The Biography of Keith Moon with Tony Fletcher - EP 174

[@tonym994]

Leonard Bernstein said of the 1969 LP TOMMY, "a powerful performance that outstrips anything that has ever come out of a recording studio".

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Very cool!

[@mitchsoutor1395]

One of the best drummers ever 0:34

[@danielfisch389]

Excellent book - the definitive Moon biography for me. Keith was an interesting bunch of people. Unique in good and bad ways. RIP

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Completely agree - RIP to keith!

[@danacoleman4007]

Well said!

[@heathstjohn6775]

That was a pleasure to stumble across, that understated yet knowing description, about one man being ''...an interesting bunch of people...'', I mean. Thanks.

[@craigfazekas3923]

My cousin was entering a restaurant/bar in Philly in '73 when out of that place staggers out Moonie onto the sidewalk. He was apparently trying to catch up with others that had just left the restaurant & singing out loud, "BE BOP-A LULA, OH MY SOUL" !!, stopped and let a fart rip out loud & continued the same melody, "AAAGGHH, THERE WENT ME HEINIE HOLE" !!!.... & continued on his merry way. Yeah, Moonie was different alright. She wanted to talk to him or get an autograph, but thought better of it considering what she & others had just witnessed. I think this was at Bookbinders Restaurant, if I recall it correctly. 🚬😎👍

[@drumdiscussion7776]

For better or worst Keith Moon was pivotal in developing rock drumming as we know it today. Orchestration and accents were prevalent in his performances. His quick wit humors and antics were icing on the cake. His influence will be everlasting.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Agreed!

[@seltaeb9691]

They were a band that each player you could just watch them camera solo, Roger throwing about the mike, John Entwistle fingers on his bass, Townsend leaping & lurching & yes, Moonie being Moon.

[@carolbuckley7900]

Amen I’m in love with Moonie 💋💋💋💋❤️💋❤️❤️

[@jwmiller9089]

Keith Moon was a great Rock drummer like Carmen apathy. But just like so many others the drugs and alcohol eventually stole his will to live.❤

[@danacoleman4007]

For better. Definitely for better.

[@20cenctstyle]

I’m gonna get the book from Amazon now. My first WHO show was the quadrophenia 1973 tour I was a hardcore fan as a kid too

[@drummer78]

I think one thing that gets underestimated was Keith’s taste and feel for the drums. Check out his cymbal work on the “Who Sell Out” album and the tom work on songs like “The Song is Over”. Keith was extraordinarily musical and not merely this wild man of rock n roll drumming.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Agreed, an incredible musician

[@JOHNWLOUCKS]

I totally concur. I saw Keith play 11 times. He was so musical, unconventional and unorthodox in his playing style. Great bass drum work too ! It was like watching a drumming ballet.

[@mattsweeny3957]

Yes...hes in top 3 Ginger Baker Bonham MOON Matt

[@tonym994]

Keith had a way w/ cymbals, and I'm no drummer. just someone w/ ears, who plays 3 chords on guitar. rest his soul.

[@7karlheinz]

For me, Moon's best drumming on Who LP/CDs are "Quadrophenia" and "Live at Leeds" although the Hull double-disc features his drums louder in the mix in contrast to Live at Leeds. On Hull, you can occasionally hear Moon's sticks grazing his overhead microphones!

[@tonym994]

I read your book, sir. 'MOON: The life and death of a rock legend'. The ending was one of the most touching endings in any book.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thanks for watching, Tony is a great author

[@crlaw75]

It's a great book. Got it when it came out in '99.

[@tonym994]

I was laffing like hell when Jeff Beck makes an appearance at Keith's home, to look at old cars, and said'' the house had dog shit all around it", thinking he meant outside. but as it turned out he meant inside the house, as Keith left a bowl full of black beauties out for a great Dane to eat more than his share. I guess that causes dogs to really let go. that was one day in Moon's life. not sure much business was conducted that day.

[@keithcarley]

The Moon story I like is more about Entwislte's way of dealing with Keith. It goes that one night after a show John was having dinner in his hotel room with a lady friend when Keith wandered in drunk as a skunk. He picked up the steak off John's plate, took a bite, and then preceded to relieve himself in the corner of the room and pass out on the floor. John carried Keith back to his room, dumped him on the bed and then smashed everything in the place to bits. When Keith woke up the next day, he assumed he had done the damage and paid for it out of his own pocket.

[@seltaeb9691]

The smashing ups really was time to grow up.

[@kevinkiso4579]

​@@seltaeb9691You're just here to attempt to create a snarky comment. You don't know shite about which you write.

