Five songs to prove Keith Moon was a drumming savant
When it comes to The Who, guitarist Pete Townshend is often viewed as the backbone of the group. While it is true that Townshend’s legendary guitar-playing and songwriting talents are responsible for a great deal of The Who’s musical success, it was the influence of drummer Keith Moon that cemented the group among the wilder rock stars the 1960s had to offer.
Often thought of as the origins of the rock and roll idea that drummers are always the most outlandish members of the band, Moon’s blistering playing style formed an integral part of The Who’s iconic sound. With The Who members forming part of the 1960s mod subculture, Moon, in particular, gained a penchant for amphetamines and a destructive lifestyle.
While his eccentricity and violent behaviour was the cause for some much-discussed anecdotes about smashing up hotel rooms and blowing up toilets, it does create a fairly unhinged image of Moon. It should not be forgotten that he was a truly gifted drummer who forever changed the face of rock and roll drumming.
Moon occasionally contributed to the band in a songwriting capacity, with a handful of his tracks ending up as obscure tracks on early Who records. However, the London-born musician was most at home behind a towering set of drums.
Five songs that prove Keith Moon was a genius:
5. ‘Happy Jack’
Taken from their second studio album, A Quick One, ‘Happy Jack’ is one of the earliest examples of Moon showcasing his intense drumming style and inherent ability to adapt to changing time signatures and tempos. Starting off in a similar vein to many 1960s pop hits, the track soon erupts with Moon’s distinctive sound, which forms the most attractive part of the single.
Their first hit in the US, ‘Happy Jack’ was an important track for the band and also a controversial one. Frontman Roger Daltrey went so far as to bemoan the track as sounding like a “German oompah song”, while many fans at the time saw it as an indication that The Who were moving away from the fast-paced buzzsaw mod revolution seen on their first album. Nevertheless, nobody can fault the stunning performance of Keith Moon on this single.
4. ‘Pinball Wizard’
A beloved track from The Who’s 1969 rock opera Tommy, ‘Pinball Wizard’ is a simply sensational track. One of their most popular live songs, it featured in every setlist the band performed after its 1969 debut. During those live performances, the three-minute could often be elongated to as long as eight minutes, thanks predominantly to the blistering drum solos of Keith Moon.
As is the case with many Who tracks, Moon’s drumming often takes a backseat to Townshend’s guitar playing in the discourse surrounding ‘Pinball Wizard’. Nevertheless, the song sees Moon determined to implement his own unique style. His clear passion, which can be heard in both the final studio version and many live recordings, is remarkable.
3. ‘Who Are You?’
One of the group’s most well-known tracks, ‘Who Are You?’ is the apogee of what the band were trying to achieve in the latter part of the 1970s. The epic track is often praised for its experimental attributes, as well as Daltery’s impressive vocals, but the drumming of Keith Moon on the track is an under-appreciated aspect of the hit.
Taken from the album of the same name, The Who’s last release before Moon’s untimely death, the song features an enduring and awe-inspiring performance by Moon. A promo video released alongside the single sees the drummer performing with his headphones duct-taped to his head to avoid his wild playing style interfering with the recording process.
2. ‘Young Man Blues (Live at Leeds)’
Originally sung by jazz artist Mose Allison, ‘Young Man Blues’ regularly featured in the setlist of The Who’s shows. In 1970, it was included on the simply iconic live album Live at Leeds, which is not only The Who’s definitive live album but perhaps the most famous live album of all time. As with many musicians, Moon must be heard live to truly appreciate him, and Live at Leeds provides an opportunity to do just that.
Townshend’s expert riffs fly from the start of the track, but the incredible drum fills of Moon steal the show on ‘Young Man Blues’. You cannot help but simply listen in awe to the intensity and relentlessness of Moon’s playing style. The whole album is chocked full of unbelievable performances by the drummer and the rest of The Who, but it is this track in particular that sticks in the minds of fans for Moon’s unforgettable drum fills.
1. ‘My Generation’
Arguably the band’s definitive track, ‘My Generation’ acts as a kind of manifesto for the young band. With the release of the song, The Who asserted themselves as the voice of an angry new generation who were ripping up the rulebook. Everything from Daltery’s stutter to the bass fills of Entwistle combine to create a pre-punk anthem of rebellion, and Moon’s drumming is at the forefront.
His relentlessly rambunctious drumming style is at its best on this early single, and, in many ways, the song acts as a fitting tribute to Moon himself – rebellious, chaotic, but timelessly brilliant. In one of the most infamous moments of Who history, the band performed this track on the American comedy show Smothers Brothers. At the end of the performance, as was tradition with the band, the musicians would smash up their instruments and Moon would blow up his drum kit. However, due to a miscalculation in his explosives, the drummer ended up causing a blast so huge that it caused permanent hearing damage for Townshend, as well as a temporary blip in the national broadcast. How many other drummers can say they were so wild that American television could not cope?
