Roger Daltrey on Keith Moon Joining The Who & Pete Townshend's Dislike of His Drumming

MMI #18: Roger Daltrey
Full Episode • Roger Daltrey MMI #18:... ​​
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[@umbagogman]

Saw The Who twice...once in March of 1976 at the Boston Garden when Keith passed out after 2 songs and was carried off. I was sitting right above and behind him in the 1st row balcony. When the lights went on and the announcer said hold on to your tickets bottles started flying down on stage with the roadies running for cover. The rescheduled show was April 1, 1976 .. A fond memory from this show was my introduction to laser lighting.......these were blue/green and had a finite point in space as it expanded from the stage.... it was very new (and I think dangerous) and we all gave an extra scream for the lasers. My love for The Who was started many years before and Keith's playing, had for me, a circular motion that rolled and filled all the holes. ....I've no music knowledge, only shows, but Mr. Moon had a style all his own.

[@DiscountDeity]

The guitarist was actually the drummer. The bassist was actually the guitarist. The drummist was actually the keyboardist. The singer was pretty good, too.

[@jediroya6810]

@DiscountDeity OMG I never realised this before but you are absolutely correct. Well said.

[@Jjonathanhart]

Funny illustration. I like that.

[@dennisgabbeart1814]

Pete very much plays like a drummer

[@effdonahue6595]

And the manager was actually the devil 😈

[@slide4180]

Don’t you mean singist?

[@mjb0183]

I’ll throw my 2 cents in to help Roger explain why a straight drummer like Kenny Jones wasn’t considered “right” for The Who. What Roger meant to say, IMO, is that Kenny Jones didn’t have the sort of “reckless abandon” and passion in his approach toward playing drums like Keith did. Kenny’s style was very metronomic and precise, but that’s not really what The Who were all about. They were wonderful “chaos” on stage in the old days.

[@davidmorris5449]

In the boom I read Pete says he wanted Kenny for the very fact that Kenny was NOT Keith Moon. He wanted The Who to go into a new direction. Ultimately Kenny was let go because he was not Keith Moon. Kenny did not seek to replace Moon. He was sought out and asked by Pete to become a member.

[@kato64]

@@davidmorris5449 - Exactly, yet I remember reading an interview with Townsend years ago where he basically said he’d get mad, because he’d look back when they were playing live, and realize it WASN’T ‘Moonie’ behind him, and it eventually translated into being mad at Kenney Jones. Tough spot for Jones. Hired because of who he was by Townsend, yet hated by him, because of who he wasn’t.

[@Houston1VanHorn]

@@kato64 I also read (many years ago) that Kenny was not a hired hand. He was made a quarter owner of the band (which Daltrey vehemently opposed). So, when Kenny was let go I'm quite sure he took a very healthy severance package along with him. He did quite well for himself (and he no longer has to put up with Daltrey and Townshend's bickering and insults)!

[@williamdavies2375]

Wow, you must drive you’re wife up the wall, telling her what’s she’s actually trying to tell u. The audacity and arrogance of your comment is staggering

[@TheJohnnyCotts]

@@Houston1VanHorn Kenney wasn't let go, so much as the band broke up in 1982, then just got back together without him in 1989. There are rumors that Roger told the others "if he's in, count me out" for the 1989 tour, and Kenney has said he wasn't even asked. Ken got a nice payday from his time with The Who, and has been able to live comfortably ever since, as he did not have Keith and John's reckless spending habits.

[@MrPercussionPete]

Keith Moon's can only be described as Keith Moon. His style of drumming was absolutely unique. He wasn't a very technical drummer, but his energy was just amazing and he understood exactly what the music of The Who needed. That also made him a very musical drummer. With Moon, The Who were more than a rockband, they were a force of nature. Listen to Bargain from Who's Next, that song catches Moon in his essence.

[@randalclarke5487]

Well put

[@steeleye2112]

Totally agree. Kenny is a fantastic drummer but when you listen to the live concerts with him playing none of the songs have quite the same effect and I really couldn't put it into words as to how. Just proves I suppose that forming a band on the level of the who is a very fragile mix. We should be very grateful for that happy accident.