[@peteywheatstraws4909]

That's actually a pretty funny story, wasn't ready for that.

[@artlover1477]

Totally, agree, Moon was the best live 65 to 70. But imo Quadrophenia was his studio masterpiece

[@philouze1815]

I've read "Dear Boy" at least five times in three years. Fascinating book about a fascinating man. He never got over Neil Boland's death. I mean, in these circumstances, who the fuck would? Cheers from France!

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Such a great book and legendary drummer. I agree about Neils death being such a pivotal part of his life - just terrible. Thank you for watching Phil!

[@jothanankrogh]

Brilliant! I have read Tonys book at least three times. From the first read in sheer disbelief I would put a little dogear on each page that had a story I wanted to show to friends, by the time I was done the whole darn book was a stack of dogears.

[@TobychaserTobychaser]

I LOVE The Who, thank you for this podcast who doesn't love Keith Moon

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thank you for watching!

[@davidrobinson2776]

Probably the best biography I've ever read. The part about Led Zeppelin and the occult was particularly memorable for me. I wish Tony would write a book exploring that particular aspect at some point.

[@questioneverything-rf3yf]

A favorite of mine (there's so many, impossible to choose A favorite!)...straight out of Dear Boy: while still in the Beachcombers and after discovering speed, his bandmates having to stuff him in his base drum case for the ride home after a gig just to shut him up. Lucky for them (& the rest of the world!!) he was a compact lil drummer.🥁💕

[@davidmontgomery5047]

Great Show !! Moon has always been One of My favorite Drummers . A One of a Kind Player . Sad to Hear Townsend say that He Couldn't Play the Drums !!? His Style was a Huge part of What made the who Work .

[@jazminratzlaff5357]

Great interview with a very talented writer and researcher Tony Fletcher. Keith Moon was a handsome boyish otherworldly fireball eccentric of a individual, way too young and sadly tragic. One of the greatest rock and roll drummers their will ever be. That’s what got him through as long as he could, not all the drugs, excesses and alcohol. And yes he definitely had ADHD. He and Roger are why I love listening to the Who. 🥁 🤟🏻🤘🏻😇♾️🎵🎶❤

[@GuyLegge]

Do stop talking psychiatry. You are the one with mental problems if you cannot see what's wrong with it.

[@clausm2203]

Great interview

[@mattskustomkreations]

I remember reading about Keith’s domestic abuse years ago and it really bummed me out. Took some of the magic away. I knew he was flawed, but not in that way. Musically, he’s been a huge inspiration to me.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Yes definitely, it is a very sad story of his life but he is a monster player

[@terrystowers6085]

Extraordinary people have extraordinary faults. I can imagine that he had a dark and sinister aspect to his character. All of the hyperbolic behavior would be typical of a person trying to find a way of compensating for some underlying mental health issues. It shows on his face and in his eyes in certain photographs.

[@bilhamcobbly2957]

This is absolutely incredible

[@matthewpaluch777]

" NOT TO BE TAKEN AWAY "

[@chickentwisties2298]

He really was the only lead drummer in rock...

[@markbahouth2713]

" He really was the only lead drummer in rock " .....🙄 ..... NO Keith Moon was NOT the only lead drummer in rock . Ginger Baker John Bonham were also leading rock drummers and in my opinion better .

[@kevinkiso4579]

