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Dear Boy: the Life of Keith Moon
A biography of Keith Moon, the drummer with the Who, who died in 1978. Information was gathered from friends and family, and associates in the music industry such as Alice Cooper, Jeff Beck, and Kenny Jones, and the author suggests that Moon's substance abuse brought on schizophrenic tendencies.
632 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1998
131 people are currently reading
1881 people want to read
About the author
Tony Fletcher
32 books63 followersTony Fletcher is the author of seven non-fiction books and one novel. His biography of drummer Keith Moon has been named in many a Best Music Book list, and his biography of R.E.M., updated in 2013 as Perfect Circle, has been published in over half a dozen countries.
A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of The Smiths
was published in the UK by William Heinemann in September 2012, and by Crown Archetype in the USA in December 2012, with paperback editions following in the corresponding months of 2013. A memoir of his South London schooldays,
Boy About Town
, was published in the UK by William Heinemann in July 2013, and is now available as a paperback in both the USA and UK through Windmill Books/Cornerstone Press.
Fletcher gained his entry into music journalism by founding a fanzine at his London school in 1977; by the time Jamming! ceased publication in 1986, it was selling 30,000 copies a month. Along the way he interviewed the likes of Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney, Paul Weller and U2, as well as dozens of up-and-coming, predominantly independent post-punk acts.
A contributor over the years to a multitude of magazines, newspapers, radio and television shows, primarily in the UK and USA, Fletcher now lives with his family on a mountaintop near the village of Woodstock in New York State. There he runs, skis, maintains his web site www.ijamming.net, serves on his local school board, and plays Hammond B-3 and Rickenbacker in the Catskill 45s, a group that only performs songs from 45 calendar years ago.
Fletcher gained his entry into music journalism by founding a fanzine at his London school in 1977; by the time Jamming! ceased publication in 1986, it was selling 30,000 copies a month. Along the way he interviewed the likes of Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney, Paul Weller and U2, as well as dozens of up-and-coming, predominantly independent post-punk acts.
A contributor over the years to a multitude of magazines, newspapers, radio and television shows, primarily in the UK and USA, Fletcher now lives with his family on a mountaintop near the village of Woodstock in New York State. There he runs, skis, maintains his web site www.ijamming.net, serves on his local school board, and plays Hammond B-3 and Rickenbacker in the Catskill 45s, a group that only performs songs from 45 calendar years ago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
September 17, 2013
Brilliant but also terribly sad, Keith Moon managed to waste his life but also not waste his life at the same time. Tony Fletcher's biography captures this perfectly, and portrays a warm, funny, uniquely talented and well loved man essentially committing suicide for the merriment of others over a fourteen year spell following the initial success of the Who.
Moon is so complex that trying to dissect his personality is a formidable task, and Fletcher wisely plays the part of the informed narrator rather than offer too many conclusions of his own. Moon's legendary caperings are genuinely hilarious, and he was almost as gifted a comic as he was a drummer. Indeed, the mid-70s years that he spent in America while the rest of the Who developed side projects to while away the time between stadium tours were his undoing: had he channeled his abundance of talents into acting or comedy instead of blotting everything out with drugs and brandy, he may well have found the happiness and confidence that, while reading, you can't help but notice all but eluded him throughout his life.
Interestingly, Fletcher punctures many of the most celebrated Moon legends: the Rolls Royces driven into swimming pools and hotel foyers being the most well known. He also examines why these fictitious events are still routinely quoted as factual - essentially, that everyone wanted to believe in Moon the Loon as much as Keith Moon himself did.
Obviously, this is a pretty bulletproof biography of the Who during their best years, too. There's the tantrums, wife beatings, and spite that form the flip side to Moon's up, up and away public persona. The violent death of his personal assistant Neil Boland - which affected Moon for the rest of life - is covered in depth, as is the harrowing experience of Kim, his first wife, whose leaving he never really came to terms with.
This is the second time I've read this book in the last few years. I've been listening to the Who a lot recently and wanted to know where Moon picked up his drumming from, how he developed and so forth. No one seems to know, least of all Moon himself, bashing away tunelessly one minute and producing the most exciting sound in pop the next. There are few people who you'd consider had a claim to have been touched by God, as there is no other explanation for their talents: Keith Moon is one of them.
The last couple of chapters are hard for a fan to read. They portray a man so beset with insecurities and addictions that he simply does not know who he is anymore. At 32, he looks 50. Worse than that, he looks 50 and heartbroken, because that is what he is at this point, knowing that his talents are being rapidly eroded by a lifestyle that he simply cannot give up.
I have always been a fan of Keith Moon, but by the end of this book I loved him. Poor old brilliant Keith. Some people are just so extraordinarily talented that the weight of their brilliance kills them - such was the case with pop's most mischievous son.
Moon is so complex that trying to dissect his personality is a formidable task, and Fletcher wisely plays the part of the informed narrator rather than offer too many conclusions of his own. Moon's legendary caperings are genuinely hilarious, and he was almost as gifted a comic as he was a drummer. Indeed, the mid-70s years that he spent in America while the rest of the Who developed side projects to while away the time between stadium tours were his undoing: had he channeled his abundance of talents into acting or comedy instead of blotting everything out with drugs and brandy, he may well have found the happiness and confidence that, while reading, you can't help but notice all but eluded him throughout his life.
Interestingly, Fletcher punctures many of the most celebrated Moon legends: the Rolls Royces driven into swimming pools and hotel foyers being the most well known. He also examines why these fictitious events are still routinely quoted as factual - essentially, that everyone wanted to believe in Moon the Loon as much as Keith Moon himself did.
Obviously, this is a pretty bulletproof biography of the Who during their best years, too. There's the tantrums, wife beatings, and spite that form the flip side to Moon's up, up and away public persona. The violent death of his personal assistant Neil Boland - which affected Moon for the rest of life - is covered in depth, as is the harrowing experience of Kim, his first wife, whose leaving he never really came to terms with.
