tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post1758720115966709504..comments2023-05-08T10:31:19.510-04:00Comments on History Lesson Pt. 2: Sonic Confessional: Keith Moon Is An Awful DrummerMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04863188041423659098noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-65620663819676636732022-07-04T18:28:11.679-04:002022-07-04T18:28:11.679-04:00I will say that I love watching Keith play. He mak...I will say that I love watching Keith play. He makes it look effortless.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863188041423659098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-74033579859177757272022-07-04T18:27:37.772-04:002022-07-04T18:27:37.772-04:00Definitely have to agree with you that no one befo...Definitely have to agree with you that no one before or since has replicated his style. It is completely all his own and it works well with the who's bombastic playing. And I mean bombastic in a good way.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863188041423659098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-69851277153632478112022-07-02T13:11:06.829-04:002022-07-02T13:11:06.829-04:00Of course not the GOAT but Meil Peart often cited ...Of course not the GOAT but Meil Peart often cited him as an influence. Never heard him talk shit about him Keith was my first drum idol but as Iearned more I saw more clearly the context of his drumming in the Who’s sound and rock in general. He had a style and method all his own. I’ve never seen anyone duplicate it or explain it technically. It’s much more than jamming a pile of fills in every few measures. Most writers completely miss the boat trying to describe it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-31112987748178626192022-04-02T12:34:52.796-04:002022-04-02T12:34:52.796-04:00Tell me what part of his "style" was so ...Tell me what part of his "style" was so good? He could "barely" play passable "time", e.g. play a steady beat before breaking into an extended fill that didn't hold the tempo. Arguably his best material was on "Who's Next". Listen to the drumming on "Behind Blue Eyes". It's full of Moon just showing off unnecessarily with tom-tom fills in awkward places, and the tempo is held up (alone) by Entwistle (as always). He isn't keeping time. That is Job #1 for a drummer.<br /><br />Contrast this with two songs by World Class drummers: the Late Neil Peart and Stewart Copland. Rush's "Tom Sawyer" and The Police's "Bring on the Night". Say what you want about the "likability" of the overall music. As a drummer myself, I can hear (and feel) differences and quality of the playing in each song. Both drummers play fills in places (or as it's called in Jazz, "comp" or "comping"), however, they both hold the tempo FIRMLY under their control. When they do "comp", it flows "with" other elements of the song, not against it. They're listening to what their band mates are doing and work within the temporal framework to construct something that holds the tempo, and is complex and exciting as well, musically. <br /><br />I've never heard that with Moon. It was mostly Entwistle and, occasionally Townshend that carried the tempo with their playing. Moon was not giving them the tempo that the rest of them could depend on. You'd get a couple measures of "time", then he would go off on a tom fill, that on the album version would start in one place, and live, it would be played several measures earlier later. True to his erratic nature.<br /><br />Joe Strummer said it best--a drummer's job is to 'keep the beat" and it has to be rock solid. Your band mates depend on it. When the Clash's drummer, Topper Headon, got into drugs and it affected the The Clash's performance, he got fired. This had a major effect in the "Fall" of The Clash.<br /><br />Eventually Moon's antics caught up with him and it caused the end of his life. Those antics were reflected in his playing and his entire musical career. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-86465160182625007592022-04-02T05:08:40.446-04:002022-04-02T05:08:40.446-04:00You make an excellent point about Neil Peart. He...You make an excellent point about Neil Peart. He could have totally rested on his reputation as a badass but he was a student of percussion and truly loved it. It shows in his plane and how he did everything.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863188041423659098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-90855200027267893882022-04-02T04:56:50.566-04:002022-04-02T04:56:50.566-04:00Completely agree. As a drummer, I ought to know wh...Completely agree. As a drummer, I ought to know why. As a kid, I and the other kids "idolized" him, however, we didn't break down his playing--which was 95% drum solo & maybe 4.5% actually being the "master of time" with the last .5% with him being passed out on drink or horse tranquilizers. We loved him for being clown on stage and IRL, Even Pete Townshend in an interview that later in the '70's, Moon would have to "relearn" how to play the drums when they headed into the studio to record an album. Drumming seemed to be a necessary inconvenience to support his comedic celebrity lifestyle. <br /><br />It's a great irony to me that the late Neil Peart admired Moon. He was the Anti-Keith Moon; always working on pushing his craft to the utmost. He invested great amounts of time to further his playing, while Moon was trashing hotel rooms instead.<br /><br />After Moon's death, I think the most "relieved" man in the world was John Entwistle. The Who replaced Moon with Kenny Jones, an actual drummer who cared about drumming. No longer would Entwistle have to hold up the rhythm section alone (which is why he was so good). Watching the 1979 Kampuchea Benefit set played by The Who, IMHO, Entwistle looks truly relaxed. It was only Townshend's own clownish side missed partying wing-man in Moon, which, IMHO, lead to Jones leaving.