I first read "Moon" about twelve years ago, and I've read it four or five times again since. It is the best musical biography I have ever read. He writes in great depth and detail about his growing up in Wembley; catching the train into London's Berwick Market and pulling all sorts of pranks even as a child. I believe he saw the High Numbers at Eel Pie Island or the Railway Hotel at Weasldstone and Harrow. It's the Ginger Man story that's been told so many times. His first home away from home was a flat on Ormesby Street at Regents Park. There's a great chapter about Jeff Beck and Keith growing very close when Keith was living alone in St Ann's Hill - he owned a great state of art home called Tara House there. He was partial owner of the pub at the bottom of his driveway. It is THE BEST book I've ever read to be straight. When I read a book i keep my phone next to me (or my laptop if I'm home) and as i read i go into Google Earth and i research and locate the places I'm reading about. It's a massive amount of fun. Then Keith went thru a home in the Hollywood Hills with his girlfriend Annette Walter- Lax after his wife left him; and the ever faithful and true Dougal Butler, his number one mate and minder, was always with Keith. Then he bought a beach house, four or five stories high, next door to Steve McQueen, in Trancas, Malibu. Keith thought he was going to be a movie star during his time in Los Angeles, but he only grew overweight and consumed way too much cocaine... The Who Organization lured him back to London with the promise of a job at Shepperton Studios where The Who owned and ran a trucking company, a lighting company, etc... I believe i read Pete saying that he bought the flat in Mayfair that belonged to Harry Nilson for Keith (and Annette). That's the flat on Curzon Street where Mama Cass did not die from rapidly eating a ham sandwich. But Keith did die there after rapidly eating 32 heminevrin tablets after the Paul McCartney party for Buddy Holly. I am going to go to the Seattle Public Library within the hour and check out Tony Fletcher's book again. When i was an eleven year old beginning guitarist and drummer i owned, devoured and worshiped my vinyl LPs Live At Leeds, Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy, The Who Sell Out, The Kids Are Alright, Quadrophenia, Who's Next, and a bootleg of The Who Live in 76 at Boston Garden. By the time i was sixteen i knew all of the stuff I've written above; no internet ... Hit Parader and Creem Magazines NEVER wrote about The Who... i was born in 1966 and when i was a teenager it was so fckn hard to search and struggle to find any quality, or true, information about The Who. My beautiful mother bought my a big book made by Richard Barnes - i believe he's now their official biographer. He was a childhood friend of Pete's. THAT is where i gleaned all my Who info. For a really great interview you'd have to have someone who doesn't need to ask questions about Keith; you'd need a real Who-phile. RIP Keith. This gentleman did a superlative interview here. It's difficult to cram thirty one years of Keith's life into forty-five minutes. Great job.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Great info, thank you for watching!

[@kevinkiso4579]

@@DrumHistoryPodcast Absolutely wonderful podcast. Thank you.

[@MatthewRussell-v9k]

Keith was 32 when he died. He lied about the year he was born. He was born 8/23/46

[@DWRhythm]

Moon is my favorite drummer of all time. I remember growing up in the 80's listening to "The Who" thanks to my dad, and watchingt videos that'd come on TV about him, especially the "## years of R&B" or whatever it was that came on in the 90's. THe whole series started out with The Kids Are Alright and went on from there. It was amazing to watch Keith explodbe behind the kit. I tend to think now, at 41, and being completely blind, he shaped me as a drummer, and showed me how to make the drums a frontal instrument, like he does. It's how I play even now. THis episode won a special place in my heart.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

I appreciate that my friend, I am glad this one means a lot to you!

[@alp-1960]

Thank you.

[@jock77stuff]

Dear Boy is the only music biography I have read twice. I dont think anyone could grasp the essence of Keith Moon as well as Tony Fletcher has in the book,

[@kevinsmith-fs9mo]

I saw Keith play live thirteen times at the marquee in London, and once at the Southall community centre. He didn't always keep the beat ,but what a drummer . I saw Carlo Little with Lord Such he played long drum solos .

[@ballhawk387]

Fantastic interview! To my ears, the most striking example of Moonie's emotional connection with the music was "Melancholia," a tune that languished in the can for about 1/4 century. His ascending, dynamic fills and punctuation of the song were as sublime as any drumming I've heard, and an inspiration for the expressionism of my own drumming. Sloppy? Bollocks! I friend of mine described his drumming as *very* precise. Upon hearing that recording, with its dynamics that match or exceed the work of the greatest conductors, I came to understand exactly what he meant.

[@jamiebryan5729]

Cheers, Tony. Long time no see! Wishing you all the best.

[@chrisdavies73]

Was the story with the mouse he found in his hotel room and room service true? Allegedly he ordered the full cheese board for it and had dinner together 😂 He also bought a graveyard for John's birthday?

[@richierugs6544]

first concert i went to the Who at Village theater later Fillmore East---66?--unreal, no slow ballads, no slow blues, they sang like angels, then smashed everything---nothing to me ever looked as fun and awesome as that

[@briankeith7463]

My favorite Moon is early Moon, when he was on a 4 piece when they were playing more motown covers….

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Great input Brian, I think that is a unique thought because most people love the big kit wild Keith Moon but the early period is just as impressive

[@Assimilator702]

Man your channel is really getting screwed by YT. I searched "Keith Moon" and this episode didn't come up at all. I then searched "Keith Moon Drum History" and episode #171 shows up 10 spots down but this episode never shows up. Unbelievable!

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thats weird - thanks for letting me know. The algorithm is a mysterious beast. Hopefully the spirit of Keith will help it rise in the ranks :)

[@mns8732]

Agreed, YT hid this and I've watched it 4 times already.

[@toriackley8402]

Keith was the best rock drummer of our time it’s sad that he couldn’t save himself 😢

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Definitely, a very sad story

[@MrROTD]

Keith is amazing, Andrew Scott from Sloan definitely has the same vibe visually and musically maybe borrowed from him , so great to listen to and to watch them swing the sticks.

