Reference Number
ARC-1014
Level of description
collection
Title
Kit Moon Collection on Keith Moon
Date
1959, 1978, undated
Size
2.64 (Linear feet)
Scope and Contents
The Kit Moon Collection on Keith Moon is dated 1959, 1976-1978, and contains undated materials. The collections consists of materials collected by The Who's drummer's mother, including a 1951 report card for Moon; a letter on Moon's death from 1978; a napkin with the handwritten note, "Contact Elmar R-100 at Whisky Tommorow [sic];" a letter from Keep Britain United from 1976, thanking him for "displaying the Union Jack so prominently;" a press clipping from Jackie magazine (ca. 1971); a variety of photographs of Moon and the Beachcombers; and a birthday card written to him on a window display for the Odds & Sods album (ca. 1974).
Biography / Administrative History
Keith Moon (August 23, 1946 –September 7, 1978) was an English drummer for the rock band, the Who. Moon began playing the drums in the early 1960s before joining a local cover band, the Beachcombers. He joined the Who in 1964 after auditioning as a replacement for Doug Sandom. Moon’s style of drumming was unconventional and emphasized tom-toms, cymbal crashes, and drum fills. Moon was also known for his pranks and destructiveness, developing a reputation for destroying his drum kit and hotel rooms. Mood was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Who in 1990.
From Mod-era “maximum R&B” to concept albums, rock operas, and definitive classic rock tracks, the Who have reigned as one of rock’s most powerful, energetic, and literate rock bands. At their best, they’ve distilled the pent-up energy and chaos of rock and roll into its purest form while investing their songs with lyrical depth and visionary insight. In their prime, they were a unit whose individual personalities fused into a larger-than-life whole. Pete Townshend provided the slashing guitar work and wrote much of the material. Vocalist Roger Daltrey injected the songs with expressive muscularity and passion. Bassist John Entwistle anchored the band with his expert musicianship. Keith Moon, one of the greatest of all rock and roll drummers, embodied their explosive energy and anarchic wit. Entwistle and Moon combined to form one of the strongest and most unconventional rhythm sections in rock history. The Who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Notes
Acquisition Note: The Kit Moon Collection on Keith Moon was received by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a gift from Kit Moon on May 22, 1994.
Citation: [Identification of Item], Kit Moon Collection on Keith Moon, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Language Note: Materials are in English.
Processing Information: Processed by Crystal Matjasic, Project Archivist. Completed October 1, 2019. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual. Collection processed through an Access to Historical Records grant from the NHPRC.
Access
Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration Form before using this collection. Consult the Library and Archives in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.
Use
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.
Associated Persons
Associated Subjects
