Today in 1979, out came the classic rock movie ‘Quadrophenia’, titled after based on the classic WHO album out in 1973, and introducing an actor named Sting in t role of ‘Ace Face’ (fast-forward to 1:34)
In the 90′s, The Who revived Quadrophenia and hired, on drums, Ringo’s boy Zak Starkey,who Peter Townshend and Roger Daltrey have said was the best match, on drums, for the band since the death of Keith Moon.
And just yesterday, September 13th, Zak Starkey turned 47, so it got me thinking about his incredible playing and the influence Moon had on him.
Ringo’s son was just eight, when he began taking a serious interest in music, and by the time he turned ten, he starting teach himself to play drums. Dad gave him just one lesson, but as the story goes, discouraged Zak from a life in the music biz, hoping he’d become a lawyer or doctor.
Who drummer Keith Moon was a close friend of Ringo’s and Zak Starkey’s God Father and while they wouldn’t sit together at the drum kit, Moon did discussed drumming with Starkey, and gave the boy his first auction for twelve thousand pounds. By the age of twelve Starkey was already performing in pubs and was later a member of a garage band called the Next.
Beyond playing with Oasis, it was with The Who, that most people got to witness Zak’s incredible Moon-like prowess in concert ….