This is the second time I've read this book in the last few years. I've been listening to the Who a lot recently and wanted to know where Moon picked up his drumming from, how he developed and so forth. No one seems to know, least of all Moon himself, bashing away tunelessly one minute and producing the most exciting sound in pop the next. There are few people who you'd consider had a claim to have been touched by God, as there is no other explanation for their talents: Keith Moon is one of them.
The last couple of chapters are hard for a fan to read. They portray a man so beset with insecurities and addictions that he simply does not know who he is anymore. At 32, he looks 50. Worse than that, he looks 50 and heartbroken, because that is what he is at this point, knowing that his talents are being rapidly eroded by a lifestyle that he simply cannot give up.
I have always been a fan of Keith Moon, but by the end of this book I loved him. Poor old brilliant Keith. Some people are just so extraordinarily talented that the weight of their brilliance kills them - such was the case with pop's most mischievous son.
November 9, 2014
Classic rock biography of the Who's original drummer. Keith Moon was the one and only!
One of the sad things about getting older is that you outgrow your heroes. When I was a teenager the Who were my favorite band, hands down. Not because their music was the best, but because I could relate to the anger and confusion and power of their greatest songs. I especially loved the songs on Quadrophenia, like "I'm One" and "Dr. Jimmy." My hero in those days was Pete Townshend, the songwriter who took life seriously, not Keith Moon, the drummer who made everybody laugh. But still I admired Keith and I understood why it was so important to have someone fun like him in a band that was so dark and angry.
This book is a classic, and yet in a way I wish I hadn't read it. Because Tony Fletcher really exposes you to the dark side of the Moon. This is an author who does his homework and is unbelievably thorough. It's obvious that he loves Keith Moon, and that he interviewed every single person he was ever close to during his days of fame and madness. (Though I did feel that Keith's parents were curiously absent from the interviews and that the difficulties of his early childhood were quickly skimmed over instead of being explored in full.)
Tony Fletcher tells you everything. The only problem is, you find out too much.
I knew Keith Moon loved to run around and do crazy things, but I didn't know he got drunk enough to break his wife's nose, twice, "by mistake." I had no idea he was obsessively jealous, to the point of being a stalker. I had no idea how much rage was underneath all the constant clowning and carrying on and having fun. I didn't know that, and I really didn't want to know it. Reading this book was fun at first, but as things got darker and darker I really wished I could go back to being a teenager and not knowing all the things I didn't want to know.
So it turns out that in his own way, Keith Moon was just as self-destructive and angry as Jim Morrison of the Doors. But being a working class Britisher instead of an affluent American, he felt the need to camouflage this with a lot of clowning around. It's no fun for me to say this, but I think I'm a little too old to be messing around with heroes like this. But I still love the music of the Who and I think this is the best book ever written about them. And about Keith Moon!
One of the sad things about getting older is that you outgrow your heroes. When I was a teenager the Who were my favorite band, hands down. Not because their music was the best, but because I could relate to the anger and confusion and power of their greatest songs. I especially loved the songs on Quadrophenia, like "I'm One" and "Dr. Jimmy." My hero in those days was Pete Townshend, the songwriter who took life seriously, not Keith Moon, the drummer who made everybody laugh. But still I admired Keith and I understood why it was so important to have someone fun like him in a band that was so dark and angry.
This book is a classic, and yet in a way I wish I hadn't read it. Because Tony Fletcher really exposes you to the dark side of the Moon. This is an author who does his homework and is unbelievably thorough. It's obvious that he loves Keith Moon, and that he interviewed every single person he was ever close to during his days of fame and madness. (Though I did feel that Keith's parents were curiously absent from the interviews and that the difficulties of his early childhood were quickly skimmed over instead of being explored in full.)
Tony Fletcher tells you everything. The only problem is, you find out too much.
I knew Keith Moon loved to run around and do crazy things, but I didn't know he got drunk enough to break his wife's nose, twice, "by mistake." I had no idea he was obsessively jealous, to the point of being a stalker. I had no idea how much rage was underneath all the constant clowning and carrying on and having fun. I didn't know that, and I really didn't want to know it. Reading this book was fun at first, but as things got darker and darker I really wished I could go back to being a teenager and not knowing all the things I didn't want to know.
So it turns out that in his own way, Keith Moon was just as self-destructive and angry as Jim Morrison of the Doors. But being a working class Britisher instead of an affluent American, he felt the need to camouflage this with a lot of clowning around. It's no fun for me to say this, but I think I'm a little too old to be messing around with heroes like this. But I still love the music of the Who and I think this is the best book ever written about them. And about Keith Moon!
April 2, 2021
Keith Moon was the drummer for the rock band, The Who, and he was as well known for his wild lifestyle as for his talent. He was the perfect fit for that particular band, due to his energy and his hedonistic ways. Moon was also symbolic of the 1960s, where changing times led to increased use of drugs and booze, both of which contributed to his early demise. There are many rock aficionados who will say their drummer was The Goat. Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Ringo Starr of The Beatles, and so forth and so on. I don’t know enough about rockers to state any opinion, but I do remember thinking that drummers seemed to die earlier than other musicians.
In this huge biography, it doesn’t at first appear that Moonie was going to be different than anyone else. He had a normal childhood, he had tons of energy, and he enjoyed life. As he learned to play the drums and find his way in life, he applied his enthusiasm for his craft into becoming a different drummer. He wasn’t the steady backbeat dude, but instead a progressive (and very loud) madboy percussionist. Tony Fletcher does a top-notch job of describing Keith Moon’s drumming for the reader, which is a big help in setting up the background for the escalating success of the band and its members.
The Who seemed set to become one of those fleeting British pop bands of the 1960s, built upon youthful angst (“hope I die before I get old”) and the Mods (scooters and cool clothes). Then they developed into something else altogether, a stadium top-lining megaband which gained an increased following from younger fans even as the band aged. While the book is obviously focused on Moon, it’s also a great bio of the band itself and of the music industry of that era. It was the time of albums that had themes and FM radio and serious intent. It was also the time of drugs, drugs, drugs, which made me wonder how any of these artists managed to play a chord while stoned.
