Revised Oct. 2, 2021

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January 1974

New music releases: Elvis: A Legendary Performer, Vol. 1 - Elvis Presley; Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell; The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand; "Come & Get Your Love" - Redbone

On the 10th, Pete, John and Keith record backing tracks for "I'm Free" and "Pinball Wizard" for Tommy: The Movie. Pete rejects them because "they came out sounding like a cliché."

The Real Me U.S. 45

On the 12th, "The Real Me" backed with "I'm One" is released as a single in the U.S. The ending is re-edited allowing a non-echoing fadeout. It peaks at #92 in Billboard and #82 in Cash Box.

Also on the 12th, Kenney Jones is brought in as a replacement for an unavailable Keith Moon in a warm-up jam in preparation for the Tommy soundtrack. Pete and John both find themselves delighted to play with a less erratic, more steady drummer.

Dave Marsh reconsiders his pan of Quadrophenia in Creem magazine, but still says the record is not a success.

John and his solo band Rigor Mortis, now having changed their name to John Entwistle's Ox, begin work on his fourth solo album, Mad Dog.

Pete Townshend, Ann-Margret, Keith Moon
Photo: Joe Gafney

For the 30th, Keith's diary notes that Ann-Margret was to begin recording her part as The Mother for Tommy: The Movie on this day.


February 1974

New music releases: Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of the Grateful Dead - Grateful Dead; "Bennie and The Jets" - Elton John; What Once Were Vices Are Now Habits - The Doobie Brothers; "Hooked on a Feeling" - Blue Swede
Melody Maker Tommy news

Ann-Margret, Roger, Pete, John, Billy Nicholls, Jess Roden and Paul Gurvitz record their vocals over backing tracks for the Tommy soundtrack.

John Entwistle carries Keith Moon Paris 1974

On the 9th, The Who take Quadrophenia to Europe beginning at the Palais des Grottes in Cambrai, France supported by the Dutch band Alquin. By now Quadrophenia has been cut down to "The Real Me," "The Punk And The Godfather," "I'm One," "5:15," "Sea And Sand," "Drowned," "Bell Boy," "Dr. Jimmy" and "Love Reign O'er Me." The Parc Des Expositions in Paris show is on the 10th. The venue doors are opened eight hours before the show because of the crushing pressure of the crowd on the glass doors. The venue proves inadequate in another way. Three songs in, The Who blow the electrical transformer. Fifteen minutes pass before power can be restored.











Roger Daltrey Melody Maker 9-2-74

Also on the 9th, Melody Maker prints a new interview with Roger in which he gives details on his fistfight with Pete the previous autumn.

Keith Moon at Roy Harper concert

On Valentine's Day, in the middle of the European tour, Keith Moon flies back to London to play drums at an all-star Roy Harper concert at The Rainbow. Jimmy Page, David Bedford and John Bonham also take part under the band name Intergalactic Elephant Band. According to Harper, when he tells Moon before the show how tired he is, Keith pops open a suitcase full of drugs and prescribes a variety of pills guaranteed to keep him going through the night. One of the songs from the show with Keith on drums is later released on the Roy Harper album Flashes From The Archive Of Oblivion.








The Who at Georges V Hotel 1974

Keith returns to Palais des Expositions, Les Arènes, Poitiers, France for a Who show on the 15th. On the 16th, a reception is organized by Polydor Records in Paris, in the Palace Hotel Georges V, where The Who receive gold discs for Quadrophenia. On the 17th, they play the Palais des Sports in Toulouse, France, Parc des Expositions in Nancy, France on the 22nd and Palais des Sports in Lyon on the 24th. After this show, most of the hated backing tapes for the live Quadrophenia are packed away, never to be used onstage again.













March 1974

New music releases: Get Your Wings - Aerosmith; On the Border - The Eagles; Buddha and The Chocolate Box - Cat Stevens; "Waterloo" - ABBA
Stardust still

On the 1st, Roger becomes the first member of The Who to reach the dread age of 30. On the same day, Keith Moon reports to the set of Stardust where he is playing drummer J.D. Clover. He will also be on call for the movie on the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th.











Meanwhile, Pete oversees another month of recording for the soundtrack to Tommy. Oliver Reed, Paul Nicholas, Arthur Brown, Barry Winch, Alison Dowling and Simon Townshend record their vocal contributions.

