Birthday: Aug 23, 1946

Birthplace: Wembley, London, England, UK

Biography: Keith John Moon was born to working class parents in Wembley, London, England, on the 23rd August, 1946. At the age of 12, he had joined the Sea Cadet Corp and was given his first musical instrument, the bugle. He left school by 15 and was in his first band, The Beachcombers; this was around the summer of 1963. There was rumour that Keith was self-taught, but history says otherwise, he was shown how to play by the late Carlo Little (1938-2005), Carlo was the original drummer in the Rolling Stone... ... (read more...) s and Screaming Lords Sutch's band, The Savages.

By the age of 18, he had joined a local London band, The High Numbers; this was to consist of what is now known as The Who.

With his own unique style of drumming, rolling the sticks along the skins as to banging the typical beat, he was to become extrovertly charismatic in his life as well as his playing. With a desire, a need if you like, to be the centre of attention, this hyperactive, and largely, self destructive, personality became his own worst enemy.

With a flair for theatrical and ridicululous behaviour, he was the centre point and self-publicist for, if they liked it or not, The Who.

In the meantime, he had fathered a daughter, Mandy, to Kim. He may have been the perfect showman, but behind the scenes, he was often a very aggressive man to live around and with. Kim soon left him, taking their young daughter with her.

He started to live the high life in California, with the likes of John Lennon, Harry Nilsson and Ringo Starr, Ringo's son, Zak, was his godson, ironically, it was Zak who played with The Who in their later career, during the nineties and beyond.

While in California, he made his only solo album, Two Sides of The Moon, for MCA Records, a 1975 release, with many guest artists. Keith rarely played the drums while away from the Who, he sang on the album, and played the drums on only three of the tracks.

His on-stage aggression, destroying his drum kits while still playing them and wrecking hotel rooms, apart from being an obvious publicity stunt, was fuelled with an over use of drugs and alcohol. This addictive side to his nature flowed into the 70s, playing against the band, his family and friends. His drumming became irregular and unpredictable. He put on weight, so much so as to have him sit in a chair with the backrest toward the camera, to hide his paunch, on the cover of the last Who album with Keith, the 1978 Who are You.

He died in September 7th, 1978; his death was an accident, by the overuse of the prescribed medicine that was designed ease him off his drink addiction. He died in the same London apartment as Cass Elliot, from The Mama & The Papas, who had died there some four years earlier.

Trade Mark: Wild drum playing and subsequent destruction of his kit when performing live.

Was the drummer with "The Who" along with Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle.

Ashes scattered at Golders Green Crematorium, London, England in section 3P.

Dedicatee of the published script of Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979).

Godfather of Zak Starkey. Replaced by Kenny Jones, ex-Face/Small Face, who was replaced by Zak Starkey.

Joined The Who in late 1964. Prior to that, he played drums for a cover band called The Beachcombers.

The Beach Boys and Jan and Dean were his favorite musicians.

Was the youngest member of The Who.

Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of the Who) in 1990.

Roger Daltrey's song "Under A Raging Moon" was a tribute to him. The recording featured the work of 40 drummers, including Ringo Starr and his son Zak Starkey.

On the cover of the last Who album recorded with Moon, he is seated in chair upon which the words "Not to Be Taken Away" are stenciled. Moon died within weeks of the album's release.

Was allegedly responsible for The Who being banned from every Holiday Inn for life in the United States after creating a ruckus while celebrating his 20th birthday at the Flynt, Michigan, though actually the Who continued to use Holiday Inns for much of their career.

Packed flash powder in his base drum during an appearance on the "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (1967), causing it to explode. This not only caused Pete Townshend's hair to catch fire and damaged his hearing, but Moon was injured as well. His prime purpose in this prank was to upstage Smothers, and when he appeared right in front of the camera whilst a joke was being cracked, before collapsing, his attempts were successful. Bette Davis was standing backstage during the explosion and fainted.

In reality, Moon and John Entwistle discussed leaving the Who, going as far to name the band Lead Zeppelin based on the English saying "going over like a lead zeppelin" as Americans say "going over like a lead balloon". Entwistle went as far as to do drawings of the first album cover (the Hindenberg in flames) and they discussed the idea with their then driver Richard Cole. Later when this didn't materialize, and with Cole leaving their employ and going to work with Jimmy Page, the name was indeed used by Page to name the New Yardbirds. Both Moon and Entwistle subsequently took credit for the name.

Daughter with his wife (now divorced) Kim: Mandy, born on July 12, 1966.

Shared a house in Los Angeles with John Lennon and May Pang, Ringo Starr, and Harry Nilsson in 1974; it was the same place where Bobby Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe had met for trysts in the early 1960s. They called it their "rock-n-roll rest home", and Moon was fond of coming down to breakfast wearing a trenchcoat slit up the back... and nothing underneath. (Klaus Voormann also lived there with his girlfriend, but steered clear of the other men's antics.)

Was ejected from a hotel suite after a night of nailing and strapping all the furniture to the ceiling.

Was a front-row guest at one of The Monkees's London concerts; countered the fans' cries of "We want the Monkees!" by bellowing "We want the Who!" as loudly as anyone.

Was originally going to play The Odd Job Man in Graham Chapman's The Odd Job (1978), but had to drop out because of scheduling conflicts with The Who, and his drinking problem.

The first instrument he played was the bugle.

Learned to play drums at age 14.

Left school at age 14, after discovering the drums.

Was close friends with singer Marc Bolan and Monty Python star Graham Chapman.

His public image was so pronounced that the Muppet character, Animal, whose credo is "Drums. Women. Food." was inspired by Moon.

Was nicknamed "Nobby" by his father, Arthur. Arthur Moon died suddenly of a heart attack in 1974 at age 53.

Was a huge fan of The Beach Boys and reportedly used to listen to their 1964 album "Shut Down Volume 2" constantly for inspiration, before joining The Who. One of the last songs he sung in the studio was a cover of The Beach Boys 1966 Number 1 hit "Barbara Ann". He also produced a solo album that had a cover of The Beach Boys 1964 hit, 'Don't Worry Baby'.

He took his role as Uncle Ernie in the film version of Tommy very seriously, and was nervous about playing the part. He also met one of his great drinking buddies while making the film: Oliver Reed.