Can Anybody Play the Drums? (The Who - Cow Palace 1973)

On November 20, 1973, the Who were opening their Quadrophenia US concert tour at the Cow Palace in Daly City, a suburb just south of San Francisco. Halpin had recently moved to the area and was there with a friend, Mike Danese, using tickets they had bought from a stranger. As big fans of the band, they arrived at the show long before the doors opened to get good seats. The Who opened the show with three of their earlier hits before launching into material from Quadrophenia, playing eleven of the album's 17 songs and then continuing on to other hits. About 70 minutes into the show, drummer Keith Moon, a heavy user of drugs and alcohol, began to falter during "Won't Get Fooled Again", then suddenly slumped over his drum kit, and was helped off by roadies while the others members of the band finished the song as best they could without him. Backstage, Moon was placed in a cold shower by the roadies in an attempt to revive him. Their efforts worked, and an injection of cortisone got him back onstage after an approximately 30-minute delay. Moon having returned, the show continued with "Magic Bus". The percussion of the song's opening verses consisted only of Moon hitting two wooden blocks against one another. However, at the song's conclusion, Moon passed out again, slumping onto his drums. He was carried off again—this time not to return. Guitarist Pete Townshend later said in an interview that Moon had consumed ketamine pills, together with a large volume of brandy. The remaining three band members then played a short jam, before going into "See Me, Feel Me", without drums, with vocalist Roger Daltrey adding a tambourine for percussion. The song received a huge response, and Pete Townshend apologized to the crowd and thanked them for putting up with a three-quarter-strength band, saying "I think it should be us applauding you". Townshend then asked the crowd, "Can anybody play the drums?" He repeated the question, adding, "I need somebody really good!" At this time, Halpin and Danese were at the left edge of the stage, and Danese told the security staff, "He can play!" In truth, Halpin was lacking practice and had not played drums in a year, but Danese attracted the attention of the concert's promoter, Bill Graham. Part of the footage was from The Who's ''Quadrophenia Can You See The Real Me?'' documentary 2012. The rest is from the concert. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the copyright act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a user permitted by copyright statue that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personally use tips the balance in favour of fair use. #thewho #keithmoon

Added 17 Jul 2026