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Tony Fletcher

Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend Paperback – September 19, 2000

by Tony Fletcher (Author)

171 ratings

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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 sweetest sound on earth was surf music.A generation after his death, Moon is still revered as the greatest drummer in rock history and the single wildest personality in an age of pop excess. Here is the truth behind the legend, the result of more than three years of research in which music journalist Tony Fletcher interviewed dozens of Moon's friends, colleagues, and associates. The result is an instant classic that brilliantly illuminates both the tender and self-destructive sides of this singular personality. This is the story of one of the most outrageous rock stars ever born -- and Moon is one of the greatest rock biographies ever written.

Print length

624 pages
Language

English
Publisher

It Books
Publication date

September 19, 2000
Dimensions

6.13 x 1.56 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

0380788276
ISBN-13

978-0380788279
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Absorbinga terrific read." -- --People

Explosive and entertaining. -- --Vanity Fair

Insightfulan energizing, affectionate book.(--Palm Beach (FL) Meredian) -- i

A great rock biographyan admirable piece of research, and a damn entertaining read. -- --The Austin Chronicle

Brings [Keith Moon] into focus in greater detail than ever before, and the effect is at once awe-inspiring and horrifying. -- --Gear

EntertainingA coherent and organized account of a subject that is anything but. -- --The Tampa Tribune-Times

Essential tour-bus reading. -- --USA Today Online

Explosive and entertaining. -- --Vanity Fair

Insightfulan energizing, affectionate book. -- Palm Beach (FL) Meredian

About the Author

Tony Fletcher, who was born in Yorkshire, England, almost the exact week Keith Moon joined the band that would become the Who, still treasures the great drummer's autograph on a 1978 issue of the magazine Jamming!, which he started as a schoolboy in London. In the several lifetimes since, Fletcher has written books on R.E.M. and Echo and the bunnymen, contributed to magazines, newspapers, and television shows all over the world, and worked extensively as a DJ and A&R consultant. He now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and young son.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ It Books; Later Printing edition (September 19, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 624 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0380788276
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0380788279
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1.56 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,529,115 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,744 in Rock Band Biographies
- #8,050 in Rock Music (Books)
- #41,767 in Performing Arts (Books)

Customer Reviews:
171 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		79%
4 star		12%
3 star		5%
2 star		1%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Charles Platt

Beautifully written and extremely authentic

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2017

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While many rock-star biographies (and autobiographies) are relatively uninteresting when describing the subject's childhood and early days, this beautifully written book provides an amazingly vivid picture of the emerging British music scene of the early-1960s onward. The authenticity is remarkable, all the more so because Moon was no longer alive when Fletcher started writing. The later years of The Who have been equally well documented elsewhere, but so far as I know, Fletcher has no competition when he describes the cheesy little clubs and function rooms above pubs that gave birth to musicians who became world famous. I was there during that period, and Fletcher made me feel I was reliving it in every detail.

8 people found this helpful

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Suzinne Barrett

The Tears of a Clown

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2014

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Have read this quite long biography twice. First, when it originally came out in hardcover. Bought it straight away, and enjoyed it thoroughly. And then more recently, something bought Keith Moon to mind and gave this highly detailed bio another go.

Yeah, everyone remembers Keith Moon as the original "Rock and Roll Animal." Was there ever a hotel room that he stayed in that didn't wind up in SHAMBLES? On and off the road, Keith drank from the minute he woke up and popped a myriad of pills to go with it. While having the face of an angel, he treated his two wives abominably. Keith Moon was certainly a complicated character with serious mental issues and inner pain that he preferred not to deal with head on.

By the time he was a mere 32, Moon looked like an old 55. Never a Who fan myself but was always drawn to the crazy man behind the huge drum kit. Found this a rollicking read and was touched by the man who never wanted the applause to end. To feel good about himself he needed that, and without it he was a shell. After his demise, The Who went on further tours with another drummer, Kenney Jones, with limited success. Try as they might, the band was never the same.

