The following was originally published in the July 2007 issue of the Uncommon Sense.

The 40th Anniversary of Keith Moon's Infamous Birthday Party

Posted December 23, 2007

August 23 marks the 40th Anniversary of one of the most significant events in Flint music history, although it was not widely reported at that time. It began with a matinee rock concert at Atwood Stadium headlined by Herman's Hermits with opening acts The Blues Magoos and, more significantly, The Who. The concert date, August 23, 1967 also marked Who drummer Keith Moon's 21st birthday.

The Who's first hit, "I Can't Explain," was first played in the U.S. in Flint on WTAC (now WSNL) and WTRX on December of 1964 and became a big local hit, while just cracking the national charts at #97 in early 1965. The local success of this and subsequent Who records led to Flint becoming a tour stop for The Who. WTAC's Peter C. Cavanaugh recalled the events of that afternoon and evening in his book Local DJ. After The Blues Magoos finished their 30 minute set with their big hit "We Ain't Got Nothin' Yet," The Who came on after setting up for 20 minutes.

The Who literally exploded on the Atwood Stadium platform with their eardrum shattering set with literally flaming guitar playing with the guitar set on fire and their instrument smashing finale which left the stage completely destroyed as it was when they performed the month before at the Monterey Pop Festival. The headliner, Herman's Hermits, were aghast at having to sing an old British music hall song which was a #1 American hit for them called "I'm Henery The Eighth, I Am" after that destructive performance? Still pumped up after the show, The Who trashed what was left of their dressing room and Keith Moon kicked a field goal with a wastebasket from fifty feet away. A national audience would see a similarly explosive show a month later when The Who performed on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on CBS Television.

After the show, a birthday party for Keith was held at the Holiday Inn on Bristol Road near Bishop Airport. Decca Records made the arrangements for the party at the inn's largest conference room which included a huge birthday cake, provided by Premier Drums, with a half-naked young woman popping out of the cake. The bar was open and everyone got intoxicated. A food fight developed involving pieces of the cake.

At this point, there are many interpretations of what happened at the Holiday Inn. The inn's manager complained about the noise. Fire extinguishers were set off with the foam sprayed on guests' cars ruining the car finishes. A piano was reduced to kindling. Keith broke a tooth when he tripped on a piece of cake while trying to run away from a sheriff's deputy. The carpeting needed replacing.

What the stories about the event do not agree on is whether or not Keith drove a luxury car into the Holiday Inn pool. Author Tony Fletcher, in his biography of Keith Moon, debunks the myth that Keith drove a Rolls-Royce into the pool. No one in Flint would believe that claim anyway. This writer was convinced that it was a Lincoln Continental as Keith himself stated. Peter C. Cavanaugh wrote that it was a Cadillac. Whatever the case, the total bill, including damages incurred was $24,000. It was rumored that Decca Records purchased the damp Cadillac from its irate owner.

Depending on which story you believe, either Genesee County Sheriff Thomas Bell or one of Herman's Hermits sent Keith to a local dentist who had to be awakened to repair his tooth before Keith was sent to the county jail to spend the night. The story goes that Keith was so drunk that no novocaine was needed. A charter plane had to be brought in to take Keith to the next tour stop in Philadelphia. While taking him to the plane, Sheriff Bell told Keith "Son, don't ever dock in Flint, Michigan, again." It was boasted that the group was banned from all Holiday Inns world wide. The ban against The Who was ceremonious lifted by Holiday Inn during a 1999 VH-1 special about Keith Moon's 21st birthday party.

Even with The Who's and Herman's Hermits' off stage performance at the Holiday Inn outdoing the on-stage performance at Atwood Stadium, neither performance was reported in The Flint Journal at that time.

In 1985, the Holiday Inn at 2207 West Bristol Road was sold and converted into a Days Inn. The Holiday Inn neon sign was in place until the conversion. The pool is still there. Most recently, the two-story west building in the complex, which was the Airport Inn, was completely renovated and became a Rodeway Inn at 2215 West Bristol Road. Those who wish to check out that Days Inn should know that < hotels.com > gave it just 1½ stars. Guest comments on < tripadvisor.com > were not kind to the Days Inn location as well. The Rodeway Inn location is too new to be reviewed on either web site.

No matter how the events which took place on Keith Moon's 21st birthday are interpreted, it is agreed upon that the birthday party cemented his reputation as a hotel wrecker. Keith Moon died on September 7, 1978 of a drug overdose at age 32. His ashes are at the Golders Green Crematorium in London, England. Videos of The Who from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour can be found on YouTube.