Ian Snowball - Keith Moon: There is No Substitute

KEITH MOON

(23.08.1946 07.09.1978)

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE

The words on Keiths plaque at Golders Green Crematorium

Retarded artistically and idiotic in other respects.

Keiths school report from autumn 1959

My mum often described Keith as being too big for this world, but while he was here he loved to get your attention! I feel he would be glad of a book that keeps him alive in our hearts and minds. Many thanks.

Amanda De Wolf, May 2015

CAN YOU SEE THE REAL ME?

IAN SNOWBALL
AUTHOR

Quite simply, I loved doing this book on Keith Moon, possibly more so than any other book that I have written or been involved with. Within weeks of coming up with the idea I had linked in with the Artist Legacy Group who look after Moons estate and we had agreed to compile the book together. Things moved quickly and before I knew it I was sitting down on a warm summers day with Kenney Jones on the terrace of his Hurtswood Polo Club at Ewhurst in Surrey. We spent over two hours chatting about Keith Moon, drumming, rocknroll and the sixties. We were both in our element. I appreciated the fact that Kenney didnt rush me or the interview. I truly believe he enjoyed sharing his thoughts and feelings about his old friend Keith Moon with me; but then why shouldnt he?

I spent the remainder of the summer of 2013 conducting interviews and piecing together my research. During that time I was fortunate to speak to some of the members of bands that have meant so much to me: Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds, Mick Avory of The Kinks, Don Powell of Slade, Rick Buckler of The Jam and Jack Bruce. Others to whom we owe a huge debt include Pete Townshend, Clem Burke, Mandy De Wolf, Paul De Wolf, Henry Root, Kelly Vallon and all the contributors in text and photographs, Marc Starke, Ashley and Scott Austin at ALG, Chris Charlesworth and the Omnibus team, my girlfriend Loz, my daughter Josie, Rick Buckler and David Lees at SME Protect Insurance Brokers.

I needed a foreword and only one name came to mind. I spoke to Clem Burke of Blondie whom everyone knows is a massive Moon fan, and he agreed to write it. And then one morning, after having met with Chris Charlesworth of Omnibus Press the previous day, I woke up to an email from Pete Townshend. His especially helpful PA Nicola Joss and I had been in contact and she helped to get Pete on board. (I also learned that Richard Barnes had a hand in it.) So then we had the introduction. As I read through Petes words I honestly felt quite moved and so very pleased. It was then I realised that we had pulled it off. With a lot of help from a lot of Moons friends, fans and peers, we had produced a fitting tribute book to Keith Moon. I spent that day grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Ian Snowball, May 2015

ASHLEY AUSTIN THE ESTATE OF KEITH MOON

Keith Moon had an insatiable appetite for life; tales of his excess and hilarious antics are now deeply woven into the fabric of rocknroll history. However, the purpose of this book is not to reiterate the sensational stories that have been told countless times over the years, although the majority of them are true! When author Ian Snowball first reached out to us, we were delighted to find that he shared in our desire to explore the lighter side of the Moonthe man, the friend, the incendiary drummer.

Initially this book was going to contain reflections and accounts from those who knew him best; thankfully, the idea of allowing fans to submit their stories, photos and artwork was openly received by our publisher. What transpired from our call to action across Keiths social media profiles was a flood of personal memories and memorabilia from fans all over the world who have either spent time with or been inspired by him in one way or another.

Stories like these are the reason I do what I do. Keith Moons contribution to pop culture is unparalleled, and what an honour it is to be entrusted to help preserve his legacy.

Thank you to all of Keiths peers, friends and fans who contributed their personal stories and photographs to this book. A very special thanks to Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Bill Curbishley and Robert Rosenberg for their unyielding commitment to keeping Keiths memory alive, and for their continued support of the work we at Artist Legacy Group are doing on Keiths behalf.