MovieChat Forums > The Who : The Kids Are Alright (1979) Discussion > Keith Moon on Smothers Brothers show

Keith Moon on Smothers Brothers show


Did anyone notice when The Who was playing My Generation on the Smothers Brothers show, that their playing and movents didn't go with the sound. Like when Keith was sopposed to hit his sticked together, his movement was off. Did they record the sound before filming or is the film and sound un sacronized?

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They play to a backing tape. That was just the way it was done usually on tv shows in the US.
Keith Moon is a fantastic drummer, but stinks at miming.

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For that number, they used backing tracks, just as they did on many other early performances. They were afraid the group would get too "carried away" if they played for real. That's why Keith is hitting the drums so strangely (like he's poking them.) The other members could easily pantomime, but since Keith never played anything the same, twice...well...yeah.

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Townshend is also way off on his guitar near the end, its not really a windmill, but he begins a strum (I guess you'd call it) with his arm way up and is very late.

You just have to be resigned-
You're crashing by design

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They did that on purpose. Keith Moon was very obvious, he stood up during a part where there was a fill on the track (if my memory serves correctly). I thought it was hilarious.

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Do you mean to say they were mocking the use of the recording?

I think Moon looks like he just doesn't care, but it seems Townshend is tyring but is just off at the point I mentioned. Entwhistle seems very much in sync despite the complexity of the bass guitar solos.

You just have to be resigned-
You're crashing by design

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It was Keith's style. Seen the Substitute 'promo'? (I won't say video, not in 1966). He is well off with the miming, and adds to the charm. I love it. Keith was a showman.

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Yeah, the Join Together 'video' is kind of interesting too. Not too worried about the miming either.

You just have to be resigned-
You're crashing by design

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in Keith Moon's biography DEAR BOY the writer claims Keith did it deliberately cos he hated miming.

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Yeh, i read that too; he did it just to make the whole 'miming' thing look silly lol

- Screws fall out all the time, the worlds' an imperfect place-

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The whole idea of appearing on television to mime to pre-recorded music bugs me. I know shows like Top of the Pops had miming too. I'll always prefer live music!

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Bands making fun of miming wasn't unusual on 1960's television.

They knew the audience knew is was all fake, so some had more fun with it than others.

Many bands played Live early on, but the Miming seems to become common by the late 1960s.

It's extremely obvious when you hear instruments -- or back-up vocals -- that aren't even on stage.



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They always made fun of the lip synching they were forced to do. Watch an early video of the song "The Kids are Alright". They start laughing and goofing off during the song when they are supposed to be playing!

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Watch the Police in some of their early tv show videos. Sting is actually singing to the microphone stand without the microphone in it! :)

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The vocals were the only live part

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I honestly he did it so off on purpose and so very lightly like he was just tapping the sets because for one, he hated miming and goofed around instead, and also because he was probably afraid of setting off the explosives only he knew were in the drum sets already. LOL.

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