[@dmr9767]

Keith was unique, but so was you, Pete and John. That's why you're a legend. You're THE WHO

[@effdonahue6595]

Who? 🤓

[@mysterirhys]

The difference with Keith was that unlike most drummers who are essentially timekeepers, he was able to react and add to the music in an effective uncalculated way. He was a bit like a jazz drummer in that, albeit one who actually listens to the other musicians, and he was unique because no one else does that.

[@seamusburke639]

I'd argue Pete was the real time-keeper, with his stark, reverberating riffs. That gave Moon the space to add these crazy fills and little bits no other drummer had thought to add at the time.

[@tommcconville677]

Agree, Kenney Jones was conventional whereas Keith Moon was nothing of the sort.

[@Steve24527]

No disrespect but other drummers like Bonham were high hat tapers bass drum 1 and 3 types very bland predictable and boring. Keith Moons drumming was exciting dramatic and awe inspiring listen to Quadraphenia no one could of done a better job

[@billlashure2008]

Keith was the best that I've ever seen live, but Bonzo was very dynamic and my close second.

[@dreammachine2013]

Keith has always been my favourite drummer and the most exciting I ever was blessed to see and experience 🙏

[@hippydippy]

"Pete Townshend's Dislike of His Drumming?" LOL! Keith drove Pete to become what he became. He should be grateful.

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

Moonie was the perfect drummer for the Who, his (literally!) explosive antics & energetic style provided a great focal point centre stage while Pete was often airborne, The Ox standing stock still, and Roger whipping the mic. At the peak of their powers in the late ‘60’s to mid ‘70’s the Who were one of the greatest live bands on the planet - fact!

[@rjlchristie]

Well, thanks a lot. I learned sweet feck all from that about Townshend's dislike of Moon's drumming.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Right, we heard more from Roger about why KJ was all wrong for The Who.

[@bjr4567]

The interviewer should have followed up on this! His bad.

[@davemclellan4019]

FWIW I think that Keith Moon, like John Bonham, knew how to use the cymbals to expand the sound coming from bass and guitar. They both spent so much time and energy on the cymbals, there was a broadening, a stretching, a filling of the bass and guitar. The Who and Zeppelin -- essentially the same instrumentation, and the drummers brought it all together in that huge sound. but what the heck do I know, I'm just a classical guitarist!

[@brittanygarrison8030]

Wow. Incredible.

[@sethjohnson5289]

☺☺☺☺☺!!from a drummer🐱!

[@orlov666]

I agree with you. What I also find amazing is that almost all major influences in music of 20th century come from so-called untrained musicians. Then we spend time to break it into pieces and learn it through notation.

[@jimmyfreeman9133]

@@orlov666 Devil's in the details trying to pick apart a gift.*

[@diverdave4056]

Keith had said he used the cymbals to help " Paint a Picture "

[@ericmalone3213]

If Kenny Jones had broken an arm, and Keith Moon stepped in to do The Small Faces OGDENS' NUT GONE FLAKE album, Keith would have done a very fine job, especially on "Song of a Baker." Keith was much more adaptable & had a much greater range than is generally understood. Check out Keith's drumming on Jeff Beck's "Bolero" and Roy Harper's "Male Chauvanist Pig Blues" (with Ronnie Lane on bass, speaking of The Small Faces). Keith also plays on a ballad from one of Roger's solo albums, "Say It Aint So Joe'" from ONE OF THE BOYS, & comports himself beautifully, playing for the song, not at all flailing about and showing off. Keith was as able to be as subtle a drummer as he was able to be a spectacular drummer. CHEERS.

[@riffmaster56]

I once read Keith Moon's style on drums as maniacal. That was the most accurate description of KM. Now, Pete Townsend's dislike of his drumming is just as bad as Pete saying he disliked John Entwistle's bass. Maniacal drums. Maniacal bass. Without it, you wouldn't have had Who's Next, Tommy, Quadrophenia for Chrissakes. Moon was a genius and perfect for The Who, as was Entwistle.

[@jaykay6387]

It sounds like Townshend didn't like much of anything! He hated Zeppelin, too. The Who was so great, it just makes no sense to me.

