Pete praises Keith Moon

Friday, April 27, 2007

Pete Townshend says Keith Moon's wild behaviour made The Who a legendary band. The guitarist admits the late drummer's infamous antics - which included him wrecking numerous hotel rooms and allegedly driving a car, either a Rolls-Royce or Lincoln Continental, into a swimming pool - were responsible for perpetuating the group's hellraising reputation.

Speaking at the launch of his new online musical project 'The Method', Townshend told BANG Showbiz: "Keith would say things like, 'I'll dress as Joseph Goebbels (Nazi Propaganda Minister), someone else can dress as Hitler and we're go to a Jewish restaurant.' It was all just to get on the front page of a newspaper. "I suppose it helped me because it made my music legendary and added to the myth surrounding The Who." Moon died aged just 32 on September 7 1978 after overdosing on Clomethiazole - a prescription drug he was taking to help him stop drinking alcohol.

'The Method' is a computer system created by Townshend, software engineer David Snowdon and mathematician and composer Lawrence Ball. The software allows users to create unique and personal pieces of music by inputting a personal photograph, a sound, the user's voice and a rhythm. 'The Method' launches on May 1 on www.lifehouse-method.com.