Biography

Full Name: Keith John Moon
Nicknames: Moon The Loon, Moonie
Born: August 23, 1946 (often incorrectly stated as 1947)
Died: September 7, 1978 (overdose on prescription drugs)
Birthplace: Wembley, London, England
Deathplace: London, England
Parents: Alfred Charles Moon and Kathleen "Kit" Winifred Hopley
Siblings: Two younger sisters, Linda, born 1949, and Lesley, born 1958
Married: Maryse Elizabeth Patricia "Kim" Kerrigan, 1966-1975 (divorce).
Children: Amanda (Mandy), born July 12, 1966
Occupation: Drummer for The Who, 1964-1978 (his death)

Keith John Moon was born in Wembley, a suburb of London, England, on August 23, 1946. He was the oldest of three and the only boy. He was always a very lively kid, playing numerous "practical jokes" in his neighborhood.

Keith's first instrument was a bugle. He played it for the local Sea Cadets. After quitting the bugle at age 15, Keith purchased his first set of drums, a light blue Premier kit, and that's where history began.

Before joining The Who (then called The High Numbers) in 1964, Keith was a drummer in The Escorts, Mark Twain and the Strangers (his first serious band), and The Beachcombers (a semi-professional cover band).

Keith got the gig with The Who after showing up at auditions and demolishing the usual drummer's kit. Pete and company immediately thought this was the guy for them. It was with The Who that Keith would go places. The Who went on the record some of the best singles of the '60s (all my partiality to them put aside), such as "I Can't Explain", "Happy Jack", "Substitute", "I Can See For Miles", and ,the unforgettable anthem for angst-ridden teens everywhere, "My Generation". But it was the classic album, Tommy, that made The Who the groundbreaking band they were (and are).

Keith was a fine drummer on all the above, especially (in this fan's opinion) on "Happy Jack". He played in a way no rock drummer had before: instead of keeping time or a rhythmic beat as other drummers did, Keith played along almost to the song's melody. This is very clear on "Happy Jack", more so than on the other tracks.

In 1966, Keith married Kim Kerrigan, and later that year they had their first, and only, child Mandy. The marriage didn't last, however, and they were divorced in 1975. Truthfully, Keith was domestically violent and Kim put up with him as long as she could.

Throughout the '70s, The Who continued to amaze with their excellent music, and Keith's drumming style progressed throughout the decade. But at the same time, Keith's personal life was going in a downward spiral into drugs and alcohol. Keith died on September 7, 1978 from an overdose of the drug Heminevrin, meant to help with his alcoholism.

It's really awful when something that is supposed to help a person kills them instead, but I guess no one thought Keith would take 32 of the pills in one night. Chillingly, the cover of The Who's most recent (at the time) album at the time had Keith sitting in a chair that said "Not to be taken away".

Keith is considered by most to be the best drummer in the history of rock music. I'm forced to agree with this assessment.

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