As The Who became more and more famous and wealthier and wealthier, Keith Moon started his downslide. He collapsed before or during shows, a hazard when one takes horse tranquilizers. He became a full-blown alcoholic and he couldn’t always keep it together during recording sessions. In essence, Keith Moon became Moon The Loon, a myth of the rock era. He moved to California in the 1970s, where he seemed lost and alone. Eventually, in 1978, he lost his life due to an overdose. Keith Moon had lived just 32 years at his death, so he did indeed die before he grew old. Somehow, I don’t think he would have liked the 1980s.
One of the benefits of starting this book without much prior knowledge of the main subject or about the music industry of that era is to acquire an urge to YouTube everything the author highlights. Early videos and songs display Moon’s amazing drumming and energy, while the later videos show the creeping loss of everything. Wild. I certainly enjoyed reading it, although it is a massive tome.
Book Season = Winter (danger levels)
In this huge biography, it doesn’t at first appear that Moonie was going to be different than anyone else. He had a normal childhood, he had tons of energy, and he enjoyed life. As he learned to play the drums and find his way in life, he applied his enthusiasm for his craft into becoming a different drummer. He wasn’t the steady backbeat dude, but instead a progressive (and very loud) madboy percussionist. Tony Fletcher does a top-notch job of describing Keith Moon’s drumming for the reader, which is a big help in setting up the background for the escalating success of the band and its members.
The Who seemed set to become one of those fleeting British pop bands of the 1960s, built upon youthful angst (“hope I die before I get old”) and the Mods (scooters and cool clothes). Then they developed into something else altogether, a stadium top-lining megaband which gained an increased following from younger fans even as the band aged. While the book is obviously focused on Moon, it’s also a great bio of the band itself and of the music industry of that era. It was the time of albums that had themes and FM radio and serious intent. It was also the time of drugs, drugs, drugs, which made me wonder how any of these artists managed to play a chord while stoned.
As The Who became more and more famous and wealthier and wealthier, Keith Moon started his downslide. He collapsed before or during shows, a hazard when one takes horse tranquilizers. He became a full-blown alcoholic and he couldn’t always keep it together during recording sessions. In essence, Keith Moon became Moon The Loon, a myth of the rock era. He moved to California in the 1970s, where he seemed lost and alone. Eventually, in 1978, he lost his life due to an overdose. Keith Moon had lived just 32 years at his death, so he did indeed die before he grew old. Somehow, I don’t think he would have liked the 1980s.
One of the benefits of starting this book without much prior knowledge of the main subject or about the music industry of that era is to acquire an urge to YouTube everything the author highlights. Early videos and songs display Moon’s amazing drumming and energy, while the later videos show the creeping loss of everything. Wild. I certainly enjoyed reading it, although it is a massive tome.
Book Season = Winter (danger levels)
March 6, 2008
Young, wide-eyed rock boy makes millions and turns into a decadent lout, pillaging everything in his path. Sounds like the Steve Marriott bio, doesn't it? Well, it's also the Keith Moon book written by Tony Fletcher, a 500+ pages of endless legends and verified rumors of rock's most exciting drummer. It's a great book about an unforgettable figure in the history of music.
August 19, 2016
This may be the saddest book I've ever read.
"You know, we just shot a lot of film for the interview, and talking about all that, I was wondering if you'd tell us the truth and stop lying."
"Well, no. I mean, the truth is, you want to hear it? I can't do that. You couldn't afford me."
"You know, we just shot a lot of film for the interview, and talking about all that, I was wondering if you'd tell us the truth and stop lying."
"Well, no. I mean, the truth is, you want to hear it? I can't do that. You couldn't afford me."
October 9, 2007
I read Geoffrey Giuliano’s Townshend biography, Behind Blue Eyes, which left me wanting so much more information than I got. Such is definitely not the case with Tony Fletcher’s excellent, almost six hundred page Keith Moon bio, Moon. This is an interesting, often arresting and intensively informative look into the life of the wild, well known and much beloved drummer of The Who. For all of Giuliano’s in depth, personal investigation of Townshend’s life, it is Fletcher’s book that is truly an insider’s view into the life and times of a Who.
Fletcher’s writing has hooks like a pop song. It pulls you in and really holds your attention. Not that a Keith Moon bio could ever really be boring. Hell, a chronological list of events in Moon’s life would be high entertainment. It’s just that Fletcher does an outstanding job of telling a fascinating story in a fascinating way.
What really sets Moon apart is Fletcher’s unflinching honesty and adherence to the truth. He reports facts that, for better or for worse, assassinate the concept of Moon as nothing more than a loveable clown who met an untimely end. Fletcher shamelessly exposes those journos and biographers who reported less than the truth; he did his homework and a fair amount of everyone else’s. He is the kind of biographer who, in my humble opinion, earns the right to write biographies.
There isn’t much more to say. Moon is awesome, just like the man himself. I will read a Who bio and soon but Fletcher’s telling of the Keith Moon tale takes the cake. Essential for Who fans, drummers and loons alike.
Fletcher’s writing has hooks like a pop song. It pulls you in and really holds your attention. Not that a Keith Moon bio could ever really be boring. Hell, a chronological list of events in Moon’s life would be high entertainment. It’s just that Fletcher does an outstanding job of telling a fascinating story in a fascinating way.
What really sets Moon apart is Fletcher’s unflinching honesty and adherence to the truth. He reports facts that, for better or for worse, assassinate the concept of Moon as nothing more than a loveable clown who met an untimely end. Fletcher shamelessly exposes those journos and biographers who reported less than the truth; he did his homework and a fair amount of everyone else’s. He is the kind of biographer who, in my humble opinion, earns the right to write biographies.
