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17th out of 22 books
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Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend
Keith Moon was the bad boy of rock & roll, the most manic member of an aggressive and fabulously successful band, a full-throttle hedonist who lived at the center of an unending party. He was also a musical genius who inspired whole generations of artists, a generous friend to nearly everyone who crossed his path, a guileless man of immense personal charm to whom the sweet...more
Paperback, 624 pages
Published
September 19th 2000
by It Books
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I admit, I did not really give it a chance because this is a very thick book, and much of the beginning goes into painstaking detail about Moon's childhood and what life was like in England during the time that he was growing up. While the author did much research to glean this information, and this is part of a good biography, I was more interested in the years after he joined the Who. I may pick this up again and skip past the beginning chapter, after reading some of the other reviews it sound...more
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 i...more
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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.
Great in-depth look at one of the great, funny, talented, and tragic characters in rock and roll. He revolutionized rock drumming and set a high bar for hotel merrymaking. This book is thoroughly researched with fascinating recollections from those who lived, worked and partied with Keith Moon, including many of his pre-Who bandmates and loves. Fletcher straightens out, debunks and clarifies many of the myths surrounding Moonie's adventures. Fletcher presents Keith Moon the person, a polite, h...more
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 po...more
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...more
Most of what you heard about Keith...more
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 in...more
Eric
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
any fan of rock music or anyone looking for a humorous and touching, yet tragic biography
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 "...more
I realized I had a different version of this book listed before. It is by the same author, so I have a feeling it is really the same text but with different American and British titles.
I started this yesterday, finally. Sadly, it has been slow going. I haven't enjoyed learning the details about the London suburbs and the British educational system that much. I really just wanted to get the stuff about Keith, but I think I have gotten past that for at least the time being. The ...more
I started this yesterday, finally. Sadly, it has been slow going. I haven't enjoyed learning the details about the London suburbs and the British educational system that much. I really just wanted to get the stuff about Keith, but I think I have gotten past that for at least the time being. The ...more
for anyone with even a passing interest in rock history this is about as perfect a biography as I have read. It will make you luagh out loud, shake your head in amazement and above all make you wish you had met the legend himself. 10/10 5 stars
This is my favourite book, for my favourite drummer of my favourite band.
The author, Tony Fletcher, has written it by being a huge fan himself, after extensive research, interviews and with nothing but pure love and admiration for Keith.
The author, Tony Fletcher, has written it by being a huge fan himself, after extensive research, interviews and with nothing but pure love and admiration for Keith.
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 recomme...more
Great and thorough biography on the life of Keith Moon, drummer for The Who.
Provides a lot of general information about the time and popular culture as well.
Provides a lot of general information about the time and popular culture as well.
Great book and the most complete Moon bio written. Incredibly well researched and highly readable.
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 st...more
An exhaustive chronicle of a wasted life.
Straight forward rock bio. Fletcher attempts to set the record straight on some Moon legendary tales, but there were enough real trashed hotel rooms, overdoses, and opulence in young Moon's life to make it a rock and roll read. What happens when a hyperactive attention whore and clown gets access to copious amounts of wealth and beauty at a pinnacle time of youth culture holding huge power and influence? The answer isn't always pretty, but in parts hilarious-
Keith Moon was Moon the loon and this is a great look at him. It shows the good and the bad sides of him. This was well written and after completion, Townshend actually wished he had participated in it more. It was a bit hard because I grew up loving Moon and to see the darker side of him kind of shot down a childhood hero. But I highly recommend it to any fan of music or the rock scene. Shit was crazy.
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.
I'm on a rock music book kick--more to come!--and this biography about the talented, yet destructive, drummer of the Who is pretty good. Although, by the end there is only so much you can be interested in Moon's self-destructive path. The early 2/3 of this is great though. Made me buy all the early Who and get into their stuff up to the mid '70s. Moon was a wildman, a joker and a great drummer.
Sometimes the most unimportant books are the most enjoyable. Not a fan or follower of The Who, never owned an album or particularly liked the music, but Fletcher's witty and intelligent writing gave me a real understanding of what life was like for this oddball Moon who stumbled into fame.
I'm not that big of a WHO fan, but this thing unravels the complicated guy that their drummer was. It paints him not only a hero, but also a villain at the same time. And it's LONG, man. LONG. Prepare to learn all you EVER wanted to know about Keith Moon.
Moon comes on the scene, sets the template for rock drumming and debauchery, influencing the next generation of rock drummers who then make his style and attitudes seem quaint.
Fantastic Biography,plenty of hilarious Loon anecdotes but also a very sad story of a talented and insecure man who always had to take it too far.
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.
Excellent insight and a very detailed look into the personal life of the 20th century's most charismatic figures.
Jennifer Glick
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Who fans who realize they were all human
Kieth Moon a person of amazing extremes. The author is exhaustive in his research and pulls no punches.
my all-time favorite musician, and one of the saddest stories i've read.
A wild guy, great book. Wish the Farley one was as in-depth as this one.
I thought I partied pretty hard, turns out I haven't.
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Tony Fletcher is the author of three music biographies and a novel. He founded the music magazine Jamming! and has contributed to Newsday, Spin, and Rolling Stone, among many other publications. He lives in Mt. Tremper, New York. "
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