On the 2nd, New Musical Express runs a profile on Terry Kennett, the young man who played Jimmy in the Quadrophenia booklet.

Hit Parader May 1974

In Hit Parader, Pete provides details on the mixing of Quadrophenia and why it wasn't released as a quadraphonic album as he had planned.

On the 17th, Keith takes part in a re-creation of a New Musical Express Poll Winner's concert as part of the Stardust movie. It is shot at King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester using The Who's PA.

On the 21st, Keith records an interview with the BBC about his participation in the movie Stardust. It airs on the Film Night program on the 27th.

1974 King Biscuit Who ad

On the 31st, The King Biscuit Flower Hour broadcasts an edited version of The Who's Dec. 4th, 1973 Philadelphia concert in the U.S. and Canada. The broadcast is presented quadraphonically encoded for those with the appropriate equipment listening at home. After the show a sixty-second spot is aired announcing that The Who will perform for the first time at New York's Madison Square Garden that June playing four shows. The ad is the only promotion for these concerts. Tickets for all four shows sell out within fifteen hours.


April 1974

New music releases: Second Helping - Lynyrd Skynyrd; "Band On The Run" - Paul McCartney & Wings; On Stage - Loggins & Messina; "Sideshow" - Blue Magic

On the 1st, Keith Moon and his chauffeur and minder Dougal Butler leave life in England behind and move to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. It is Keith's intent to become a tax exile, as so many of the successful British rockers have done, but he never manages to stay out of England long enough to escape the long arm of Inland Revenue.

Beginning on the 2nd and continuing over the next four days, sync pulses and playback mixdowns are prepared at Ramport, Eel Pie, Goring and CTS Studio, The Music Centre in Wembley for use during filming of Tommy.

Keith Moon Record Plant LA 1974

Meanwhile, Keith records the first version of his cover of The Beach Boys' "Don't Worry Baby" at the Record Plant in Los Angeles with John Sebastian, Mark Volman, Howard Kaylan, Jesse Ed Davis and session drummer Miguel Ferrer. Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is the producer. [information from Tony Fletcher. Melody Maker said Aug. 18, 1974.]

On the 8th, Ken Russell completes the shooting script for Tommy.

McCartney Moon Lennon Apr 1974
Photo: Peter Butler

On the 9th, Keith joins Ringo Starr and Jim Keltner, all playing drums during the recording of "Rock Around The Clock" and "Loop De Loop" for the John Lennon-produced Harry Nilsson album Pussycats. Keith also plays congas on "Mucho Mungo"/"Mt. Elga" and Chinese wood blocks on "All My Life." Paul McCartney drops by for the session and he and Lennon are photographed together for the last time by Dougal.

Eric Clapton Pete Townshend

On the 10th, Pete attends an Eric Clapton comeback party held at The China Garden Restaurant in Soho.









Moon Lennon Santa Monica house
Photo: Peter Butler

On the same day Keith and Dougal move out of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel into a $5000 a month rented beachfront house on the Pacific Coast highway in Santa Monica, sharing it for a time with John Lennon and May Pang.

Pete Townshend at the Roundhouse 1974
Photo: André Csillag

On the 14th, Pete performs live for the first time as a solo act at The Roundhouse in London as part of a charity concert to raise funds to buy a coach for the Camden Square Community. At one point he gets into a shouting match with a heckler. On the same day, Keith and Ringo appear on The Flo And Eddie Show live on KROQ-FM in Pasadena. Keith plays Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and surf music records.













On the 15th, seven days of overdubbing and sound mixing for the Tommy soundtrack at Ramport and CTS begins. The Elton John Band's recording of "Pinball Wizard" is completed.

Son of Dracula poster

On the 19th, Keith leaves his residence at the Santa Monica beachhouse to return to London for the filming of Tommy. On the same day, Ringo's film Count Downe, now retitled Son Of Dracula and featuring a cameo by Keith, premiers in Atlanta.

The filming of Tommy begins on the 22nd. The first scenes are interiors at Harefield Grove, a country estate in Middlesex, and involve Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Robert Powell and Barry Winch. Pete watches on set for changes which would require re-writing of the score.

Ken Russell films Cousin Kevin

On the 24th, filming begins on the "Cousin Kevin" sequence, also at Harefield Grove.
















