The Who's Cow Palace Gig in 1973

"Can anybody play the drums?"

I remember watching The Who on The Smother’s Brothers Comedy Hour in 1967. The performance ended with Keith Moon’s drums exploding on stage with a huge bang. Keith had told the pyro-technician to add more powder before the taping, then he secretly added more, resulting in over ten times the usual amount of explosives to make the blast extra big.

It was big alright. The explosion shattered Pete Townshend’s ear drum and left him partially deaf in one ear. But it demonstrates Moon’s well documented self-destructive behavior. His drumming was unique and like no one else—sometimes sounding like an octopus with eight drumsticks hitting every piece of equipment he had on his kit.

I also recall seeing the movie Tommy in 1975. Keith Moon looked almost deranged on the big screen as the unsavory “Uncle Ernie.” Acting crazy (or just being himself), he often reminded me of some incorrigible puppy that everyone loved, but they knew was going to embarrass the family at some point in front of the guests… and get away with it.

He was out of control for much of his adult life.

Moon became close friends with Oliver Reed, another well-known hell-raiser, who became his drinking buddy and companion in coming up with wild pranks and stunts. There was the time Keith kidnapped his Vicar, or the “one legged trousers” prank; his repeated “dine and dash” escapades that he’d pull on other celebrities-- inviting them to dinner at an expensive restaurant pretending he had paid the bill, then leaving while they had to deal with the consequences. All stories which were well known and confirmed by Moon himself.

One of the more the famous, was his “pie in the face” stunt where Keith would walk up to an acquaintance, celebrity or a public official, often someone he barely knew, and hand them a business card that read:

"Pie in the Face International"

"You have been selected by Mr. Keith Moon to become a member." Upon reading the card, an associate of Moon’s would immediately arrive and throw a lemon custard pie into their face. As they stood there stunned, another person would pull out a certificate and hand it to them which read:

“You are a member, sponsored by Keith Moon.” Oliver Reed was one such recipient, on the red carpet at a movie premier. So much for being his drinking buddy. Dozens of others were subjected to the pie in the face routine before Moon was threatened to be sued and given bodily harm.

The Who toured in America often starting in 1967.

There wasn't a hotel room that was spared destruction. There wasn’t a T.V. that he didn’t toss into the swimming pool. There wasn’t a “just one more drink and I’ll go home” switch in his head as he entered a pub for a few pints, having already had too much.

And then there was his 21st birthday party in Flint, Michigan with The Who. Where a birthday party full of local girls, very little clothing and a six foot tall cake, ended up with Keith in handcuffs.

Moon stole a Lincoln Continental and drove it into the swimming pool of the Holiday Inn while trying to elude the police who arrived after the hotel couldn’t control their birthday guest (who was in his “birthday suit” for the entire party and the arrest).

But perhaps the story that has become a part of The Who and Keith’s most unusual event, took place on November 20, 1973 at The Cow Palace. Keith over indulged and did something unexpected on stage.

Check out the video below and see how a member of the audience came to the rescue to make sure “the show must go on.”

https://youtu.be/yHhPwqyd6Vg

Have you ever attended a concert where someone had to come to the rescue? I’d love to hear about it.

Rob

TheRockandRollProfessor.com

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I had to move the Johnny Cash video from last week. So if you were looking for it, here's the link. Have safe travels for the holidays.