the who

[HowardKennitby]

Just been listening to some on Youtube. In several clips Keith Moon is wearing headphones. I am not aware of any other drummer doing this. What would be the reason?

thanks

Howie

[snags]

''According to Townsend, Moon wore headphones so he could follow the pre-recorded synth tracks.''

[MarkRae]

> I am not aware of any other drummer doing this.

It was very common in the 70s. The drummer needed to keep time or the whole thing risked falling to pieces, so very often they wore headphones which provided a better mix from the desk than they could get from monitoring wedges...

[rojash]

Many drummers wore (and still wear) ear-protectors or combined ear-protector/headphones.
Like this http://www.gear4music...ummers-Headphones/COE

[andy-hughes]

In-ear monitors are very common for drummers now, they usually hear either a click track (a metronome) to keep them in time if they need to follow specific lighting and effects cues, or a selected mix of the band's sound for the same reason.

In-ears are far less obvious than headphones - times move on of course - and they simultaniously block out all other external noise. Most drummers have them custom made for ther own ears, but youhave to have considerablt trust in the mintor engineer because a balst of sonic feedback could cause instant and irreperable hearing damage.

[andy-hughes]

Additional info. - Carl Palmer used to wear headphones when the band played Abaddon's Bolero on stage because he had to keep a metronomic beat while the other band members built an increasing loud and complex soundscape on top of the beat. Because Palmer's correct beat was so essential, but required no skill input from him. he found that the length of the piece and the repetition became too tedious, and the Abbadon was abandoned.

[con-amca]

Do you think they might have been ear muffs? Perhaps he didn't like the noise (!)

[andy-hughes]

Oi! Carl is a friend of mine, and ELP are one of my favourite bands, and it's too hot to raise my voice, so LEAVE IT!!!

(Hope that's done the trick! LOL!)

[Zeuhl]

Did Carl have the revolving podium so he could also avoid seeing the other two? :-)

[andy-hughes]

Have got to come down there ... ?