Keith John Moon

Keith John Moon was born on August 23, 1946 in Wembley, a suburb of London, England. He was the youngest son of Alfred Charles Moon, a mechanic, and Kathleen Winifred Moon, a cleaner. He had an elder sister named Linda. He attended Alperton Secondary Modern School, where he showed little interest in academics but developed a passion for music and comedy. He joined the local Sea Cadet Corps at age 12 and learned to play the bugle and later the drums. He also became fascinated with American rock and roll, especially Elvis Presley and Gene Krupa. Moon began his musical career by playing with various bands in the London area, such as the Escorts, the Beachcombers, and Mark Twain and the Strangers. He was known for his energetic and flamboyant drumming style, which often involved rolling the sticks along the skins instead of hitting them. He also developed a reputation for his wild and destructive behaviour, such as breaking his drum kit, throwing sticks into the audience, and setting fire to his hotel room. In 1964, he auditioned for a band called the High Numbers, which later changed its name to the Who. He impressed the other members, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, and John Entwistle, with his powerful and innovative playing, and became a permanent member of the group. The Who soon became one of the most popular and influential bands in the British rock scene, with hits such as "My Generation", "I Can't Explain", "Substitute", "Happy Jack", "I Can See for Miles", "Pinball Wizard", "Won't Get Fooled Again", and "Who Are You". They also pioneered the concept of rock opera with albums such as Tommy (1969) and Quadrophenia (1973). Moon was an integral part of the band's sound and image, providing not only rhythmic support but also comic relief with his antics on stage and off. He was famous for smashing his drum kit at the end of every show, often using explosives or other devices to create a spectacular effect. He also enjoyed destroying hotel rooms, cars, toilets, televisions, and anything else he could get his hands on. He was nicknamed "Moon the Loon" by his friends and fans for his eccentric and unpredictable personality. Moon's personal life was also turbulent and troubled. He married Kim Kerrigan in 1966 and had a daughter named Amanda in 1967. However, he was often unfaithful to his wife and neglected his family. He also suffered from alcoholism and drug addiction, which affected his health and performance. He was involved in several accidents and incidents that endangered his life and others'. In 1970, he accidentally killed his chauffeur Neil Boland when he drove over him while trying to escape from a mob of skinheads. In 1973, he collapsed on stage during a concert in San Francisco due to an overdose of tranquilizers. In 1975, he divorced Kim after she left him for Ian McLagan of the Faces. Moon moved to Los Angeles in 1976 to pursue a solo career and an acting career. He released his only solo album Two Sides of the Moon in 1975, which featured guest appearances by many famous musicians, such as Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, John Lennon, and David Bowie. He also appeared in several films, such as That'll Be the Day (1973), Stardust (1974), Tommy (1975), and Sextette (1978). He remained close to the Who, however, and participated in their tours and recordings. He also formed a friendship with Starr, whose son Zak was his godson and later became the drummer for the Who. Moon's health deteriorated rapidly in the late 1970s. He gained weight, lost hair, and developed a heart condition. He tried to quit drinking with the help of a drug called clomethiazole, which was prescribed by his doctor. However, he ignored the dosage instructions and took more than he should have. On September 7, 1978, he died of an overdose of clomethiazole in his London flat, which he had rented from Harry Nilsson and which had been the site of Cass Elliot's death four years earlier. He was 32 years old. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Gardens of Remembrance at Golders Green Crematorium in London. Moon's legacy as a drummer and a rock star is still celebrated and admired by many musicians and fans. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential drummers of all time, and one of the most charismatic and entertaining performers in rock history. He was posthumously inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 as a member of the Who. He was also voted the second-greatest drummer in history by a Rolling Stone readers' poll in 2011.