The first song Keith Moon recorded with The Who
The Who are, without doubt, one of the defining groups of the 1960s. Their youthful mod-rocker rebellion provided a voice for the energetic post-war generation. While much is made of Pete Townshend’s pioneering guitar tones and effortlessly incredible songwriting talents, it must be said that the band would have struggled to have the same impact were it not for the wild man behind the sticks, Keith Moon.
Moon provided The Who with so much, not only was he among the greatest rock and roll drummers to ever grace the airwaves, he was the archetypal anarchic rock star. Growing a reputation for blowing up drum kits, trashing hotel rooms, and generally being unpredictable and wild, Keith added a definite sense of rebellion to The Who’s sound. His introduction to the group came in April of 1964 at the Oldfield Hotel in Greenford – a meeting which would change the trajectory of the group indefinitely.
The drummer’s initial meeting with The Who was a sign of things to come; during his audition, he managed to tear a drum skin and break a bass drum pedal. Impressed with his unwavering energy and impeccable mod style, the band recruited him as their full-time drummer. Prior to Keith Moon’s career, it seemed as though the drums were resigned to being a mere backing instrument, but thanks to his powerful playing style, Moon managed to bring the instrument to the forefront of rock and roll music.
Keith Moon was a true original, both in musical ability and personality. This became blatantly obvious when Moon was brought into the studio to record the band’s first proper single, ‘I Can’t Explain’. Although the track starts, like many Who pieces, with a distinctive Townshend riff, it is Moon’s drumbeat which kicks it into life. Throughout the song, which established The Who as one of Britain’s premier rock groups, Keith’s drumming is an undeniable highlight.
The recruitment of Keith Moon was a momentous occasion for the band and for British rock in general. For years prior, The Who had been stumbling along as a fairly average-beat outfit, often playing cover versions to sparse crowds and attempting to capture the spirit of the mod subculture with which they were enamoured. As soon as Moon joined the line-up, it seemed as though everything had fallen into place. In addition to his incredible drumming talents, Moon also had an uncanny ability to cut through Townshend’s signature guitar style, thus beginning a close musical bond that would last throughout The Who’s time together.
Building upon the brilliance of his work on ‘I Can’t Explain’, Moon’s drumming throughout the early period of The Who is near-flawless. Across the My Generation album, the Wembley-born musician proves himself to be the master of rock and roll drumming. Still, as the band progressed, he showed a unique ability to adapt and mature to their changing soundscape. When the 1970s rolled around, and Townshend became transfixed with the elusive art of concept albums and rock operas, Moon did not flinch. In fact, some of his finest work came from this more refined, mature period of the group.
Tragically, the world of rock lost Keith Moon on September 7th, 1978, from an overdose of prescription medication meant to help with his alcoholism. Nevertheless, his legacy lives on through the continuing popularity of his body of work. If you think of any prominent rock and roll drummer that has operated since Keith Moon joined The Who, they likely owe a huge debt to his pioneering sound and energy. Although the band continued without Moon in the years following his death, ultimately, there can never be a true substitute for his talents.