New Musical Express 27 Apr 1974

On the 27th, Pete reviews over a dozen current singles in New Musical Express including a new single from The Beach Boys, which he calls "mediocre." On the same day, filming of the "Fiddle About" sequence begins.

The 29th sees three more days of filming begin on the "Cousin Kevin" sequence at Harefield Grove.


May 1974

New music releases: His 12 Greatest Hits - Neil Diamond; Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Rick Wakeman; "The Loco-Motion" - Grand Funk; "You Make Me Feel Brand New" - The Stylistics

On the 1st, The Who spend two days of rehearsals at Shepperton Studios for their upcoming film appearances.

74-05 Russell Moon

The 2nd is the second day of filming of the "Uncle Ernie" sequence for the Tommy movie. Meanwhile, Pete spends the first of two days in Ramport Studios trying to coax a vocal performance out of Jack Nicholson who has been cast as the Doctor.















On the 4th, is the final day of the filming of the "Uncle Ernie" sequence. The next day, Keith shows up at Ramport to record his vocal for "Tommy's Holiday Camp." Pete meanwhile is adding further overdubs.

74-05 ownshend Pinball

On the 6th, The Who hold an announced warm-up concert at the New Theatre in Oxford before they make their joint appearance for three days of filming the "Pinball Wizard" sequence with Elton John at the King's Theatre in the Albert Road, Portsmouth. The extras are students from the local Portsmouth Polytechnic. Pete, while smashing his guitar for the cameras, accidentally brains one of the female students, sending her to hospital. Pete later gives her the guitar.

74-05 Clapton Eyesight

On the 13th, three more days of filming begins, this time with Pete and John backing Eric Clapton for the "Eyesight To The Blind" sequence shot at the Royal Marine Church in Eastney. After filming, John and Keith appear on Capital Radio's Your Mother Wouldn't Like It from their studios in Euston Tower, London.

In an article in Film And Filming, Ken Russell says Tommy is the best post-war opera.

On the 16th, two days of filming the "Sally Simpson" sequence begins at Wesley Central Hall in Portsmouth. Director Russell's daughter plays Sally.


74-05-18 Poster

On the 18th, The Who appear as the final act for a day-long concert at Charlton Athletic Football Club. The supporting acts are Lou Reed, Humble Pie, Bad Company, Lindisfarne and Maggie Bell. At least 50,000 people attend. The original plan was for the concert to be filmed by Ken Russell featuring Roger singing "I'm Free" while running around the top of the stadium. Ultimately the concert is only shot by the BBC who broadcast it on a later television special. Four songs from the show are later included on the Maximum R&B video and selections on the View From a Backstage Pass and The Who's Greatest Hits Live CD's. One of those songs is a new arrangement of "My Generation" done as a slow blues.










74-05-18 MM Pete

The same day's issue of Melody Maker has an article on Pete written by Chris Charlesworth in which Chris claims Pete is the member responsible for elevating The Who to superstar status.

On the 21st, John continues work on the Odds and Sods album at Ramport Studios, preparing stereo mixes of the tracks "I'm The Face," "Zoot Suit" and "Here 'Tis" from The High Numbers session of June 1964. Only the first track will make the LP's final cut.

74-05-22 Pete Portsmouth

On the 22nd, The Who perform a formal concert at Portsmouth Guildhall for the students that put up with the filming. Backstage The Who sign the contracts that terminate their management by Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, turning the band over to Roger's personal manager Bill Curbishley. They also sign a deal with Polydor Records to release future Who albums outside the U.S., leaving Lambert & Stamp's Track Records. Pete is drinking heavily and suffers an alcohol-induced blackout about the show and the contract signings.













In an interview in Rolling Stone, Pete says he is excited by his new re-write of Tommy and loves Ken Russell's approach to his work.

On the 23rd, the "Tommy's Holiday Camp" sequence with Keith Moon riding the organ is filmed at Fort Purbrook, Portsmouth.

Allsorts Peppermint

On the 25th, Track Records releases 3 Allsorts LP's (Aniseed, Peppermint and Coconut) featuring various Who tracks. Also on this evening The Who were supposed to perform at Shawfield Stadium in Glasgow but the promoter was unable to get a proper license.

