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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 (Results 51-75 of 82 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 51-75 of 82 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Moon, Keith," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/332327.

Moon, Keith. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/332327.

"Moon, Keith." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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