[@newforestpixie5297]

phil collins was born in Wembley Greenford Acton or Ealing during that same period too although I believe his family background enabled his drumming progress more than others mentioned.

[@richierugs6544]

i was in the Troubadour in 1975 and Keith had Annette on his shoulders and a bottle of champagne in each hand just out of his mind laughing

[@markbahouth2713]

Keith Moon was NOT the first to bring the drums & drummer to the forefront . that accolade is correctly attributed to GENE KRUPA . born 1909 died in 1973 . if you notice Keith is a Rock & Roll version parody of Gene Krupa .

[@NOBodYnose022]

@markbahouthz713 was going to say the same

[@paulcadman6051]

Greatest book on keith moon, who i loved as a young teen. And who i will never stop liking and defending. I would rather watch ten seconds of keith moon than an hour of anyone else even whn hes not playong and just showing off aur playing lol. . I know he wasnt perfect but he wasnt a bad man imo and im sorry he didnt live longer. He brought joy to so many was the musical reason why the who became what they were and its just sad he dies too young. Behind blue eyes.

[@derek5168]

Keith moon was like all the other's who let themselves be over validated didn't get that their art and who they were as individuals is two completely different things and over indulge in everything on offer making them lose control of their lifestyle and in the end their life

[@kevinkiso4579]

Learn how to write a readable paragraph and give it another shot.

[@derek5168]

@kevinkiso4579 here's something readable Kevin your a bonehead

[@orlandonostagiafever1964]

The Keith moon movie was on the works years ago.

[@heathstjohn6775]

He struck me as very likable here. A boyish look, and affability.

[@dadurweird]

The story about Keith driving a car into a swimming pool in did, in fact, take place at a Flint Michigan Holiday Inn

[@mns8732]

So the story of the ginger colored suit Keith wore when he cut in on the who's first drummer is rock folk lore?

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Keith John Moon (Londres, Inglaterra, 23 de agosto de 1946-ibídem, 7 de septiembre de 1978) fue un músico inglés, conocido por ser baterista de la banda británica de rock The Who. Se ganó el reconocimiento por su estilo exuberante e innovador en la batería, y su excéntrico comportamiento autodestructivo, lo que le valió el apodo de «Moon the Loon» («Moon el chiflado»). Moon se unió a The Who en 1964. Participó en todos los álbumes y sencillos desde su debut, en «Zoot Suit» de 1964, hasta Who Are You de 1978, álbum que fue lanzado solo tres semanas antes de su muerte.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thanks for watching!

[@dsaulw]

Moon was bipolar, or in his time, referred to as manic-depressive. That would account for the huge mood swings, though I am sure that the drugs and alcohol didn't help.

[@liamcrisp6380]

Kieth was better than everyone else in the whole world.

[@mightyV444]

Only 32! Just like Bonzo when he died! 😯

[@wrsawy]

Listened to quadrophenia yesterday. He played the studio version straight. Daltrey admitted that when he died, the band was toast. Nothing against Kenny Jones, it just wasn't a great fit.

[@Assimilator702]

I wonder how many of Keith's drum sets that he knocked over ended up wi5h cracked shells and were either abandoned or had to be repaired. While a drum might SEEMINGLY be more durable than a guitar, I doubt most of Keith's live kits thay were smashed in stage escaped without some serious damage, especially the way shells were made in the 60's and 70's.

[@pierrechristen9025]

Have you guys never heard of ketamine?

[@henrikchristensen7844]

Keith was a very good drummer but he was nuts in his head.

[@bilalgarcia7685]

The drummer in the 60s are mid very mid but a small few

[@matthewpeers1705]

Keith Moon ..Not impressed

[@1955DavidH]

I was never a real Moon fan. I didn’t like his style when he stopped using high hats. John on bass was the musician in the Who!

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

John is a monster player! A band of great musicians

[@andrewsandoz8005]

Keith was a poor drummer, terrible chops, very redundant player. Better known for his partying and drinking than his drumming ability. A tragic figure really, RIP.

[@newforestpixie5297]

I admire your blunt or honest opinion. Who or Moon fans are obviously more respectful of independent thought than say those whom worship Rush . I’d bet anyone criticising Neil peart would be inundated by disagreement or insults 👍

[@edwhite7475]

​@@newforestpixie5297since you appreciate 'blunt' - ill criticize Neil Peart- I have always said he RUINED a whole generation of drummers by having a 40 piece kit and them thinking you had to hit every damn one on every solo. Neil could play it tastefully like that, but few of his followers could. Very few. Probably none.

[@jackiem6841]

You know nothing