[@johnq.public4252]

The only band that Keith Moon could be the drummer for was with The Who. It was destined by the musical gods centuries ago from atop a high mountain in, I don't know, the Scottish Highlands, The Rocky Mountains. It just had to be!🇬🇧

[@sethjohnson5289]

Daltrey got it Moon was the bonfire behind him The Who would never has been as big or influential without Keith Moon

[@kenchristie9214]

You diminish the immense talents of John and Pete. The best sounding group with only lead, bass and drum. Other three piece groups like Grand Funk Railroad pale into insignificance compared to The Who. John was the greatest bass player and Pete is in the top 10 guitarists. Pete is definitely a better guitarist than Hendrix.

[@orlov666]

@@kenchristie9214 The Cream don't pale in comparison with The Who, just to name one example. Led Zeppelin was also a 3-piece + vocalist to name another one that doesn't pale in comparison with The Who. Plenty of examples that don't pale. Grand Funk? DIfferent league a bit. I'm not sure I would call Entwistle THE greatest bass player. And when it comes to Pete vs Hendrix, there is no Pete vs Hendrix. If you know anything about playing the instrument you should know that these two are completely different guitarists with their own unique techniques. Anyway, these so-called top 10 lists are just plain stupid. It's always somebody's subjective opinion based on almost no merit. I mean do we choose on the influence they inflicted, the technique, the speed, rhythm complexity, dexterity, innovation? I mean does Hendrix beat Petrucci? Is Page better than Blackmore? Does Does BB King make the top 10, if not why not? Does Clapton not make it because Malmsteen is faster? What about Clapton's influence on other players? What about guys like Robert Johnson, Iommi, Huddie Ledbetter, Skip James, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Chuck Shuldiner and many many many others? Impossible to choose top 10 almost based on any criteria. What makes the difference between say number 6 and number 7 on such list?

[@kenchristie9214]

​@@orlov666 In the case of Led Zeppelin, how on earth is guitar, keyboards, bass and drums is a 3 piece band. As a massive Eric Clapton, but, as good as Cream were, The Who are better.

[@orlov666]

@@kenchristie9214 I take it you know how many players there were in Zep. According to your logic there were 4 members in Rush all the same.

[@kenchristie9214]

@@orlov666 What on earth has Rush got to do with the fact you didn't know there were five members in Led Zeppelin. The Who still produced the best sound with just 3 musicians. Even better than Cream because Entwistle is the better bass player.

[@seamusburke639]

You even look at Keith Moon's kit, and you realize he was on a different level. His rack and floor toms went left and right with his snare at the center, in case he felt like doing a roll in either direction. He had no hi-hat, and mostly kept rhythm by tapping his ride. He'd punctuate lyrics by hitting the crash at the end, like the punctuation at the end of a sentence. And despite his skills, he'd never do a drum solo, even when prompted. "Drum solos are boring!" he'd crow back. I can only imagine the voodoo Zak Starkey had to conjure to even get in the ballpark of that playing style.

[@ShakepearesDaughter]

Bless him for that. Drum solos are boring, and my boyfriend is a drummer. I love 'im but I've only heard a couple of long drum things in my time that didn't make me think, Oh, crap, when will it stop, get over yourself (and I'm not talking about the boyfriend, just my many years of music listening in general). The drumming work either belongs in the piece, or it doesn't. And of course the drums can create, but usually follow on, or flow with, the energy, and by being too prominent become distracting. The right drumming is "enough" drumming, whatever the song calls for, that person's special contribution, and no extra. But on stage I do know that sometimes it's a way of giving the other band members a break, so they can have a smoke, a drink of water, a bit of a rest. And there is this urge sometimes to showcase a band member who may not get enough attention as an individual. But Moon, for all his excesses, had his head in the game about the solos. There was ALWAYS enough Moon on stage, one way or another.

[@TheJohnnyCotts]

John Entwistle once said Keith couldn't play a hi-hat to save his life, which may explain why he didn't use one.

[@tommy8058]

I could listen to Roger for hours.

[@lancashirebomber9744]

keith moon approached the beatles sitting at a table at some function and said 'can i join you, chaps', lennon says 'pull up a chair', keith says 'no, can i join you?', everyone had a laugh.

[@rustybear5125]

That's funny

[@Philtration]

Keith and Ringo were notorious drinking pals

[@marysheamahiques3712]

Roger,you are still my 15 year old crush and I'm 61. You are also a real Patriot. LOVE YOU BUDDY

[@bennymalone]

Kenny was great on Sister Disco and Athena. The straight ahead drummers don’t give any sense of danger like Moon tho because he could push and pull the music (rubato) and build up and release tension. Jazz giants Elvin Jones and Tony Williams heard this in Moon’s playing and appreciated it (as opposed to Ginger Baker clamming all over the joint)

[@SketchesofChina]

Sister Disco is from Who are You which has Moon on drums.

