I’m Keith Moon, What’s Your Excuse? Description: Phil Daniels remembers The Who’s drummer Keith Moon, whose life was cut short after a prescription drug overdose on 7 September 1978. Moon packed a great deal into his thirty-two years. As one of the documentary’s key contributors points out, because he hardly seemed to sleep, Moon probably managed to pack an average lifetime into this brief spell.
This documentary tracks down contributors who were close to Moon at key periods of his life. Long-term PR man for The Who, Keith Altham, oversaw Moon’s early career with the band and witnessed the sometimes fractious nature of the band’s off-stage relationships.
Moon’s road manager, Peter “Dougal” Butler was a constant companion up until close to the drummer’s demise. Small Faces drummer Kenney Jones had the unenviable task of replacing him on The Who’s drum stool both during Moon’s lifetime and after he died. They provide a fascinating insight into the workings of “Moon The Loon’s” mind.
But the most revealing voice is Moon’s own. Interviewed by Stuart Grundy in Los Angeles in 1974, the sixteen-minute conversation provides a poignant and surprisingly reflective snapshot of the troubled drummer’s lifestyle.
Apart from featuring Moon’s drumming and writing, his one solo album also gets a rare outing. And there are excerpts from his all-too-brief radio series, which was produced by the late John Walters. With those two minds in tandem, how could the result be anything but hysterical?!
The title of this documentary comes from the front page of a Melody Maker from the mid 1970s. In a picture featuring Moon and PJ Proby, the words emanate from the drummer’s mouth in a speech bubble. (BBC 6)
(You’ll have to be quick if you want to listen to this, as the link won’t be available for much longer..Sorry.)
