Trivia

Packed flash powder in his bass drum during an appearance on the The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967), causing it to explode. This not only caused Pete Townshend's hair to catch fire and damaged his hearing, but Moon was injured as well. His prime purpose in this prank was to upstage Smothers, and when he appeared right in front of the camera whilst a joke was being cracked, before collapsing, his attempts were successful. Bette Davis was standing backstage during the explosion and fainted.

His public image was so pronounced that the Muppet character, Animal, whose credo is "Drums. Women. Food." was inspired by Moon.

On the cover of the last The Who album recorded with Moon, he is seated in chair upon which the words "Not to Be Taken Away" are stenciled. Moon died within weeks of the album's release.

Did not like school and was not a good student. A teacher once wrote in his report card, "Retarded artistically, idiotic in other respects".

The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean were his favorite musicians.

Was allegedly responsible for The Who being banned from every Holiday Inn in the US for life after creating a ruckus while celebrating his 20th birthday at one of the chain's hotels in the Flint, MI, though actually they continued to use Holiday Inns for much of their career.

Moon accidentally ran over his driver, Neil Boland on January 4, 1970. Moon, his wife, Kim and Larry "Legs" Smith (of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band) left a pub where they were followed by a group of Skinheads who proceeded to pound on the car after Moon and his group got in it. Neil exited the car to stop the fracas and the car continued to move. Moon, from the back seat, tried to steer the car out of harm's way and inadvertently ran over Boland. Boland later died of his injuries. (Described in "Dear Boy: The Life of Keith Moon" by Tony Fletcher.)

He took his role as Uncle Ernie in the film version of Tommy (1975) very seriously, and was nervous about playing the part. He also met one of his great drinking buddies while making the film: Oliver Reed.

Was a front-row guest at one of The Monkees's London concerts; countered the fans' cries of "We want The Monkees!" by bellowing "We want The Who!" as loudly as anyone.

His ex-wife, Kim Moon McLagan, was killed in a car accident in August 2006 in Texas.

Although he owned dozens of fast, rare and expensive cars, he also owned an old, beat-up tractor that he used to drive to his local pub.

Was ejected from a hotel suite after a night of nailing and strapping all the furniture to the ceiling.

The plaque at Golders Green, where he was cremated, and then his ashes scattered in in the Gardens of Remembrance, reads: Keith Moon 'Who' drummer. 1946 - 1978 "There is no substitute".

He is usually voted second to Led Zeppelin's John Bonham in lists of the greatest rock drummers of all time. However, Alice Cooper considers Moon the greatest he has ever seen.

In the early days of The Who, Moon was on the receiving end of violence from vocalist Roger Daltrey. After being fired from the band and then re-instated, Daltrey managed to tone down this behavior.

In reality, Moon and John Entwistle. discussed leaving The Who, going as far to name the band Lead Zeppelin based on the English saying "going over like a lead zeppelin" as Americans say "going over like a lead balloon". Entwistle went as far as to do drawings of the first album cover (the Hindenberg in flames) and they discussed the idea with their then driver Richard Cole. Later when this didn't materialize, and with Cole leaving their employ and going to work with Jimmy Page, the name was indeed used by Page to name the New Yardbirds. Both Moon and Entwistle subsequently took credit for the name.

Very good friends with Oliver Reed.

In 1973 he collapsed onstage at the San Francisco Cow Palace after having taken a huge amount of animal tranquilizer.

Was close friends with singer Marc Bolan and Monty Python star Graham Chapman.

His daughter, Mandy, is happily married and living with her husband and two daughters in California.

Was the youngest member of The Who.

Daughter with his then wife Kim McLagan, Amanda Jane ("Mandy"), born on July 12, 1966.

It is likely that the drummer was suffering from the bi polar disorder as he was prone to sudden mood changes.

Roger Daltrey's song "Under A Raging Moon" was a tribute to him. The recording featured the work of 40 drummers, including Ringo Starr and his son Zak Starkey.

Shared a house in Los Angeles with John Lennon and May Pang, Ringo Starr, and Harry Nilsson in 1974; it was the same place where Bobby Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe had met for trysts in the early 1960s. They called it their "rock-n-roll rest home", and Moon was fond of coming down to breakfast wearing a trenchcoat slit up the back... and nothing underneath. (Klaus Voormann also lived there with his girlfriend, but steered clear of the other men's antics.)

Learned to play drums at age 14.

Left school at age 14, after discovering the drums.

Died in the same flat where Cass Elliot died, four years prior at 32 (same age). The flat had belonged to singer Harry Nilsson.

In the 1960/70s Moon once owned the Crown & Cushion Hotel in Chipping Norton, UK, where a memorial plaque is still displayed in his honor at the hotel's entrance.

Was very good friends with Dallas star Larry Hagman and singer Harry Nilsson.

Ashes scattered at Golders Green Crematorium, London, England in section 3P.

Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Who) in 1990.

Was a huge fan of The Beach Boys and reportedly used to listen to their 1964 album "Shut Down Volume 2" constantly for inspiration, before joining The Who. One of the last songs he sung in the studio was a cover of their 1966 #1 hit "Barbara Ann". He also produced a solo album that had a cover of their 1964 hit, 'Don't Worry Baby'.

To be honoured with a 'blue plaque' at London's Marquee Club at 90 Wardour Street, Soho on 9th March 2009 by the Heritage Foundation. Rejecting the application by English Heritage for not being truly 'outstanding', English Heritage explained: "Is he a great drummer? Well you'd have to wait until Ringo Starr is dead and Phil Collins is dead and all these other great rock drummers until you can make that kind of decision... We decided that bad behaviour and overdosing on various substances wasn't a sufficient qualification to get a blue plaque.".

By the time he had reached 32, Keith Moon was looking older than his actual years. This was due to his own lifestyle taking its toll.

Joined The Who in late 1964. Prior to that, he played drums for a cover band called The Beachcombers.

The first instrument he played was the bugle.

Son of Kathleen Moon.

Dedicatee of the published script of Monty Python's Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979).

Once drove his Lincoln Continental into a hotel swimming pool, knocking out one of his teeth in the process.

Was the drummer with The Who along with Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle.

Was originally going to play The Odd Job Man in Graham Chapman's The Odd Job (1978), but had to drop out because of scheduling conflicts with The Who, and his drinking problem.

Was nicknamed "Nobby" by his father, Arthur. Arthur Moon died suddenly of a heart attack in 1974 at age 53.

A few myths about Keith Moon's rock 'n' roll lifestyle have been exposed over the years. It has been reported that the drummer used to swing from chandeliers but this is not true.

Although his birthday is on August 23rd, his star sign is Leo.

Godfather of Zak Starkey. Replaced by Kenney Jones, ex-Face/Small Face, who was replaced by Zak Starkey.

Friend and partner in practical jokes with Vivian Stanshall.

He has a Blue Plaque at the old Marquee Club, at 90 Wardour Street, London, to celebrate his first show's with The Who, it reads: Keith Moon 1946 - 1978. Legendary rock drummer with 'The Who'. Performed here at the site of the Marquee Club in the 1960s.