[@bennymalone]

@@SketchesofChina sorry yeah, I should have said playing it live subsequently, I think it’s one he made his own

[@sallybrown4947]

Love these classic untold stories from the actual band members. Terrific.

[@randyzeitman1354]

Roger .. love ya... but Kenny Jones was absolutely right for The Who and Face Dances is the proof. Pete knew he wasn't going to make a Who's Next quality album with the 80's sterility coming on strong. Pete was thinking solo and a few made it over to you such as Who Are You (Lifehouse). Face Dances ... you say it's not a Who album ... no, it's not a CLASSIC Who album but it is fantastic for the 80's nonetheless and many bands, Stones, Floyd, Genesis, made effective adjustments for the times. You think Tony Banks loves Home by the Sea and ABACAB? ... please ... it's just what was needed... damn that drumming is great on Face Dances.

[@EltonoutoftheclosetOfficial]

Yes, I love FD, and consider it Kenny’s finest moment with The Who. His playing was inspired and, importantly, his tone was full and pleasant to the ears... exactly the opposite of ‘It’s Hard’.

[@randyzeitman1354]

@@EltonoutoftheclosetOfficial that’s very true!

[@Twotontessie]

I think so too. To me he honored Keith but brought his own style too.

[@bjr4567]

Count me in likewise. Kenny had his moments for sure.

[@mrtomdorn]

Keith was a gift to the WHO and the world. I tried to emulate Keith Moon back in the 60's-70's. RIP Keith we miss you. TD Atlanta

[@1ericamat]

Is he really your inspiration? The interviewer seemed scripted and robotic.

[@johnoberle9750]

Keith Moon is irreplaceable. They might accommodate it with Zak Starkey just barely . Kenney Jones was good. They done alright with him.

[@TheJohnnyCotts]

Kenney himself and many others (like Alice Cooper) have said NOBODY played like Keith, which made it so difficult to replace him.

[@qdog568]

They're better with Zak

[@jppagetoo]

Yes, but I get Pete's point too. Drums and bass fill a role in a band. But in the Who it was all turned on it's head. The drums and bass were the lead instruments. It forced Pete to play the rhythm role. He had more to give than that but couldn't because he had to do what they wouldn't. But in the end it may be what made the Who so special. But as a guitar player... I get Pete''s frustration with Keith's playing style.

[@donbrogan3158]

Pete said in the very early days, he did not want to play with any other drummer.

[@TheJohnnyCotts]

Later on, Pete said he was fed up with Keith's inability to play in a more "normal" fashion.

[@donbrogan3158]

@@TheJohnnyCotts thank goodness Keith couldn't play 'normal'.

[@EltonoutoftheclosetOfficial]

Keith is such a paradox: his style was so reckless, but it was *instinctual*. Meaning that, if he was required to play something that required *thinking*, he was out of his depth. So, in spite of his expansive vocabulary, Keith could really only play in one “language”, if you get my drift.

Listen to the drumming in 'go to the mirror' - he does rolls on top of rolls but it blends in a you almost have to look for it. Amazing.

[@johnnymossville]

Pete likes to put down Keith's drumming, but the reality is they are 4x the band with him there.

[@TRUMP-2024-STF]

I’ve said this for decades. The drummer is the most important part of the band. And Jimmy page knew this and that’s why John Bonham woods irreplaceable. I think Pete didn’t have that same insight about the dynamics of the drummer

[@seamusburke639]

@@TRUMP-2024-STF Pete was always a control freak. He'd come to the band with demos that already had the bass and drums recorded by him. I'm sure it drove him crazy that John and Moon didn't play everything note-for-note like he did it, but their additions is what made The Who special.

[@lonedrone]

Pete dissing Keith's time keeping is so strange. I think it mainly has to do with two things: 1: In the 70's he made Keith play to a click track via headphones for the live songs that had taped parts (like Won't Get Fooled Again and Baba O'Reilly). Must have been frustrating as hell for Keith and this primitive way of syncing up live to recorded stuff was so wrong for a band like the Who. It wasn't just live either - a lot of The Who's studio tracks were click track driven from 1975 onwards. 2: Keith lost a lot of his edge in the last 2 years due to his severe alcoholism and reckless drug abuse. But of course Pete knew full well how important Keith was to the bands sound. Listen to Pete's demos. He puts down the drums exactly like he imagines Keith would play them.