74-05-30 Roger

The 30th is the first day of filming of the "We're Not Gonna Take It" sequence at Harry Pound Scrapyard in Portsmouth.


June 1974

New music releases: Bad Company - Bad Company; Back Home Again - John Denver; Endless Summer - The Beach Boys; "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
UK Quick One Sell Out LP

On the 1st, Track Records releases A Quick One/The Who Sell Out as a low-price double album.

See Me Feel Me shoot

On the 3rd, five days of filming the end of Tommy: The Movie begins at Portsmouth. Roger has all the hair singed off one arm by gas jet flames.

On the 9th, the day before The Who open a four-day set at Madison Square Garden in New York, Henry Edwards blasts The Who in an article in The New York Times. He finds their work from "My Generation" to Quadrophenia to be imbued with violence, is appalled that young people identify with a "basket case" like Tommy, and calls The Who's live performances a "choreographed temper tantrum."



Pete MSG 1974

On the 10th, The Who play the first of four nights at Madison Square Garden. The support band this night and the next is Golden Earring. The first night's show is the only one where The Who performs a live rendition of Keith Moon's "Waspman". Otherwise the band counts it as a disaster with Roger later describing the show as "fucking horrible". Pete will later claim that New York Who fans were yelling for him to "jump, jump, jump!" faking an enthusiasm he no longer felt although front-rowers at these concerts have said it was an unknown person behind them.












Roger Daltrey MSG 1974
Photo: Chuck Pulin

Backstage The Who get into a vicious screaming match arguing about the poor quality of the show. The Who's former manager Kit Lambert, like most everyone else around except Roger quite drunk, starts demanding he be allowed to mix the live P.A. for the rest of the shows. The Who have him taken to his hotel. Pete meanwhile has to stay at the Hotel Pierre that night because Who fans have taken all the extra rooms at the Navarro where The Who are staying.

Keith Moon Pete Townshend MSG 1974

The 11th, 13th and 14th give The Who three more nights to get it right. Pete smashes a Les Paul on the 11th but perhaps he should have saved the aggression for the 13th. On that night Roger's mic malfunctions and he storms off. Pete tries to carry on singing all the parts but eventually gives up and leaves along with John and Keith. The audience gets rowdy and showers the stage with cherry bombs and bottles. Maggie Bell opens that night and Montrose opens the final night as Pete caps off the spotty week by smashing three guitars followed by Keith smashing a fourth.











Who Hop Invitation

After the last night at MSG, most of The Who attends a party thrown by MCA at a roller-skating rink at the Manhattan Center with celebrities Elton John, Bette Midler, Johnny and Edgar Winter, the Beach Boys, and a troupe of circus performers. Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes provide the musical entertainment.

Tommy Pier Fire

Meanwhile, back in England, Ken Russell is filming part of the "Bernie's Holiday Camp" sequence for the Tommy movie at the South Parade Pier in Portsmouth on the 11th. Somehow a fire starts and the pier burns down. Footage of the burning pier makes its way into the final film

On the 13th, Pete is interviewed in The New York Times. He expresses his dissatisfaction in writing solely for The Who.

Pete and Roger return from New York to immediate work on the Tommy movie. On the 16th, Tina Turner is in The Who's Ramport Studios to overdub her vocals for "The Acid Queen."


Go To The Mirror shoot

On the 17th, Roger, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed and Jack Nicholson report to Harefield Grove to shoot the "Go to the Mirror" sequence.














On the 20th, Geoffrey Stokes writes an article in The Village Voice comparing Pete's writing to the writing of novelist Henry James, saying it shows the same "obsession for detail".

Ann-Margret Champagne shoot

Shooting for the "Champagne" and "Smash The Mirror" sequences are held on the 21st, 22nd, 24th, 25th and 26th. Ann-Margret's scene wallowing in foam, chocolate and baked beans has to be postponed at one point after she cuts her hand on shards of the broken television from which the conglomeration emerges.















On the 22nd, Nigel Rogers in New Musical Express votes for Quadrophenia as the all-time best rock album, calling it the "greatest exposition of the rock 'n' roll ethic ever produced".


July 1974

New music releases: Santana's Greatest Hits - Santana; 461 Ocean Boulevard - Eric Clapton; "Pick Up the Pieces" - Average White Band; "I'm Leaving It (All) Up to You" - Donnie and Marie Osmond
Roger Daltrey Tommy ending

On the 1st, the Tommy movie shoot begins four days filming in Keswick in the Lake District, Cumbria.

