Common Loon

Lore & Background

Moon occasionally collaborated with other musicians and later appeared in films, but considered playing in the Who his primary occupation, and remained a member of the band until his death. In addition to his talent as a drummer, Moon developed a reputation for smashing his kit on stage and destroying hotel rooms on tour. He was fascinated with blowing up toilets with cherry bombs or dynamite, and destroying television sets. Moon also enjoyed touring and socialising, and became bored and restless when the Who were inactive.

His 21st birthday party in Flint, Michigan, has been cited as a notorious example of decadent behaviour by rock groups. Moon suffered a number of setbacks during the 1970s, most notably the accidental death of chauffeur Neil Boland and the breakdown of his marriage. He suffered from alcoholism and acquired a reputation for decadence and dark humour; his nickname was "Moon the Loon". While touring with the Who, on several occasions he passed out on stage and was hospitalised.

By the time of their final tour with him in 1976, and particularly during production of the studio album Who Are You (1978) and the concert film The Kids Are Alright, his deterioration was evident.

Reader's Guide

He joined his local Sea Cadet Corps band at the age of twelve on the bugle, but found the instrument too difficult to learn and took up drums instead. He was interested in practical jokes and home science kits, with a particular fondness for explosions. On his way home from school, Moon would often go to Macari's Musical Exchange at 46b Ealing Road to practice on the drums there, learning his basic skills on the instrument. He left school around Easter 1961, at age 14.

Moon then enrolled at Harrow Technical College; this led to a job as a radio repairman, enabling him to buy his first drum kit. Moon took lessons from one of the loudest contemporary drummers, Screaming Lord Sutch's Carlo Little, at ten shillings per lesson. His early style was influenced by jazz, American surf music and rhythm and blues, exemplified by noted Los Angeles studio drummer Hal Blaine. His favourite musicians were jazz artists, particularly Gene Krupa (whose flamboyant style he subsequently copied).

He also admired Elvis Presley's original drummer DJ Fontana, The Shadows' original drummer Tony Meehan and the Pretty Things' Viv Prince. Moon also enjoyed singing, and had a particular interest in Motown. Moon idolised the Beach Boys; Roger Daltrey later said that, given the opportunity, Moon would have left to play for the California band even at the peak of the Who's fame. During this time Moon joined his first serious band, the Escorts, replacing his best friend Gerry Evans.

In December 1962 he joined the Beachcombers, a semi-professional London cover band playing hits by groups such as The Shadows. During his time in the group Moon incorporated theatrical tricks into his act, including "shooting" the group's lead singer with a starter pistol. The Beachcombers all had day jobs; Moon, who worked in the sales department at British Gypsum, had the keenest interest in turning professional. In April 1964, aged 17, he auditioned for the Who as a replacement for Doug Sandom. The Beachcombers continued as a local cover band after his departure.

Did You Know?

• Moon was born on 23 August 1946 at Central Middlesex Hospital in northwest London and grew up in Chaplin Road, Wembley.
• His art teacher said in a report: 'Retarded artistically. Idiotic in other respects.' His music teacher wrote that Moon 'has great ability, but must guard against a tendency to show off.'
• He died in September 1978 from an overdose of clomethiazole, a drug intended to treat or prevent symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
• In 2011 he was voted the second-greatest drummer in history by a Rolling Stone readers' poll.