[@lazyrrr2411]

Townshed's become an old fuss-budget in his waning years ~ he should've died before he got old ~ he should be put in the Fletcher Memorial Home for Aging rock stars

[@caddieguy6510]

I never understood Pete’s dislike of Kieth’s drumming. He worked perfectly for the music that he wrote till the day he died and kept the energy up. I think Pete has some resentment towards Kieth for stealing his thunder among the group, they were really good mates when Kieth was alive

[@Johnny-lr5jt]

As Keith Moon once bragged: "I'm the best Keith Moon-style drummer in the world!!!" True that.

[@ianblack7006]

It was sad that kenny couldn’t fill Keith’s boots but what drummer could ?

[@halcyon289]

Matthew Priest from Dodgy.

[@orlov666]

@@halcyon289 With Keith's changes of lead from left to right foot, I don't think so.

[@halcyon289]

@@orlov666 Do you know Matt Priest ?

[@mrmegabreath6442]

Mitch Mitchell

[@orlov666]

@@halcyon289 Yes, couldn't fill in for Keith. Regardless whoever you or anyone might think could play with The Who after Keith died doesn't matter cause they are not Keith and they would be simply imitating Keith or trying to. Not the same. And drumming is just a part of it. There's the whole personality thing, creativity with the right people etc. If playing was just based on making sound then we could swap a lot of musician with Native Instruments software. But that would lack the chemistry and creativity.

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

Did Roger ever finally put someone on the spot and name names as to whom he thought would have been the best drummer to replace Keith? There's been so much said over time that it's like watching "Rashomon", but the impression I've always had was that the job was always Kenney Jones's and that there were no other drummers in play. There had even been threats to fire Keith, and Pete had talked about about quitting the band after "Who Are You" (and was thinking about it as early as "Quadrophenia"). There's the clip in "The Kids Are Alright" where Pete talks about how all the showmanship of days gone by was "no good", and if they'd gone on doing what they'd done to get themselves on the map, it would have been "beyond the beyond." I'd guess that, somewhere 'round the time of "Tommy" or just after, Pete started thinking about wanting someone more boom-bap, boom-boom-bap, even if his demos occasionally reflected what he thought Keith would play. I expect he was the proverbial angry musician at that point, unable to get the others to put down what he was hearing in his head (cf. "Lifehouse") and "thwarted" by what Keith was playing. Of course, John would have to follow Keith's lead. I know Pete's said some awful things about both of them, but I think as a guy who just wanted standard timekeeping (as it were), his ire was really aimed at their playing and not at them personally. Of course, after Keith died, there were comments about carrying on, but I suspect Pete relished the opportunity to do things a bit more conventionally, not understanding that the guy they just lost, for better or for worse, wasn't just "some drummer:" He was a guy whose contributions were integral to the band's sound, and with that gone, the whole dynamic changed without a Keith Moon-style drummer. We can argue all day about "Face Dances" and "It's Hard", but I never fell into the "It's Kenney Jones's fault" trap. Pete just didn't want to write the same old song anymore, but I do wish he'd have let the band loose on what became "Empty Glass". I know Phil Collins has said that he'd offered to replace Keith, but for my money, Mitch Mitchell would have been the guy for the gig. He could do the flashy stuff while still providing the groove that I think Pete sought. Ginger Baker probably would have been another, except for his personality and all that, and the other name that comes to mind, well, he was off with Blondie at the time. Aside: I still would have loved to have seen Pete, John, and Roger do a one-off with a certain drummer from Hamilton, ON who had been highly influenced by Keith Moon, and whose own name is often thrown into discussions about The Greatest.

[@T.C.Clarien]

Mitch Mitchell Sounds Like a Good Fit ...Maybe they Asked him or Maybe he wasn't Interested ...Nyb1978 What was Mitch Mitchell Doing ?.

