Hope I die before I become a tourist attraction (Keith Moon and the Olympics)
The hot story floating around this weekend? Olympic organizers have invited Who drummer Keith Moon to play in the Olympics.
The 2012 Olympics.
This could be a problem, according to the Who’s manager Bill Curbishley:
‘I emailed back saying Keith now resides in Golders Green crematorium, having lived up to the Who’s anthemic line ‘I hope I die before I get old’,’ said Curbishley.
‘If they have a around table, some glasses and candles, we might contact him.’
But Julian Shea’s Metro article that discusses the Moon invitation contains a picture that is even more shocking in its own way. The picture is of a historical plaque dedicated to Moon.
Yes, a historical plaque. It reads as follows:
City of Westminster
Keith Moon
1946-1978
Legendary Rock Drummer
With “The Who”
Performed Here At
The Site of The
Marquee Club
In the 1960s
The Heritage Foundation
However, it’s significant to note that the plaque was actually spearheaded by the City of Westminster rather than by English Heritage, who normally does such things. (The Heritage Foundation, not to be confused with the U.S. think tank, is a separate organization from English Heritage.)
English Heritage’s reason for declining to honor Moon? While Moon had been dead for 20 years (the requisite time before a plaque can be bestowed), there was a little issue:
“Moon died aged only 32, and many of his contemporaries, including other members of The Who such as Pete Townshend, are still living. Further time should be allowed to pass so he can be considered alongside his contemporaries.”
Of course, there would be no problem if Townshend and Daltrey had died before they got old. Then everyone could be honored.
tymshft 