On the 4th, John completes final mixing and production of Odds and Sods at Nova Sound Studios.

The Link Wray Rumble LP

The Link Wray album The Link Wray Rumble is released with liner notes by Pete.

On the 17th, Odds and Sods receives its final mastering at Apple Studios.







Moon To Act In West End

On the 20th, New Musical Express reports that Keith Moon will star in a play with fellow Tommy movie performer and drinking friend Oliver Reed and that Roger will star in two films, one of which will be a biography of composer Franz Liszt. In the same issue is a long article about teenagers in a British school who put on a performance of Tommy.

On the 23rd, former High Numbers publicist Pete Meaden takes Pete Townshend to see the Steve Gibbons Band perform at Dingwalls, Camden Town, North London.

On the 27th, Pete attends a party thrown by Mick Jagger with guests Rod Stewart, Debbie Reynolds, Bryan Ferry and Mama Cass. Two days later Mama Cass will die of a heart attack in the very same apartment where Keith Moon will die four years later.


August 1974

New music releases: So Far - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Can't Get Enough - Barry White; Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits - Alice Cooper; "Love Me for a Reason" - The Osmonds

Pete decides to accompany Eric Clapton on his comeback concert tour of the United States to provide support for the still shaky musician. That bastion of sobriety, Keith Moon, also tags along. The two join Eric onstage at The Omni in Atlanta on the 1st for performances of "Layla," "Baby Don't You Do It" and "Little Queenie." After the show, Keith's new girlfriend Anette Walter-Lax witnesses her first hotel room destruction as Keith remodels a room at the Omni Hotel.

Eric Clapton Keith Moon 1974
Photo: David Wilson

On the 2nd Pete accompanies Eric at the Greensboro, North Carolina Coliseum for "Willie And The Hand Jive" and "Get Ready". Keith joins them for "Layla," "Badge" and "Little Queenie." Then on the 4th they all appear at the Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida and are joined by Joe Walsh. Clapton, Townshend and Walsh perform "Layla" and "Little Queenie" and Keith comes out to sing "I Can't Explain."

Keith Moon is Going

After this show, Pete returns to London and Keith and Anette go to the Beverly Wilshire as part of Keith's plan to become a tax exile. Although the British press assume that Keith is another tax exile, Keith says the real reason is that all his friends have now moved to California.









Billy Nicholls Love Songs

On the 2nd, Billy Nicholls' LP Love Songs, with an engineering credit for Pete on "Helpless Helpless," is released in the U.K.


Obviously Four Believers

Dave Marsh writes a long ruminative piece on the ten years of The Who for Creem magazine.










Keith Moon Sonic Boom
Photo: Peter Butler

Keith, now back in California, agrees to appear in a UCLA film student's movie for $1,400 in cocaine and a television. He plays a mad professor for a few seconds in the short comedy Sonic Boom. Director Eric Louzil shoots his scenes at the Burbank Court House.














Harry Nilsson Pussy Cats

On the 19th, the Harry Nilsson album Pussy Cats, produced by John Lennon and featuring drumming by Keith on some tracks, is released in the U.S. It peaks at #60. The U.K. edition is released on the 30th but does not chart.

Tommy clears beach

On the 21st, principal photography for Tommy is completed with sequences shot on Hayling Island and Southsea Beach near the Lifeboat Café. Final cost for the movie: $3.5 million.










Keith Moon 28th Birthday Party

On the 23rd, Keith celebrates his 28th birthday at a party at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles. Attending are Rod Stewart, Linda Blair, Linda Lovelace, Brian Wilson (barefoot and wearing a bathrobe) and 1500 others. MCA Records gives Keith the suit Robert Redford wore in the movie The Sting. The Stampeders perform, joined at one point by Keith, Jesse Ed Davis, Harry Nillson, Nikki Barclay and Patti Quatro who perform terrible renditions of "Don't Worry Baby" and "Good Golly Miss Molly" before the hotel management pulls the plug to everyone's relief.







On the 29th, Pete is interviewed by Melvyn Bragg at BBC Television Centre, London. The interview later airs with the television showing of the recent Charlton concert and is used throughout the movie The Kids Are Alright.

