Keith Moon was one of rock’s greatest drummers, and a major part of the success The Who enjoyed as a live band. One night in 1973, Keith passed out, twice, during a concert in San Francisco. The second time, it was clear Keith could not carry on.
Pete Townsend steps up to the microphone, and asks “can anyone play the drums?” 19-year-old Scot Halpin makes his way to the stage. There’s some vetting by promoter, Bill Graham, and then Scot takes a seat behind Keith Moon’s massive drum kit. He played three songs, and did very well – Smokestack Lightning, and Spoonful, both Howling Wolf songs, and a Who original, Naked Eye.
Scot took a bow with the band, and became an enduring part of their mythology. When Scot died, The Who paid tribute to him on their website.
There’s quite a history of fans being asked to join bands on stage or in a studio. Tune in for stories of fans getting up to perform with U2, Michael Buble, Coldplay, and more. Like the tale of two Beatles fans outside Abbey Road studios one night who were invited inside to sing harmonies on an early version of Across The Universe.