10 people found this helpful

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Kenneth Posner

Really enjoyed this book on Keith moon

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2021

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This is a clearly-written, engaging biography of a fascinating character. The author did an excellent job letting Keith and the people who knew him speak in their own words, while offering his opinions from time to time with appropriate caveats, and his knowledge/research are encyclopaedic. Keith is such an interesting character -- talented, energetic, kind, generous -- and mean, out-of-control, and self-destructive. A wild mix and a reminder that we are all wild mixes, to varying degrees, of sane and crazy

One person found this helpful

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KD

Rock's greatest drummer? You be the judge.

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2010

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I saw The Who in the late 60's. My recollection of it isn't very clear. I like The Who - in particular Live At Leeds , but my interest in them comes and goes. I consider The Beatles to have been much more influential on the direction of music and my musical development as well. However, because The Who were not the Beatles they didn't get as much press coverage and therefore I didn't know much about them, except from their music.

I'll add that I am a drummer so I was particularly interested in some insights into how Keith Moon developed his style. Moon:The Life and Death of a Rock Legend didn't teach me how to play like Keith Moon, but it did take me back into the 60's again.

The author researched his material thoroughly and succeeded in conveying how Keith came to be the man and drummer that he was. The story of The Who and their high energy impact on rock and roll, maximum R&B if you will, is well described. The story is well paced and manages to include plenty of anecdotes and first person accounts of Moon's outrageous behavior. Some accounts made me laugh at Keith's audacity while others just saddened me because he couldn't deal with his own inner conflicts. Some nice photos are included as well and they helped me recall my own images of The Who. If you dig The Who or Keith Moon you'll get a kick out of the book. On the other hand, you may just be bummed out by the waste of his life because of his excesses.

10 people found this helpful

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father dick

Great and honest read.

Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2017

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As a reader who wanted to know a lot about this drummer extraordinaire, this book satisfied me by far.

An honest view of Moon. Entertaining, and a good tool to understand his persona and the Who's insight mechanics.

A must for anyone interested in The Who band.

F.D.

2 people found this helpful

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Mercgal

Good read, but lacked "substance" at the end

Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2020

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Ive become fascinated with Keith, and am voraciously reading any and all about him. I feel he suffered the same illness my own brother had. The end of Keiths life (spoiler here ) seems...odd. Very, very odd and Im still full of questions.

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Larry P

Every WHO & Moon fan must have this book

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 1999

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After reading "Full Moon" By Peter "Dougal" Butler, I thought any other book written about Keith Moon would be a rerun of previous published material. I was wrong thinking that!! Tony Fletcher has written a incredible account of Keith Moon's private and public life. Alot more detail into the life of Keith is presented here. I found the book describing in detail the stories that were only mentioned in other books. I felt like I know Keith better after reading this book. I laughed, sighed and even cried for Keith. The pain & loneliness Keith had in his life is described in great detail. The stories come from Keith's family, friends, and business associates. Reading how Keith's family the other WHO members dealt with Keith's death, and seeing how the years after his death effected them was most interesting.Their comments answered alot of my questions I've often thought about. This book answered alot of questions I had about Keith, and his life. I highly recommend it. It will open your eyes as to what it's like to live a rock stars life. And when you finish this book, you'll have a better understanding as to what is really important in one's life.

22 people found this helpful

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Daniel F Griffin

Keith Moon, true rock n roll drummer

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2016

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Great bio about Keith Moon. Moon The Loon.. This has to be the most complete bio on the drummer of The Who.. From his birth thru his sad death. Almost 500 pages. A boy who never grew up. Keith was an incredibly talented & driven drummer. Like John Bonham of Led Zeppelin were 2 of the best to ever pick up the sticks Unfortunately also an alcoholic who just couldn't live without the booze.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Ed

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2017

Verified Purchase

Good service and book exactly as described.

Louis

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2017

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great

stephen edwards

great book dispels the myths associated with him and goes ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2017

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great book dispels the myths associated with him and goes in depth about keith , the who and the bands relationships with each other

ann smith

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2015

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The story is to much round the houses

LK

Interesting read

Reviewed in Canada on December 19, 2020

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The book seems well researched and credible. The writing is good and it is an easy read. If you are a fan, it's something you might want to consider.

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