On the same day Keith flies back to London for further dubbing work on Tommy.


September 1974

New music releases: Serenade - Neil Diamond; "Kung Fu Fighting" - Carl Douglas; Crime of the Century - Supertramp; Photographs & Memories - Jim Croce
Keith Moon with Woody
Photo: Peter Butler

On the 4th, Keith Moon videotapes two television commercials promoting the forthcoming Odds & Sods LP and his solo single "Don't Worry Baby". MCA executives find them in bad taste and do not use them.

On the 6th, John appears on BBC Radio 1's Roundtable.

Starting on the 13th and until October 7th, John and John Alcock co-produce The Sharks' third album Musical Breakout. The group's label, Island Records, does not like what they hear and pull funding causing the band to fold. The album is never released.

Pete Townshend on NME Sep 1974

On the 21st, Pete writes a track-by-track review of Odds & Sods for New Musical Express. A truncated version of these notes is included with the album.

Pete discusses the songs selected for Odds & Sods with Nicky Horne on Capitol Radio's Your Mother Wouldn't Like It. During the call-in section, John phones to ask Pete what time he's going to arrive at Roger's that Sunday.

On the 26th, Pete is interviewed for the first part of a four-part interview program with The Who for BBC Radio 1.

Don't Worry Baby US ad

On the 28th, Keith's "Don't Worry Baby" backed with "Teenage Idol" is released in the U.S. It gets critically drubbed and hardly sells at all. Keith fires producer Mal Evans as if it were his fault.

On the same day Chris Welch previews Odds & Sods for Melody Maker. "...here, for once, the artists are themselves laying bare the torturous process of their evolution...If you have an archive, then this is an essential item for any Who fan".


October 1974

New music releases: "Killer Queen" - Queen; Souvenirs - Dan Fogelberg; "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" - Barry White; It's Only Rock 'n Roll - The Rolling Stones

At the beginning of the month, fifteen tracks from Keith Moon's solo LP are sent to MCA including the unfinished "Hot Rod Queen," "I Don't Suppose," "Sleeping My Life Away," "Lies" and "Back To Life."

Odds and Sods LP

On the 4th, Odds and Sods is released in Britain and on the 12th in the U.S. The reviewer in Records and Recordings states that only The Beatles could put out an album of outtakes as good as Odds and Sods while Roy Carr in New Musical Express calls Odds and Sods better than most bands' final products and Steve Simels in Stereo Review says Odds and Sods is more satisfying than Quadrophenia. The album reaches #10 in the U.K. and #15 in the U.S. The British version features the song titles on the back in Braille and is the last Who release on former Who managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp's Track Records label.

Pete Townshend on the cover of Radio Times 1974

The 5th is declared to be "Who Day" on the BBC as Radio 1 broadcasts the first of four 20 minute long weekly interviews with each band member called Who's Who and BBC2-TV's shows selections from The Who's 18 May concert at Charlton on 2nd House. In addition, Pete is on this week's cover to the Radio Times. This show also features an interview with Pete conducted by Melvin Bragg that is later used in the movie The Kids Are Alright.

On the 9th, John becomes the second member of The Who to turn 30. On this day he begins two weeks of intermittent recording at Wessex Studios, Highbury New Park, North London for his contribution to the comical concept album Flash Fearless versus the Zorg Women, Parts 5 & 6. Meanwhile John and his solo band The Ox, streamlined to four members, rehearse at Shepperton Studios. Equipment and rehearsals will end up costing John £20,000.

Oliver Reed and Keith Moon as clowns

On the 10th, Keith goes to friend Oliver Reed's estate where they are photographed dressed in clown costumes. It is Reed's intention to go to the polling station at Coldharbour Village dressed as a clown and Keith joins in.

On the 11th, Herbert London of the National Review reviews a large party given in New York by The Who on the occasion of their 10th anniversary.

What's It All About? a U.S. radio single on spiritual themes, issues one with interviews with Roger and Pete.

Zoo World Oct. 24, 1974

On the 24th, Zoo World interviews Keith as he records his solo album.