There isn’t much more to say. Moon is awesome, just like the man himself. I will read a Who bio and soon but Fletcher’s telling of the Keith Moon tale takes the cake. Essential for Who fans, drummers and loons alike.
September 16, 2017
I went into Moon by Tony Fletcher with basically no knowledge of Keith Moon or The Who, aside from the common understanding that they were a big classic rock band. As a drummer, I had not paid much attention to Keith Moon in my learning, but had also gleaned enough to know that he was influential in the growth of rock as a music genre. So reading through Moon was a joy, as was getting to know the incredibly complex character of Keith Moon and the band that was so important to modern music.
Keith Moon certainly lived up to his nickname. While many of his shenanigans border on the mythological, Fletcher packs an ABSURD number of completely accurate stories and tales about Moon. The man does not really need the exaggeration: he was completely stinkin' insane! While I cannot at all fathom an understanding of Keith Moon's inner psyche, I did greatly enjoy the many recountings of Keith's hotel room destruction, his class-clown antics on tour, his epic partying, his theatrics and shock-value, and his fondness for cherry bombs and other explosive devices, all wrapped in the shell of the consummate, warm and inviting extrovert. Keith Moon was one of a kind.
And yet, Fletcher also dives honestly and directly into the dark underbelly of Keith's existence. His apparent multiple personalities and perhaps demonic oppression. His boiling rage paired with searing depression, loneliness, anxiety and inadequacy. His abusive tendencies towards those closest to him, both verbal and physical. His astonishingly destructive, persistent, and all-consuming use of every drink, pill, drug, and woman he could get his hands on. I think one of the strongest traits of Fletcher's work is how he is brutally honest about who Keith Moon was. He never veers too far into either ditch, by trying to paint too likable or too detestable. He presents the man as he was, as an incredibly complicated and conflicted person, prone to acts of incredible charity and kindness as well as those of great harm, abuse and destruction.
The fact that Keith Moon lived as long as he did is miraculous to me, even though many would say he was gone too soon. Fletcher makes a compelling case for Keith Moon being perhaps the most hedonistic and destructive rock star of all time. His life, in all honesty, speaks to me as a testimony to the tenacity of the human body. Keith Moon should have been dead long before he actually was. He abused his body in incalculable ways. Pills upon pills. Bottles upon bottles. Lines upon lines. Women by the truckload. Not too mention the multitude of acts in which Keith was faced with direct bodily harm, from explosions or car wrecks. I'm not sure if Keith Moon was genetically gifted in some way to endure such abuse, but it certainly seems possible.
And yet Keith Moon did eventually succumb to his devices, as many rock stars have. His story does end in tragedy. Not tragedy that was unforeseen or surprising, yet tragedy it was. It's tragic that Keith Moon, for all that the world loved him and saw his talent and worth, could not see it in himself. Tragic that he likely was mentally ill but never diagnosed or treated appropriately. Tragic that he was capable of achieving such fame and success and yet never had a chance to learn how to mange them well. Tragic that his life ended just as the briefest sparks of a hopeful turnaround were beginning to appear. Tragic that so much of his life wasted away in addiction and materialism. Tragic that he often resisted those who loved him most deeply.
And so, because of Keith's demise, we are left with his stories, his legacy, and his works of art. Fletcher does a great job of also capturing much of the history of The Who in his book, reflecting often on the other members of the band, and providing helpful insight into the music they gave to the world. I greatly enjoyed this aspect of the book as well. There is much here about The Who as a rock band, and about Keith Moon as one of the greatest rock drummers of all time. It has spawned in me a much deeper appreciation of The Who. Indeed, as I read through this book, I also began to the explore the breadth of The Who's musical catalog. If you are not familiar with The Who, and decide to read this tome, then I would greatly encourage you to take time to listen to the Who albums along with Fletcher's examination of them. Fletcher also does capture some fun notes about many other figures in rock history, as Keith and The Who interacted with just about all of them.
As a final note, be warned: this book is INDEED a tome. It is exceptionally long, even for a biography. And that is why I removed a star in my rating. While the book is excellent, and I am incredibly thankful that I read it, it did feel a bit long in the teeth at some points. I think some of the stories Fletcher included could have been skipped over without diminishing the power of the work. At some point, Keith Moon's antics do become somewhat repetitive. While I'm very glad I stuck around for the long haul, I think the work could have been shortened a bit.
If you're a fan of rock music, a Who fan, a musician, or even just someone who grew up during the British invasion, I highly recommend you give this book a read.
Keith Moon certainly lived up to his nickname. While many of his shenanigans border on the mythological, Fletcher packs an ABSURD number of completely accurate stories and tales about Moon. The man does not really need the exaggeration: he was completely stinkin' insane! While I cannot at all fathom an understanding of Keith Moon's inner psyche, I did greatly enjoy the many recountings of Keith's hotel room destruction, his class-clown antics on tour, his epic partying, his theatrics and shock-value, and his fondness for cherry bombs and other explosive devices, all wrapped in the shell of the consummate, warm and inviting extrovert. Keith Moon was one of a kind.
And yet, Fletcher also dives honestly and directly into the dark underbelly of Keith's existence. His apparent multiple personalities and perhaps demonic oppression. His boiling rage paired with searing depression, loneliness, anxiety and inadequacy. His abusive tendencies towards those closest to him, both verbal and physical. His astonishingly destructive, persistent, and all-consuming use of every drink, pill, drug, and woman he could get his hands on. I think one of the strongest traits of Fletcher's work is how he is brutally honest about who Keith Moon was. He never veers too far into either ditch, by trying to paint too likable or too detestable. He presents the man as he was, as an incredibly complicated and conflicted person, prone to acts of incredible charity and kindness as well as those of great harm, abuse and destruction.