[@jamesbond4633]

Roger is right about Kenney Jones but Kenney said he purposely stayed away from playing too busy so as not to be like Keith Moon. I think that was a mistake. The Who's music needed a powerful drummer behind them playing lots of fills etc. Kenney was certainly capable as there is a video on KZbin of him playing live with the Faces and he is spot on ....and very busy. I think if he had played like that the songs would have popped more. I saw the Who with Zack Starkey and that is exactly what it was like. He did his own thing but it sounded great. I think people put too much sacrilege into I can't be like this or that. Why not? You can create new music but playing songs done by other people you want to give a nod to them if you can by interpreting what they did in your own way. That is actually respect and honoring them.

[@thomaselliott573]

Zac sounded dead and lifeless. horrible

[@jamesbond4633]

@@thomaselliott573 I watched The Who do Quadraphenia Live with Zack playing the drums and it was great. He wasn't Keith Moon but he was very very good and it sounded great. Way more life than Kenney Jones. Not sure where you saw them with Zack but I guess everyone has their own opinion.

[@donjohnson9688]

The live shows during 79-82 were tremendously exciting with Kenney. Not so much the albums, but live, they were terrific. I think it's time people revisit them.

[@bryannelson6139]

I am so glad the Who didn't break up like Led Zepplin did when Bonzo died. The Who wasn't as good without Moonie but still decent. However, when they lost John, you can really notice the difference on the songs.

[@heftosprod]

Yes... But it would've been foolish to even consider replacing moon with a sounds alike. I always feel Kenny was right. Townshend knew better.

[@johnnorth9355]

Roger is bang on the mark about Keith's drumming.

[@Imintune...]

Moons drumming is what made the who in my book. Lot of ppl like Neal Peart of rush was inspired of his styles. Granted , he wasn't a top notch role model and he caused a lot of grief in behind the scenes. No reason to shoot him down for his drumming. He's been gone since 78.

[@NorsePJ]

Keith Moon was far from being a perfect drummer but he was the perfect drummer for The Who.

[@Twotontessie]

He was definitely the “best Keith Moon-type drummer in the world.”

[@antoniozuquete5068]

No, he certainly was a perfect drummer

[@NorsePJ]

@@antoniozuquete5068 for The Who absolutely but not technically.

[@antoniozuquete5068]

@@NorsePJ he's the hendrix of drums. Do you prefer hendrix or some nobody who is great technically? And I'm pretty sure moon counts as a virtuoso

[@NorsePJ]

@@antoniozuquete5068 he was a great drummer for The Who but not a great time keeper. He's drumming was all over the place but it suited The Who. I loved the guy in The Who but I recognise he was not, technically, a great drummer. Not sure what you are not understanding here? I'm not complaining about his drumming but I recognise his ability was limited technically.

[@Timshot100]

Interviewer needs to shut it putting words and trying to finish sentences WTF

[@Jjonathanhart]

I agree with Roger on Keith Moon adding extra fuel to the band complimenting Pete and John on their guitars. Good example: I think Keith's best drumming was on LIVE AT LEEDS and WHO'S NEXT.

[@Keith_M00N66]

I'm mad coz' Moonie REALLY loved the son of the b... like an old brother, easy now he's dead tell "he's a bad drummer" Keith would be devastated to hear that from PT.😢

[@bjr4567]

Pete is like Keith Richards in that regard. They both makes statements all over the place -- often contradictory ones! The call it as they see, at any given time.

[@drhirise1]

Keith Moon was an absolute maniac, and he gave the Who their wild image. He was one of the best rock drummers of all time. John Bonham is maybe a bit better, but Kieth was right up there at the top of his profession. The way he moved was unique. He would kind of flail, but all of his beats were spot on. He would put on a great show.

[@noneofyourbeeswax01]

I really don't think there's any great secret about why Moon was a perfect fit and Kenny Jones wasn't. As Daltrey alluded to, the Who was a three-piece, this means that the rhythm section can't really afford to be sparse, and both Entwhistle bass-playing and Moon's drumming were constantly filling in and moving the music along at the necessary pace. Moon was a "busy" drummer, with fills and rolls connecting everything. One of my favourite Who tracks is "I Can See For Miles" which is a great example of Moon's "perpetual motion" style of drumming. I was very surprised to hear how disparaging Townsend was of Moon's drumming. Nonce.

[@groovermctoober4508]

Spoiler: If you're watching this video to learn why Pete disliked Keith's drumming, you're wasting your time. All you learn is that he disliked it. Period.

