Keith Moon

Keith John Moon (23 August 1946 – 7 September 1978) was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of English rock group The Who.

Moon joined The Who in 1964. He played on all albums and singles from their debut, 1964's "Zoot Suit", to 1978's Who Are You, which was released three weeks before his death.

He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon".

Moon was known for dramatic, suspenseful drumming—often eschewing basic back beats for a fluid, busy technique focused on fast, cascading rolls across the toms, ambidextrous double bass drum work and wild cymbal crashes and washes.

He is mentioned in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the greatest of all rock and roll drummers and was posthumously inducted into the Rock Hall as a member of The Who in 1990.

Roger Daltrey said Moon's drumming style held the band together; that Entwistle and Townshend "were like knitting needles... and Keith was the ball of wool."

Many rock drummers have cited Keith Moon as an influence, including Neil Peart,and Dave Grohl.

The Jam paid tribute to Keith Moon on the second single from their third album, "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight", in which the B-side of the single is a cover song from The Who: "So Sad About Us", and the back cover of the record is a photo of Keith Moon's face; The Jam's record was released about a month after Moon's death.