The fact that Keith Moon lived as long as he did is miraculous to me, even though many would say he was gone too soon. Fletcher makes a compelling case for Keith Moon being perhaps the most hedonistic and destructive rock star of all time. His life, in all honesty, speaks to me as a testimony to the tenacity of the human body. Keith Moon should have been dead long before he actually was. He abused his body in incalculable ways. Pills upon pills. Bottles upon bottles. Lines upon lines. Women by the truckload. Not too mention the multitude of acts in which Keith was faced with direct bodily harm, from explosions or car wrecks. I'm not sure if Keith Moon was genetically gifted in some way to endure such abuse, but it certainly seems possible.
And yet Keith Moon did eventually succumb to his devices, as many rock stars have. His story does end in tragedy. Not tragedy that was unforeseen or surprising, yet tragedy it was. It's tragic that Keith Moon, for all that the world loved him and saw his talent and worth, could not see it in himself. Tragic that he likely was mentally ill but never diagnosed or treated appropriately. Tragic that he was capable of achieving such fame and success and yet never had a chance to learn how to mange them well. Tragic that his life ended just as the briefest sparks of a hopeful turnaround were beginning to appear. Tragic that so much of his life wasted away in addiction and materialism. Tragic that he often resisted those who loved him most deeply.
And so, because of Keith's demise, we are left with his stories, his legacy, and his works of art. Fletcher does a great job of also capturing much of the history of The Who in his book, reflecting often on the other members of the band, and providing helpful insight into the music they gave to the world. I greatly enjoyed this aspect of the book as well. There is much here about The Who as a rock band, and about Keith Moon as one of the greatest rock drummers of all time. It has spawned in me a much deeper appreciation of The Who. Indeed, as I read through this book, I also began to the explore the breadth of The Who's musical catalog. If you are not familiar with The Who, and decide to read this tome, then I would greatly encourage you to take time to listen to the Who albums along with Fletcher's examination of them. Fletcher also does capture some fun notes about many other figures in rock history, as Keith and The Who interacted with just about all of them.
As a final note, be warned: this book is INDEED a tome. It is exceptionally long, even for a biography. And that is why I removed a star in my rating. While the book is excellent, and I am incredibly thankful that I read it, it did feel a bit long in the teeth at some points. I think some of the stories Fletcher included could have been skipped over without diminishing the power of the work. At some point, Keith Moon's antics do become somewhat repetitive. While I'm very glad I stuck around for the long haul, I think the work could have been shortened a bit.
If you're a fan of rock music, a Who fan, a musician, or even just someone who grew up during the British invasion, I highly recommend you give this book a read.
January 21, 2023
At times overly sentimental and prone to conjecture, but all in all a pretty solid and interesting read.
January 18, 2011
This was an indulgence that, much like Keith Moon's own habits, became excessive. My brother gave me this book a couple of Christmases ago, and I had started on, put down, started back on it a few times. After reading the more high-brow novel "The Sea" by John Banville, I thought it a good opportunity to simplify things a bit and finally get through this biography of The Who's drummer, notorious for his reckless living (drinking, drugging, hotel-wrecking) that culminated in his death in 1978. It was fun to read, especially accompanied by Who music and supplemented with visits to YouTube, where you can find tons of clips of Moon's antics and performances (musical and otherwise) that weren't so readily accessible when I was 14. It's impossible, in fact, not to enjoy spending time with Moon and The Who ... for a time. This book is nearly 600 pages in length and by halfway through becomes dominated by almost day-by-day accounts of how drunk and drugged Moon got - and what then followed. What begin as escapades and shenanigans end up as disasters, even tragedies. It frankly became tiresome as the book followed Moon into this monotonous course of self-abuse, depression, and mania, but Fletcher does break to analyze and comment from time to time on just that - how living in Moon's orbit could go from exhilirating to exasperating, eventually breaking many of those around him. Although a fan - and an adulatory one on occasion, at that - Fletcher is honest in confronting the reality behind Moon's "loony", lovable, eccentric public persona and discussing what a terrible person he could be: verbally, emotionally, physically abusive to his wife; negligent towards his daughter; overbearing, inconsiderate, imperious, or worse to those close to him; perhaps suffering from borderline personality disorder. It was good to spend some escape time with Moonie, but I'm glad to be away from him now.
April 12, 2012
"Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend," by Tony Fletcher, is one of the saddest books I've read. As a fan of the Who, reading this book is exciting, pouring over hundreds of pages about the rise and success of one of the greatest bands in rock n roll history--and then (and not without warnings peppered throughout the first few hundred pages) the lifestyle of our protagonist catches up to him, and it's painful reading a detailed account of his self-destruction.
Keith's is, overall, a sad story about a man whose insecurities were kept hidden from most of the people who knew him, and who could never be content just to enjoy the life he'd made for himself, always living in fear that said life, and lifestyle, could be taken away at any moment; that the Who could break up, and it would be all over. Because Keith had no desire to do anything but play drums with the Who (although there's a strong suggestion that he'd have also been happy with a career as a Beach Boy).
Fletcher's book is filled with amusing, startling, and very repeatable anecdotes, some of which are covered in the magnificent "Before I Get Old," by Dave Marsh. It's unavoidable some stories should be repeated in different biographies of the band, but for a reader interested in learning more specifically about the band's drummer, Fletcher's book is must-have material.
In the beginning of the book, Fletcher points out that it's quite a task assembling a nonfiction history of Keith Moon, since his life was surrounded by so many rumors and bits of hearsay, many concocted by Moon himself, that it isn't easy to separate truth from fiction. I'm sure, while there are many passages Moon probably wouldn't mind kept out of the records, that he'd approve of that.
Keith's is, overall, a sad story about a man whose insecurities were kept hidden from most of the people who knew him, and who could never be content just to enjoy the life he'd made for himself, always living in fear that said life, and lifestyle, could be taken away at any moment; that the Who could break up, and it would be all over. Because Keith had no desire to do anything but play drums with the Who (although there's a strong suggestion that he'd have also been happy with a career as a Beach Boy).
Fletcher's book is filled with amusing, startling, and very repeatable anecdotes, some of which are covered in the magnificent "Before I Get Old," by Dave Marsh. It's unavoidable some stories should be repeated in different biographies of the band, but for a reader interested in learning more specifically about the band's drummer, Fletcher's book is must-have material.