Stardust Poster

That night, Stardust, the sequel to the movie That'll Be The Day, featuring Keith as drummer J.D. Clover, premiers at the ABC on Shaftesbury Avenue in London. On the 30th, That'll Be The Day has its U.S. premiere at the Beverly Canon Theatre in Beverly Hills, California


November 1974

New music releases: Greatest Hits - Elton John; Heart Like A Wheel - Linda Ronstadt; Sheer Heart Attack - Queen; "Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Odds and Sods silver award

On the 1st, Odds and Sods attains Silver status from the British Phonographic Industry.

John Entwistle 1974 Sunn ad

On the 2nd, Sunn Amps debuts a new ad featuring a John Entwistle testimonial.

In Rolling Stone, John describes the compiling of Odds & Sods and how he came up with the name Led Zeppelin.









On the 8th, Keith hosts In Concert (ABC-TV U.S.) from Los Angeles and performs a drum solo on a Perspex drum kit containing live goldfish.

On the 11th, Roger begins recording his second solo album, Ride A Rock Horse, at Ramport Studios.

Roy Harper Flashes LP

On the 14th, Roy Harper's LP Flashes From The Archives Of Oblivion is released. Side four features the track "Home," a live recording from the Feb. 14, 1974 concert with Keith on drums.

Sweet Desolation Blvd LP

Sweet release their album Desolation Boulevard that, in its U.K. edition, includes a cover of "My Generation".
















Penthouse Dec. 1974

Penthouse magazine prints an interview with Pete conducted by Cameron Crowe. It is mostly about Pete's spiritual beliefs. The 17-year old Crowe is too young to buy the magazine containing the interview.

John Entwistle NME Nov. 1974

In New Musical Express, John talks about his band The Ox, his production of an album by The Sharks, and his playing on the Flash Fearless album.










Love Reel To Real LP

Love releases their album Reel To Real in the U.K. Keith is thanked for his help in the liner notes.


Postcard picture sleeve
French picture sleeve

On the 23rd, a single from Odds and Sods, "Postcard" backed with "Put The Money Down," hits the U.S. charts, ultimately peaking at #64 in Cash Box. It is the first Who single in the U.S. with an Entwistle A-side. France also releases "Postcard" with "I'm The Face" on the B. John does not get the A-side in Japan, however, where "Long Live Rock" replaces "Postcard".






Record World Who special

Record World assembles a special "Salute To The Who" issue edited by John Swenson collecting nearly a decade of magazine articles.

On the 25th, Keith flies back to London for emergency overdubs for the Tommy soundtrack at EMI Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire.

1974 double Who album reissues

On the 30th, MCA releases Magic Bus/My Generation and A Quick One (Happy Jack)/The Who Sell Out as double LP's in the U.S. A Quick One/Sell Out marks the first appearance of "Heatwave" (with terrible sound) in the U.S. and the repackaging reaches #185 on the Billboard charts.

John Leverence writes an article for The Journal Of Popular Culture about how Tommy: The Movie is being sold to different markets by including performers from different areas of the entertainment industry.


December 1974

New music releases: "Some Kind of Wonderful" - Grand Funk; "Lonely This Christmas" - Mud; Stormbringer - Deep Purple; New & Improved - The Spinners
Two Sides Of The Moon Publicity
Photo: JimMcCrary

On the 5th, Keith Moon, his girlfriend Anette and his aide Dougal Butler are photographed for the cover of Keith's forthcoming solo album. The shoot by photographer Jim McCrary takes place at Universal Studios in Hollywood.

Keith assembles a group of celebrities in Los Angeles, including Larry Hagman, to sing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" with each celebrity singing one word only. It is never released.

The Ox Extend Tour

On the 8th, John premiers his solo group The Ox at the City Hall in Newcastle upon Tyne. Only 300 people show up. John and The Ox play only one more U.K. date, appearing at the City Hall in Sheffield on the 17th. A planned date at the Odeon Theatre in Southport on the 13th is cancelled. On the 14th, Chris Charlesworth reports on the band in Melody Maker in an article entitled "Entwistle's £25,000 hobby."














Odds And Sods Gold
Courtesy: whocollection.com

On the 9th, Odds & Sods is certified gold by the RIAA.

Dougal Butler has the first of his major fallings-out with Keith and leaves him in Los Angeles to care for himself. Naturally, Keith fails to do anything of the sort.

After months of grueling work with the movie's editors, Pete finishes all the post-production recording for Tommy: The Movie.


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