, Keith." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 12 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/332327

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.