In the beginning of the book, Fletcher points out that it's quite a task assembling a nonfiction history of Keith Moon, since his life was surrounded by so many rumors and bits of hearsay, many concocted by Moon himself, that it isn't easy to separate truth from fiction. I'm sure, while there are many passages Moon probably wouldn't mind kept out of the records, that he'd approve of that.
March 26, 2016
This was a really good book, and it is very evident that Tony Fletcher really did his research. Whether you're a fan of the Who, or the legendary drummer that powered them this book provides great insight into the complex mind of Keith Moon and his contributions to rock 'n' roll.
Anyone who knows even the slightest detail about Mr. Moon knows that he was basically insane. He took superhuman amounts of drugs, he played the drums far more wildly than anyone had every seen before, and he lived a life of wild excess. There are countless "Moon the Loon" stories out there and Fletcher does a great job of digging into these stories, determining which are true, and conveying them in a way that shows Keith's incredible sense of humour and creativity. He also does a fantastic job of showing Keith's (many) other sides, as well, whether it's his softer side, his insecure side, his jealous side (a little bit scary), or his unhinged side (downright terrifying).
Be warned though, especially if you, like me, see Moon as a rock 'n' roll hero: The last half of this book is very heavy. That's not to say that it becomes hard to read or takes a long time to get through, because it actually read faster for me toward the end. No, the hard part is seeing how Moon handled his battles with depression, alcoholism, and addiction while also seeing that all he really wanted to do was drum with the Who again. It really makes you feel bad for a guy who just couldn't get onto the straight and narrow (whether you may feel he had it coming or not).
Moon's story is, in the end, a tragic one. Along the way to his early grave, however, he always found a way to put a smile on other people's faces, and even in death, this book helped him put a smile on mine as well.
Anyone who knows even the slightest detail about Mr. Moon knows that he was basically insane. He took superhuman amounts of drugs, he played the drums far more wildly than anyone had every seen before, and he lived a life of wild excess. There are countless "Moon the Loon" stories out there and Fletcher does a great job of digging into these stories, determining which are true, and conveying them in a way that shows Keith's incredible sense of humour and creativity. He also does a fantastic job of showing Keith's (many) other sides, as well, whether it's his softer side, his insecure side, his jealous side (a little bit scary), or his unhinged side (downright terrifying).
Be warned though, especially if you, like me, see Moon as a rock 'n' roll hero: The last half of this book is very heavy. That's not to say that it becomes hard to read or takes a long time to get through, because it actually read faster for me toward the end. No, the hard part is seeing how Moon handled his battles with depression, alcoholism, and addiction while also seeing that all he really wanted to do was drum with the Who again. It really makes you feel bad for a guy who just couldn't get onto the straight and narrow (whether you may feel he had it coming or not).
Moon's story is, in the end, a tragic one. Along the way to his early grave, however, he always found a way to put a smile on other people's faces, and even in death, this book helped him put a smile on mine as well.
December 19, 2007
This book is more than just a musician's biography. It is a complete psychoanalysis on the legendary Keith Moon, drummer for The Who. It pretty much covers everything from his career in The Who to the darkest sides of his personality. His innovative drumming style is only surpassed by his crazy offstage antics. Surprisingly thorough, considering none of the members of The Who contributed. Definitely a very condensed 600 plus pages of insanity.
Most of what you heard about Keith offstage is true, with the exception of the Holiday Inn Flint, MI incident. Everything from the crazy 21st birthday party to the Cow Palace incident is covered here. Please do not think I am going to give away all the details. You have to find out on your own. Whether you are a fan of The Who or of music in general, it is worth the read.
Normally I can read a book pretty quickly, but this one took me 2 whole weeks. Not continuously, of course, but it was pretty long. By the end of it all, needless to say I was pretty exhausted. Just to think, Keith used to stay awake for 5 days straight at times. That is pretty much how you will feel when you are through. It is one boozed, drug filled, wifebeating, emotional rollercoaster ride.
I often suggest, as many have, to watch The Who movie The Kids Are Alright. That will give you more insight to the man they call "Moon The Loon"...
Most of what you heard about Keith offstage is true, with the exception of the Holiday Inn Flint, MI incident. Everything from the crazy 21st birthday party to the Cow Palace incident is covered here. Please do not think I am going to give away all the details. You have to find out on your own. Whether you are a fan of The Who or of music in general, it is worth the read.
Normally I can read a book pretty quickly, but this one took me 2 whole weeks. Not continuously, of course, but it was pretty long. By the end of it all, needless to say I was pretty exhausted. Just to think, Keith used to stay awake for 5 days straight at times. That is pretty much how you will feel when you are through. It is one boozed, drug filled, wifebeating, emotional rollercoaster ride.
I often suggest, as many have, to watch The Who movie The Kids Are Alright. That will give you more insight to the man they call "Moon The Loon"...
March 24, 2016
Not to be taken away.
La vida de Keith Moon es una historia divertida, trágica, pomposa y triste en igual medida y todo eso esta presente en este libro. Todo. Hay momento muy divertidos, hay momentos muy dolorosos y lamentablemente conforme avanza el libro son más los segundos que los primeros.
El libro tiene un acercamiento más documental que las biografías comunes, llevando paralelamente la historia de Keith y la de The Who (lo cuál no podría ser de otra manera), llegando al grado de desmitificar muchos hechos alrededor de Moon (no, nunca hubo un automóvil en la piscina, nunca fueron baneados del Holiday Inn), lo cual ayuda a dar una imagen más humana del músico, mostrandolo con todas sus fallas, pero también tal y como era, único.
Hay que reconocer el enorme trabajo de investigación que hizo Fletcher, donde hablo con todas las personas cercanas a Moon, con la dolorosa excepción de su madre, Roger Daltrey y Pete Townshend, aunque el último dio apoyo total por medio de su oficina.