<br /><br />Moon's non-commitment to the music when the others were getting more serious, was the great "let-down". Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-81293585867660952282022-01-08T13:10:34.853-05:002022-01-08T13:10:34.853-05:00The Who were a great band anchored by a great Bass...The Who were a great band anchored by a great Bass player who stuck to the script with a workman like attitude.<br />It seems the rest of them were like badly behaved spoilt children screaming for there <br /> Mother's attention to see who was the most loved and it worked.<br />To say Keith was the greatest drummer in the World is just totally retarded and lacks any ability to critique music by the accepted standards.<br />He wouldn't be fit enough to tie Buddy Riches shoe laces and falls well short of accepted standards to hold that title in any era!!JThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01959521503935601292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-4132824489564419462021-07-21T08:17:20.877-04:002021-07-21T08:17:20.877-04:00LOL! That would have been a much better name for t...LOL! That would have been a much better name for this article. And it's true: no one plays like Keith. Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863188041423659098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-20867538393960245122021-07-21T00:33:48.288-04:002021-07-21T00:33:48.288-04:00Late Keith had a way to play, that no one has beat...Late Keith had a way to play, that no one has beat?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13091791631324377870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-86208058249289197762020-03-23T21:07:50.096-04:002020-03-23T21:07:50.096-04:00This is not true. Pete Townshend not only made t...This is not true. Pete Townshend not only made the who, but he was the who. He wrote and recorded everything by himself as the demo tapes and each other member woukd play and add to it the way their musical style was. Moon loved fills and pete gives him space for them but you will notice that often he even sets the framework for what the fill should be like. John was brilliant but he also played his instrument as a lead, and so that left keeping the time to Pete. He knew Keith was a awful timekeeper and that John was too aggressive to keep time bec usually its the drummer who is irresponsible for this and the bass player syncs up and if they want can be like a lead without it effecting the band. I will link to you three things you can listen to here, all written and performed (even vocals) by pete townshend. They are the Quadrophenia demos, Who Are You, and Baba O'Reilly https://youtu.be/Y1Gm1Rj2oKk<br />https://youtu.be/UwofSRCZd3I<br />https://youtu.be/yh4wkMZXONcAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00133278638629228047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-77377061710580214392019-08-01T01:17:04.186-04:002019-08-01T01:17:04.186-04:00@Anon 05/05/14
Moon "the best drummer of all...@Anon 05/05/14<br /><br />Moon "the best drummer of all time"? C'mon, that statement is every bit as fucking retarded as Moon himself. Are you my Who megafan uncle who stopped seeking out new music altogether around '91? Jesus Christ, step out and get some air lolUrethra Franklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03410178906040258224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-86560013013460343662018-03-14T13:19:28.338-04:002018-03-14T13:19:28.338-04:00Hey - I've been meaning to ask if you'd wr...Hey - I've been meaning to ask if you'd write a 2-3 paragraph (or more) rebuttal to this blog entry. I promise not to edit anything. Ineterested? I just need some new material. Figured it'd be interesting to give a hater the mic. Please reply to this if interested.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863188041423659098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-86557805712800865212016-12-11T19:07:06.015-05:002016-12-11T19:07:06.015-05:00This blogger is an asshole who hates rock n roll. ...This blogger is an asshole who hates rock n roll. Keith Moon rules.brewcrewmach2https://www.blogger.com/profile/14552802471688891811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-42421470552091943172014-05-05T17:21:25.449-04:002014-05-05T17:21:25.449-04:00Keith Moon us the best drummer of all time. I don&...Keith Moon us the best drummer of all time. I don't know why you would ever think that he couldn't keep a beat.... He was the one leading the band. He was the metronome. He was the one to keep the beat. I just find it insulting that you would say that he is an AWFUL drummer because he's NOT. He is an amazing drummer with a whole butt load of talent. I love The Who but I have to say, with out him they would never be as famous as they are today. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-8366649488799663082014-02-03T07:09:14.913-05:002014-02-03T07:09:14.913-05:00I know what you mean about the 'Zoot Suit'...I know what you mean about the 'Zoot Suit' thing but for me it's all about about the 'Quadrophenia' album rather than the soundtrack, for me the soundtrack is just that, a soundtrack, I don't really see it as a proper Who album. It's definitely The Who at their best and is their masterpiece, and rightly so becasue it is magnificent. Keith's drums on this are also just phenomenal, so creative and just so powerful. The track 'The Real Me' was the track I listened to about 7 years ago when I was 12 and I said to myself "This is amazing, I've never heard anything like this before" and that's when my interest in The Who branched out. The thing that stood out most about it was the drumming, it was unlike anything I'd ever heard before, and at that age I wasn't into music at all really, and that's when I decided to take up the drums. From then on I've followed Keith's drumming closely and sorta studied what it is he actually does. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01476103075173815546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-84727437473539872342014-02-03T07:03:18.989-05:002014-02-03T07:03:18.989-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01476103075173815546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-51964158071763779642014-02-01T10:35:01.799-05:002014-02-01T10:35:01.799-05:00I should also clarify that I tend to favor aggress...I should also clarify that I tend to favor aggressive drummers - Brain from Primus is the first that leaps to mind - so I'm not one of those dudes who think that drummers should "know their place". Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863188041423659098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-60743515457884966412014-02-01T10:32:33.323-05:002014-02-01T10:32:33.323-05:00Ah yes - "Quadrophenia". Quickly becomin...Ah yes - "Quadrophenia". Quickly becoming one of my favorite Who records. (I think "The Who Sell Out" might be my fave). An example of his playing that I don't like off the same album is "Zoot Suit". Good song; drumming a little too busy and not "in the pocket". <br /><br />But I have a sense that though we might disagree on his playing on a song here or there, we're more or less on the same page about the Who (and by extension, Moon) being pretty great. I know this sounds contrary to what I typed above.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863188041423659098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-38657240093563620052014-02-01T09:44:08.437-05:002014-02-01T09:44:08.437-05:00Keith's creativity was second to none when it ...Keith's creativity was second to none when it came to playing the skins. One very good example of his playing being controlled, fantastic, and just genius is 'The Rock' off 'Quadrophenia'. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01476103075173815546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-57097671834251387122014-01-31T13:23:30.421-05:002014-01-31T13:23:30.421-05:00Thanks for your input, Jack!
I saw a documentary o...Thanks for your input, Jack!<br />I saw a documentary once that was basically just interviews with famous drummers who were inspired by Moon. In fact, it's where I stole the whole "pushes the song along" line in the article above.<br /><br />Can I talk you into writing a short counterpoint to this entry? I'd be happy to post it!<br /><br />And - to be clear and this cannot be overstated - without Keith, there is no Who. Again: No Keith, no Who. Since the Who is, was, and always will be one of my favoritest bands, I would never diss him too much.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863188041423659098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-82805849379701306142014-01-31T11:27:48.585-05:002014-01-31T11:27:48.585-05:00Keith was a fantastic drummer. His playing made Th...Keith was a fantastic drummer. His playing made The Who what they were. "One giant fill" that is the usual conception, but, as a drummer, who has studied Keith's playing a lot, I can say that Keith's playing had rhythm, without a doubt. I will be more than welcome to give you examples of Keith's "technique" and how it worked with the music but for now I shall just share my opinion. Keith Moon was one of a kind and his drumming is an influence to drummers for a reason.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01476103075173815546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445481790511400224.post-84063425980876095022014-01-22T21:47:31.321-05:002014-01-22T21:47:31.321-05:00HA! I win!
Not only is Moon rhythmically dubious...HA! I win!<br /><br />Not only is Moon rhythmically dubious, not only does he overplay, not only is his playing "one. giant. fill.", but usually it's the SAME FREAKING FILL on every song. <br /><br />There's a reason I countered Moon with Mitchell: Mitchell overplays as badly as Moon does, but he's a technically gifted and rhythmically inventive drummer. Also, contra Moon, he spent a lot of time dialing in his expansive playing with the equally expansive playing of his guitarist (Hendrix). Moon just kinda ran roughshod over the top of everything.<br /><br />HAVING SAID ALL THAT, perhaps the most important point is buried at the end of this post: no Keith Moon, no Who. He fit in perfectly with the other components: rock's power chord icon (Townshend), who drove the songs with authority and economy; a bass player who took over the melodic role that the guitar abandoned, while still keeping the bottom end (Entwhistle played a lot like a good jazz baritone player); and a vocalist who was (in the context of his time) straight to the point. So he made perfect sense with those guys . . . and frankly added some personality that was lacking.<br /><br />Also, I don't mind all arrhythmic percussion . . . I love the banging and clanking on Raincoats records (especially Odyshape), I love Sunny Murray's playing with Albert Ayler (and Beaver Harris with Albert Ayler and John Coltrane). Or Peck Curtis with Houston Stackhouse.<br /><br />And also, to be totally fair, my favorite Hendrix album (by a hair) is Band of Gypsys, and a lot of the sound of that album has to do with Hendrix working the extra space accorded him by the economy of his rhythm section (Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums). My favorite lineup was Hendrix, Mitchell, and Cox, but there's a lot to be said for Miles's playing as well.Bill Zinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614494130260695458noreply@blogger.com