Keith Moon, drummer for The Who in their heyday, is considered one the best rock drummers in history. His offstage antics are as well-known as his explosive drumming.

Keith Moon of The Who remains near the top of the list of rock's greatest drummers. A madman on and off the stage, "Moonie" or "Moon the Loon" was as renowned for his booze-fueled, offstage antics as his frenzied style of drumming. His star burned overly-bright for a brief but marvelous time, during The Who's heyday. He died on September 7, 1978, three weeks after the release of the band's Who Are You album, having just turned 32.

Born in Wembley, Northwest London, on August 23rd, 1946, young Keith John Moon did poorly throughout school, excelling only in music. Today he would be diagnosed with any number of attention deficit "diseases" and perhaps more serious psychological issues. Keith left school at age 15.

Moon's mastery of the drum kit led to early, qualified success with a local London band, the Beachcombers, a Beach Boys copy band. In 1964, while taking in a gig by the popular Detours, Keith approached the stage and told guitarist Pete Townshend he could play better than their drummer. Moon pounded the skins off the drumkit, just what Townshend was looking for, and by the end of the evening was their new drummer.

Moon & Entwistle Were Rock's Most Powerful Rhythm Section

The Detours soon became The Who, a band that would go down in rock music history as one of the greatest. With Townshend and Roger Daltrey out front, Moon and bassist extraordinaire John Entwistle made up the most powerful and unique rhythm section in Rock n Roll. Unique in that the bass and drums, normally the rhythm-keepers, were just as often the lead to Townshend's rhythm, a stylistic approach that helped define the band's sound.

Keith Moon's drumming style was like no other, a wild and explosive whirling-dervish that favored tom-tom heavy, cymbal smashing madness over solid beat-keeping. He often appeared barely in control, if at all, but he always was, and it worked very well. Proof of Moon's innate ability is the fact that, try as they may, nobody has been able to emulate him since.

"Moon the Loon" Stories Are Legend and Legion

"Moonie" madman stories are legendary, typifying the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, and Keith seemed to relish his role as rock's craziest lunatic. Hotels were his favorite victim and The Who were banned for life from many of them. Keith once paid 10 cab drivers $100 each to block the street below so he could toss all the hotel room contents onto the street far below. He loved to "dress up", be it as a stripper of Hitler.

He was fond of flushing powerful M80 fireworks down the toilet just before they blew. The most infamous story involves Moon and a Lincoln Continental ending up in a swimming pool in Flint, Michigan. It was the drummer's 21st birthday, and it was the last time the band played Flint.

As The Who reached the heighth of their popularity in the mid 1970's, Keith sunk to the depths of his alcohoism. His behavior was clearly affecting the band and his drumming. His death, sometimes mistakenly referred to as a suicide, was actually due to an accidental overdose of the medication he was using to fight alcoholism.

Some of Keith Moon's Best

For a sampling of Keith Moon at his best, check out these tracks:

• Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy)
• Happy Jack (Happy Jack)
• Won't Get Fooled Again (Who's Next)
• I've Had Enough (Quadrophenia)
• I Can See For Miles (Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy)
• Cobwebs & Strange (A Quick One )
• A Quick One While He's Away (Sell Out)
• Baby Don't You Do It (Who's Next/Deluxe Edition)

Bandmate Roger Daltrey, who is producing a Keith Moon biopic slated for a late 2009 release, has said "Keith Moon at his worst was still amazing."

Sources: The Who-Amazing Journey, Thewho.com