Este es un trabajo de amor del autor a la música de la banda, a sus fans y a Keith en particular, lo que lo hace ideal para el fan de toda la vida de The Who.
La vida de Keith Moon es una historia divertida, trágica, pomposa y triste en igual medida y todo eso esta presente en este libro. Todo. Hay momento muy divertidos, hay momentos muy dolorosos y lamentablemente conforme avanza el libro son más los segundos que los primeros.
El libro tiene un acercamiento más documental que las biografías comunes, llevando paralelamente la historia de Keith y la de The Who (lo cuál no podría ser de otra manera), llegando al grado de desmitificar muchos hechos alrededor de Moon (no, nunca hubo un automóvil en la piscina, nunca fueron baneados del Holiday Inn), lo cual ayuda a dar una imagen más humana del músico, mostrandolo con todas sus fallas, pero también tal y como era, único.
Hay que reconocer el enorme trabajo de investigación que hizo Fletcher, donde hablo con todas las personas cercanas a Moon, con la dolorosa excepción de su madre, Roger Daltrey y Pete Townshend, aunque el último dio apoyo total por medio de su oficina.
Este es un trabajo de amor del autor a la música de la banda, a sus fans y a Keith en particular, lo que lo hace ideal para el fan de toda la vida de The Who.
January 24, 2019
This is a tremendous book. The author knows music, which helps him explain some of the intricacies of Keith Moon's playing of the drums in layman's terms. The research is exhaustive, and at some times exhausting, but the story of Keith Moon and The Who is so extensive that there really isn't much that can be trimmed from this book's roughly 580 pages.
The story is extensive because it's not just a biography of a rock 'n roll legend. It's also the tale of the forces, movements, and trends that came together to create the atmosphere that gave birth to The Who. From the earliest days of rock to the rise of the Mods, from Moon's own determination to blaze his own trail as a drummer to the individual skills brought by the other three members of the band, all of these factors had something to do with the emergence and success of The Who.
Moon himself comes across in this book warts and all. The author is unstinting in his honesty, not just about Moon but about everyone he encountered. Because of that, this book is a marvelous experience--of both the meteoric rise of Moon as a musician, and of his equally meteoric downfall.
The story is extensive because it's not just a biography of a rock 'n roll legend. It's also the tale of the forces, movements, and trends that came together to create the atmosphere that gave birth to The Who. From the earliest days of rock to the rise of the Mods, from Moon's own determination to blaze his own trail as a drummer to the individual skills brought by the other three members of the band, all of these factors had something to do with the emergence and success of The Who.
Moon himself comes across in this book warts and all. The author is unstinting in his honesty, not just about Moon but about everyone he encountered. Because of that, this book is a marvelous experience--of both the meteoric rise of Moon as a musician, and of his equally meteoric downfall.
October 2, 2012
The size of the book is intimidating, and I am ashamed to admit it took me years and years before I finally got around to reading it, yet Tony Fletcher's MOON: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF A ROCK LEGEND was definitely worth the read. I've been a raging Keith Moon fan ever since I was 13 years old, so it's only natural that I would so easily take to an expansive book about his life, and art. Tony Fletcher's prose took some time getting used to, yet once I was deep into the story, I appreciated his attention to detail.
My only complaint is that Fletcher didn't go into more detail about the way Keith Moon played. Fletcher does indeed addresses Keith Moon's explosive drumming throughout the book, yet the drummer in me wanted/demanded a closer examination of Keith Moon's highly unique, flamboyant, and absolutely brilliant style. That said, I am very thankful that Tony Fletcher took the time to write such a thorough and comprehensive look at one of the greatest rock and rollers who ever lived. Long Live Keith Moon!
My only complaint is that Fletcher didn't go into more detail about the way Keith Moon played. Fletcher does indeed addresses Keith Moon's explosive drumming throughout the book, yet the drummer in me wanted/demanded a closer examination of Keith Moon's highly unique, flamboyant, and absolutely brilliant style. That said, I am very thankful that Tony Fletcher took the time to write such a thorough and comprehensive look at one of the greatest rock and rollers who ever lived. Long Live Keith Moon!
November 28, 2012
I'm not a Who fan although I find myself appreciating their earlier work more and more over time. After seeing The Kids Are Alright at the Brooklyn Academic of Music's recent film series on The Who, I found myself interested in learning more about Keith Moon's intense and strange life. This book is written by a British journalist who used to live in Park Slope. It is extremely detailed and it took me very long to read the book cover-to-cover but the details are never boring. The author doesn't overindulge the rock star pathology thread of Moon's life but doesn't focus exclusively on the music either. The book is nice blend of British rock history, celebrity gossip (who ever knew Larry Hagman was friends with Moon?) and often entertaining tales of excess. Moon was a genuinely funny person. Although he often used cruel humor (as well as violence to many a hotel room) to stave off the boredom that was an outgrowth of his extreme hyperactivity and attention deficit, Moon was a kind and an almost childlike innocent (whilst also being quite cruel to his wife and subsequent girlfriend).
June 27, 2008
Keith Moon--one of rock's most important and wild characters. He lived the ultimate rock lifestyle--drugs, girls, parties. He was probably banned from more hotels than any other individual in history. The story of one of the most innovative drummers in all of rock music is ultimately a tragic story. He lived his life trying to please everyone--always the funniest person around and the life of the party. This behavior ultimately left him sad and lonely. He was never able to locate his "real me". He was known for dressing up in all kinds of costumes and cruising around town--again, never sure of who he was. After reading this incredibly fascinating book, I was left with a much greater appreciation for the one of the greatest bands and greatest drummers of all time. I will never listen to The Who in the same way again.
SPOILER Alert--He dies tragically of an overdose at age 32 (September 7, 1978).
SPOILER Alert--He dies tragically of an overdose at age 32 (September 7, 1978).
