Keith Moon was the drummer for the Who, one of popular culture's all-time eccentrics, and his instrument's greatest rock and roll virtuoso. Moon's furious drumming propelled the band's glorious fusion of anarchy, chaos, and pop. His thunderously original percussion filled spaces heretofore reserved only for guitars, and his wickedly funny antics created new standards for pop showmanship. More than any other member of his era, he represented the youthful, zany, and self-destructive side of rock and roll. Never one to be outdone, "Moon the Loon" became just as notorious for demolishing his drum kits on stage as bandmate Pete Townshend was for smashing his guitars.
Born in Willesden, England on August 23, 1946, Moon was raised in the Northwest London suburb of Wembley. A fan of big
band music from his infancy, he also displayed a fondness for comedy and hyperactive behavior at school. As a teenager,
Moon became fascinated by the drum playing of jazz great Gene Krupa. In the autumn of 1961, he acquired his first drum kit
and began taking lessons a year later. He also developed a life-long love for Californian surf music, idolizing the Chantays
and the Beach Boys. In 1964 he auditioned for recently vacated position as drummer for the Who, wowing the other bandmembers
in spite of his youth.
Moon quickly established himself as the musical core of the group, bringing a kind of lunatic propulsion to the band's sound that immediately separated the Who from other British groups.
For the Who's first album, My Generation, Moon co-wrote
the instrumental "The Ox," a "Wipeout"-inspired track that emphasized his affection for the surf music sound. In the
fall of 1966, Moon collaborated with John Entwistle to compose "In The City," the B-side to "I'm a Boy." Moon contributed
two songs to the album A Quick One (While He's Away), "Cobwebs and Strange" and "I Need You." Throughout this period, Moon's
innovative drumming continued to break new creative ground. Nearly forty years later, his percussive performance on 1967's
"I Can See For Miles" continues to be regarded as a critical high water mark for popular music. But Moon's artistic
contributions to the Who extended beyond his drumming. For Townshend's rock opera, Tommy, Moon created the idea of the
holiday camp and sang lead on the song ("Tommy's Holiday Camp") that Townshend composed in response.
Tragically, following the 1970 accidental death of his driver, Neil Boland, Moon's behavior grew increasingly self destructive. In 1973, as the members of the Who began to explore opportunities outside the group, Moon performed in a series of music radio shows for the British Broadcasting Corporation, including "Life with the Moons." Later he moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. In March of 1975, Moon released his only solo album, Two Sides of the Moon.
Moon reunited with the Who for 1978's critically and commercially successful album, Who Are You. His health had deteriorated, however, during his time in California. Only a few weeks later, Moon died in his sleep of an overdose of Heminevrin, ironically a drug he had been taking to curb his alcoholism. He is remembered as a genius of his medium, an indomitable talent, and an irrepressible wit.