Dear Boy is the best-selling biography of Keith Moon, rock’s greatest drummer and wildest character. Hailed by critics in both the UK and US as a one of the greatest rock stories ever told, it traces with deadly accuracy Moon's remarkable journey from his working-class Northwest London childhood, through the Who's glory years to the California high-life and a sad, premature death.
In researching a life now distorted by myths of debauchery and comic anarchy, author Tony Fletcher interviewed over 120 of Moon’s friends, family and associates. The result is a searingly personal portrait of a totally incorrigible yet uniquely generous boy who never grew up, and who changed the lives of all who knew him.
In this astonishing biography, Tony Fletcher questions the myths, avoids the time-honoured anecdotes and talks afresh to those who where closest to Moon, including Kim, his wife of eight years, Linda, his sister, and Annette Walter-Lax, his main girlfriend during his final years. Also interviewed are Oliver Reed, Larry Hagman, David Putnam, Alice Cooper, Dave Edmunds, Jeff Beck, John Entwistle and many others who worked and partied with Moon. Fletcher reveals for the first time the truth behind the 'famous' stunts that never occurred – and the more outrageous ones that did! He also uncovers extraordinary details about Moon's outrageous extravagance which was financed by The Who's American success.
This most recent edition of Dear Boy includes a newly-written afterword that considers Moon's lasting legacy, the death of John Entwistle and the Who's ongoing career in the new millennium.
At over 300,00 words long Dear Boy is an acclaimed benchmark in rock biography, with over 200,000 copies now sold in various editions throughout the world.
Illustrated with many photos from personal and Who archives.
Press reviews
“Top flight airport reading… a resounding success…” – New Musical Express
“Extraordinarily thorough…”* – The Times
“Explosive and entertaining…” – Vanity Fair
“Fletcher has done the job with clear-eyed affection for his subject… a fans’s insight tempered with journalistic distance.” – Billboard
“Horrific and terrific reading…” – Q Magazine
“Well researched… an intelligent bid to present the complete works… warts and all…” – Mojo
“Richly anecdotal… a terrific read.” – People Magazine
“One of the best rock books of this or any other year…” – Hot Press
Review
'Horrific and terrific reading' Q 'As his biographer, Tony Fletcher observes, Keith Moon, legendary drummer with The Who was one of the most flamboyant drummers in rock. Binging on drink and drugs, famously driving his lilac rolls royce into a swimming poo, Moon the Loon was an exploding time-bomb. SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
About the Author
Tony Fletcher has written books on R.E.M and Echo and the Bunnymen and has contributed to magazines, newspapers and television shows all over the world and has worked extensively as a DJ and A&R consultant.
Description:
Dear Boy is the best-selling biography of Keith Moon, rock’s greatest drummer and wildest character. Hailed by critics in both the UK and US as a one of the greatest rock stories ever told, it traces with deadly accuracy Moon's remarkable journey from his working-class Northwest London childhood, through the Who's glory years to the California high-life and a sad, premature death.
In researching a life now distorted by myths of debauchery and comic anarchy, author Tony Fletcher interviewed over 120 of Moon’s friends, family and associates. The result is a searingly personal portrait of a totally incorrigible yet uniquely generous boy who never grew up, and who changed the lives of all who knew him.
In this astonishing biography, Tony Fletcher questions the myths, avoids the time-honoured anecdotes and talks afresh to those who where closest to Moon, including Kim, his wife of eight years, Linda, his sister, and Annette Walter-Lax, his main girlfriend during his final years. Also interviewed are Oliver Reed, Larry Hagman, David Putnam, Alice Cooper, Dave Edmunds, Jeff Beck, John Entwistle and many others who worked and partied with Moon. Fletcher reveals for the first time the truth behind the 'famous' stunts that never occurred – and the more outrageous ones that did! He also uncovers extraordinary details about Moon's outrageous extravagance which was financed by The Who's American success.
This most recent edition of Dear Boy includes a newly-written afterword that considers Moon's lasting legacy, the death of John Entwistle and the Who's ongoing career in the new millennium.
At over 300,00 words long Dear Boy is an acclaimed benchmark in rock biography, with over 200,000 copies now sold in various editions throughout the world.
Illustrated with many photos from personal and Who archives.
Press reviews
“Top flight airport reading… a resounding success…” – New Musical Express
“Explosive and entertaining…” – Vanity Fair
“Fletcher has done the job with clear-eyed affection for his subject… a fans’s insight tempered with journalistic distance.” – Billboard
“Horrific and terrific reading…” – Q Magazine
“Well researched… an intelligent bid to present the complete works… warts and all…” – Mojo
“Richly anecdotal… a terrific read.” – People Magazine
“One of the best rock books of this or any other year…” – Hot Press
Review
'Horrific and terrific reading' Q 'As his biographer, Tony Fletcher observes, Keith Moon, legendary drummer with The Who was one of the most flamboyant drummers in rock. Binging on drink and drugs, famously driving his lilac rolls royce into a swimming poo, Moon the Loon was an exploding time-bomb. SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
About the Author
Tony Fletcher has written books on R.E.M and Echo and the Bunnymen and has contributed to magazines, newspapers and television shows all over the world and has worked extensively as a DJ and A&R consultant.