February 27, 2019
Finally done! And I am exhausted. But as true as that may be it is nowhere near to the level of exhaustion that must have been felt by all those who lived, loved and worked with this man. A naturally gifted drummer who pushed the boundaries of drumming beyond what anyone had heard before him, but an incredibly troubled, insecure and lonely man whose desperation to be seen and heard mixed with a very real (although undiagnosed) mental illness to push him to outrageous behaviour. Add the alcohol and drugs and, well, there really was no other way his story could end.
You really oscillate between incredible pity for the man and thinking you would not have wanted to spend a minute in his presence, regardless of his rock star status.
An incredibly detailed telling of a sad life and the times in which it was lived.
You really oscillate between incredible pity for the man and thinking you would not have wanted to spend a minute in his presence, regardless of his rock star status.
An incredibly detailed telling of a sad life and the times in which it was lived.
August 25, 2013
This is easily one of the best biographies I've ever read. Fletcher clearly understands the dual-nature of Keith Moon, and in doing so, never allows the book to devolve into simple lionizing of his subject. He does an excellent job communicating both Moon's incredible energy, skill, and wit as well as his chaos-inducing mood swings. It's a particularly well-researched bit of investigative journalism, and Fletcher is never afraid to squash a few myths along the way, or illustrate the absolutely heartbreaking nature of Moon's depressingly-frequent lesser moments, all while providing the necessary cultural contexts for the events of the drummer's - and by extension The Who's - story. Highly recommended for fans of The Who, Moon himself, or rock music in general.
January 6, 2017
On one hand, I'm giving this book a 5-star rating because it's 600 pages of Tony Fletcher meticulously showing you how much he loves Keith Moon. The Who has always had a special place in my heart, and as a drummer, Keith was at the center of my appreciation. Fletcher's book manages to distill the 32 years of Keith's life into a representation of rock 'n' roll.
But at the same time, I find places where I wish he would go further. Fletcher will sometimes stop short of explaining an idea, or only give a paragraph to a story that seems to go deeper. Granted, at 600+ pages, it's not like he had more room to spare, but I honestly could have kept going to 800 or 1000.
tl;dr great book, great subject
But at the same time, I find places where I wish he would go further. Fletcher will sometimes stop short of explaining an idea, or only give a paragraph to a story that seems to go deeper. Granted, at 600+ pages, it's not like he had more room to spare, but I honestly could have kept going to 800 or 1000.
tl;dr great book, great subject
July 21, 2011
This book was a very enjoyable read. I have been a Who fan since the early 80's so I am too young to remember much about Keith Moon. I thought the book was very thorough and was a good objective picture of his life. One of the most enjoyable parts of reading the book was when the author was describing the making of the different albums in the progression of the group's history and then going back to my mp3 player and listening to the songs he was talking about. The book would also be recommended for someone who just is interested in learning about the beginings of Rock and Roll in the 60's even if they don't know much about The Who.
July 10, 2011
Keith Moon is indeed a loon. He pursued the party to the exclusion of all else. There is a benevolence about him, however, in that his attitude is one of a 6-year-old who has cultivated a complete block against growth and maturity. Fletcher's detail can drag a bit, making the read much like research. But I wouldn't trade the detail for a broader dramatization. There's not any satisfying conclusion. It is apparent that Keith was trying to recover, but the clumsiness of his death seems to point to a relapse of immature recklessness.... Or was it an impatience to finish his recovery phase??? Hard to know for sure.
July 19, 2008
I really don't know how to officially or formally 'review' this book. Technically speaking, it is what every biography should be--VERY well-written and researched (deserving five stars), but the life of Keith Moon is a rather depressing and sometimes repulsive subject to read about. There are some pretty amusing and very interesting parts throughout but it is by no means uplifting. Read this if you are a die-hard fan of The Who and MUST know every miniscule fact about them. Otherwise just stick to the music and go read about someone who's worth admiring.
December 24, 2013
Gífurlegur doðrantur um trommara Hú, mannsins sem fann upp villta rokklífernið (sukka sukka sukka sukka sukka sukka rústa hótelherbergjum og sukka sukka sukka), mannsins sem er fyrirmynd Dýra í Prúðuleikurunum. Undir niðri var nokkuð feiminn og næs náungi. Bókin er gífurlega nákvæm og alla jafna skemmtileg nema kannski í lokin, enda fátt skemmtilegt við mann sem drepur sig smátt og smátt á sukkinu. Keith var nýorðinn 32 þegar hann drapst. Hlakka til að sjá myndina með Mike Myers ef hún verður e-htímann gerð.
December 31, 2017
The author is an obvious fan; the length (580 pages or so) and detail reflect that, but that does not cloud his storytelling. The epilogue makes the point nicely. This is a complete biography, from birth to death and all the weirdness in between. If you are looking for a history of the Who, you may be disappointed, this is Keith's story. Pete, Roger and John are not the focal point. Personally, I have never been a big fan of the Who, but this was an interesting read. It helps paint a picture of time and place in rock music; Keith Richards bio fits nicely here too.
September 9, 2008
Better to burn out then fade away. The rock cliche was lived by Keith Moon as the driving force (drummer) behind the big sound of The Who at their peak. I have just started, but learning about his youth and determination to be part of something great has been facinating. The story continues with two of the original four still playing music as The Who, after opening the door for modern rock in 1964.
August 12, 2013
Tony Fletcher does a great job revealing the person, Keith Moon. So many have heard the crazy stories of "Moon the Loon", but Fletcher finally gets across to the reader, that Moon was an unbelievable talent. Yes, he was what we see as a human being with multiple personal issues, but we finally are exposed to a person who is full of passion, guilt, loyalty and most of all life. Even if it was short lived.
August 17, 2007
Very funny, very sad. Much like Mr. Moon himself.
November 7, 2007
Kieth Moon a person of amazing extremes. The author is exhaustive in his research and pulls no punches.
December 6, 2007
A broader and more objective biography than "Full Moon," and it included lots of wonderful stories and pictures of Moon's younger days. A great read.
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