[@SoftTangerineDreams]

I don't know anything about drumming and I'm not going to pretend that I do, but Keith is by far my favorite drummer. When I listen to the Who with Kenny, it's just too... tamed? Keith brought an energy, an edge? You didn't know quite what he was going to do next, which kept you interested and it elevated the whole band. When Keith passed, nobody would be able to fill his sound because he was so unique and absolutely irreplaceable.

[@elsquibbs]

Alex Lifeson was somewhat the same way with Niel Peart in Rush. Alex originally didn't want Neil to join the band.

[@kevinkhoy7171]

Pete might of complained about Moon's 🥁 But Keith was Perfect for The Who! Just like Zack Starkey is Now playing 🥁 in place of his God Father ✝️ The Who sounds as good or Even better these Daze! 😵‍💫

[@nazfrde]

I can't remember which critic wrote about The Who's 1982 tour, with Kenny Jones, Rabbit Bundrick, backing vocalists and a horn section, that they had added 13 people to the band to try to replace Moon, and they didn't come close.

[@mindyourself7063]

I'm pleased to see/hear Roger speak the truth as to Kieth vs. Kenny. Kenny was obviously an incredibly respected mate, ... but Kieth was a force of nature in the unique synergy that was The Who.

[@derbystardom]

Kenney Jones though is solid perfect on Eminence Front. Also, Another Tricky Day.

[@kitrichardson5573]

there were individual songs where Keith strumming was great like on “won’t get fooled again“ but there were other songs where it seemed inappropriate. He seemed like a rather one dimensional drummer to me and I can understand Pete loving him and being not so crazy about him at the same time.

[@johnmiller5679]

I am a drummer and I loved Moon hit not because he was a great drummer but because he was Keith Moon

[@goatuscrow4135]

When you take a hit, you ain’t supposed to write it down. But if you have to, at least put it in parentheses. (hit)

[@hammer44head]

Keith was to drums is what Pete was to guitar, nobody really like them and i dont think they would fit into any real great rock n roll band, and were too good to fit into a punk band. The Who were one of the best bands ever out of England and on a great night better than the stones live.

[@jamesryan5499]

PETE, WITH OUT MOON, the OX John, and Roger...No WHO

[@someguy42093]

Keith and John played lead and Pete was rhythm.

[@onusgumboot5565]

Keith made the drums a lead instrument. They needed that to fill in with just bass and drums. Of course John made the bass a lead instrument much of the time. Maybe that's it. Three lead instruments instead of the usual bass and drum, rhythm section, and guitar on lead. Kenny Jones really is a great drummer for most bands though. But too much in the traditional sense to fit with the Who. They had to start adding keyboards and other musicians to make it work. Then it wasn't the Who anymore though was it? It was a band of professional musicians playing Who songs.

[@ShakepearesDaughter]

Keith Moon was chaotic and passionate and made every performance new and hence, somewhat unpredictable---not just the same old thing, which is the bane of touring musicians. Moon bottled excitement and creative energy. If you have the right personality to work off of, that makes performing so much more exciting. Kenny was a tidy drummer, and a guy doing his proper job and doing it right---but not the additional performance personality Roger needed behind him to push him harder and react to. As good as Kenny was, he was basically "just" a drummer---Moon was a big personality back there, and the rest of the musical space created by the rest of the Who had to be made amazing enough to compete with him, so he made the other three better. Moon would have been bored otherwise, and you know how Moon was when he was bored. He went off and got lit somewhere else. Usually to his or the decor's detriment. Making music was probably the only reasonably "safe" high he had.

[@Twotontessie]

As a fan, never agreed with Roger about Kenney. He just won’t let it go. Going completely opposite direction with a heavy, simple driving player was exactly the right call - in my opinion. It fit the times and brought so much of the material alive onstage - lean and mean. “Sister Disco,” the Quadrophenia and early singles. He crushed all that stuff. Listen to the tapes. I have older brother and sister - too young to see the Tommy era but in the sweet spot for ‘79-80 tour ... to this day still say the greatest Rock performances they ever saw. One in Boulder and one in Seattle.

[@donjohnson9688]

I agree. Kenney was fabulous during those years.

