Died On This Date (September 7, 1978) Keith Moon / The Who
themusicsover Keith Moon
August 23, 1946 – September 7, 1978
Keith Moon was one of rock’s greatest drummers. Playing behind the Who, Moon’s sloppy yet spectacular playing fueled some of the greatest songs in rock history. Moon began playing the drums at the age of 12, and at 16 he was asked to join the Who after Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle witnessed him nearly destroy his drum kit at the audition. That lead to the band doing the same to their instruments at the end of their early shows, a practice that has been imitated by rock bands ever since. Moon was also just as destructive off stage as many a hotel manager can attest to. Legend has it that he was banned for life from Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Hilton Hotel chains. Keith Moon died of an accidental overdose on September 7, 1978, just two weeks after the release of the classic Who Are You album. The drug he overdosed on was prescribed to help him in his battle against alcoholism. He died in a flat owned by Harry Nilsson. Mama Cass Elliot died in the same room of that flat four years earlier.
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