[@hubbsllc]

I agree that Kenney did very well drumming for the Who. I don't like every track on IT'S HARD but goodness, there are some wonderful songs on there and Kenney is just explosive on them. It's a phase of the band that really resonates with me.

[@Twotontessie]

@@hubbsllc The only thing that got a little monotonous with Kenney was the junior high school type sixteenth notes from the snare down the toms. But I think he was doing it to try to capture some of the spirit and style from Keith. Simon Philips on the other hand an unholy monster with double bass and all kinds of rad fills. I saw that one live. Amazing as well just in a completely more progressive/technical direction. I was never that psyched about Starr. Saw that too. One thing I liked is he had a similar touch as his Dad when he was playing basic time. I was not that excited about all the cymbal wash and stuff.

[@wallyb55232]

Pete’s impeccable sense of time and rock solid rhythm held the Who together while Keith and John improvised. If you want to know where the One is listen to Pete.

[@guitarslim56]

Mate, you logo looks like a bum.

[@lauratanner8475]

Keith's drumming is absolutely frantic.very "seat of the pants" which can be magical, but can also be challenging to play in a band with. it would not have "worked" in any other band I don't think. it's definitely interesting and most of the time awesome but I also know what it's like playing with drummers that aren't rock solid "pocket" type drummers and I think thats what Pete wanted from Keith sometimes and couldn't get. it's just not in Keith! he was not a traditional drummer.

[@Mike-ky9jz]

There is a lot of legend that surrounds The Who...and most of the legend is because of Keith Moon.

[@jeffwisener1378]

Pete Townsend is a miserable human being. He criticized Moon but the reality is John Entwistle and Keith Moon were the driving force and energy of the who. When you compare the guitar playing of Pete to other top rock bands of that era he was very weak. Yes he could write good songs, yes played good lead guitar but he really couldn't play lead guitar well enough to have soaring leads. Pete's windmills and leaping covered up the fact his leads were short and weak. In contrast John's bass playing was like lead guitar. Lastly, Pete should stop being critical of Moon and Entwistle, both carried the band.

[@wgb01001]

🙄

[@robertway5756]

Far from being weak, Pete's leads are concise and fit the songs beautifully, and with stellar tone always. While leaving you wanting more, similar to Dave Davies.. Zillion note wanker guitarists are a dime a dozen.

[@ShakepearesDaughter]

You can love playing with people but try being with them everyday, all day, on the road or the studio. Your natural personality comes out, and you can't help but see your bandmates as just people with flaws that annoy you, and react to them like a lot of brothers or sisters you can't get away from. Don't be too hard on Townsend. He knows what Entwistle and Moon contributed, and how much he counted on them. Townsend wouldn't have stayed with them if he hadn't found their together work fulfilling enough to continue, nor would we have what they left us today. And all bass player/drummer combinations carry the band. It's what they do. It's their job. They were vital but they weren't The Who by themselves. All four were The Who, weaving it together.

[@tosin123food9]

Keith he’s drumming remind me of a car Engine Staring He is a funny guy

[@KirkFields]

👍☺️✌️

[@cajungangster1654]

All that fame and money and Bad Wi-Fi

[@Jubilo1]

Moon had a personality. Jones was excellent but expressed no personality. Bonham too- no personality.

[@zosomoso]

I love Keith Moon but Bonham was dripping in personality.

[@skinnerman100]

Same as darius

[@rustybear5125]

That's just plain stupid

[@josephbuckley5961]

@@zosomoso Bonham was good but no keith moon sorry

[@TheEdie1958]

Listening to classical music Evocative, Enlightening, Exuberant transports to a different spiritual plane. Admire Michel Legrand Summer Me, Winter Me and Summer Knows. The British film score composer Richard Addinsell Warsaw Concerts. Cheers Sir Peter and Colleagues.

[@Steve24527]

No disrespect but other drummers like Bonham were high hat tapers bass drum 1 and 3 types very bland predictable and boring. Keith Moons drumming was exciting dramatic and awe inspiring listen to Quadraphenia no one could of done a better job

[@chrishills2427]

What garbage. Lol.

[@RICHBLACKCOCK]

you just don`t replace a KEITH MOON. or a JOHN BONHAM!!! tAKE copeland out of the POLICE & man. that`s it you`re just playng the songs

[@stephenedgecock]

Keith Moon was the entire act after he died they should've packed it in