Latest news with #KeithMoon
Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
‘We want people to feel like they're trespassing': Inside the V&A's latest venture
From the outside, it's a big-box building in the former Olympic Park. Inside, it is something else entirely: an enormous, kaleidoscopic cabinet of wonders, crossed with an Amazon warehouse. V&A East Storehouse in Stratford is the new home for the national collection of prized clutter. Tier upon tier of shelving groaning with objects seemingly in no particular order, from enormous antique armoires to couture gowns to a child's rocking horse to Keith Moon's drum kit. A week before opening, over three floors ascending to the roof and a fourth working floor beneath a glass mezzanine, museum workers scuttle around carrying boxes and wrestling with wrapping materials. It looks like a Richard Scarry illustration come to life. When Storehouse opens this Saturday the public will be free to wander around via glass walkways. Staff will go about their duties in full view. And anyone can get closer to the collection via an online Order an Object service. This place holds 250,000 objects, 350,000 books and 1,000 special archives. Make an appointment to view up to five items, seven days a week, 363 days a year, for free. 'It's our workshop, it's where we safeguard everything, and it's a deliberately public space,' says Tim Reeve, the deputy director of the V&A who is leading the project. 'You don't even need a membership card.' It is, he says, a museum turned inside out. 'We wanted people to feel like they're trespassing. Am I allowed here? That feeling of joy, seeing behind the curtain….' The 16,000 square-metre building is a retrofit of the former London 2012 Olympics media centre and the work of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, US architects of the smash-hit High Line public park in Manhattan. 'Rather than try to organise the V&A collection into taxonomies, we thought we would lean into the delirium of it,' says Elizabeth Diller, the architect behind the transformation. She cites the cabinet of curiosities as the model, a term first coined in Renaissance Europe to describe a private collection of treasures and a forerunner to the museum, and which these days refers to a hotchpotch of collected artefacts. Since the V&A's 1852 founding as the Museum of Manufactures, Prince Albert's pet project, its collections have grown to 'span over 5,000 years of human creativity' – and will keep growing. It's one of the world's biggest museums of decorative arts and design, custodian of everything from a 3,000-year-old Shang Dynasty jade ceremonial blade to David Bowie's costumes and ephemera (his archives will be accessible from September via a dedicated study room). Besides South Kensington, which displays 60,000 objects and draws three million visitors a year, more V&A outposts have arrived in recent decades, including V&A Dundee and a refreshed Young V&A (formerly the Museum of Childhood). View this post on Instagram A post shared by V&A East (@vam_east) Still there was not enough space. Government plans to sell the overflowing Blythe House, the V&A's former shared storage facility in west London, were announced in 2015 after which DCMS gave the V&A £63m towards a new one. More money was raised through private philanthropy. The storehouse may also help counter another problem: transparency. Museums are under pressure to reveal what they keep stashed away amid rows about restitution. By letting the public behind the scenes to see how the V&A protects, stores and catalogues objects, it makes itself less open to criticism. Visitors are not entirely abandoned to the packing cases: there are rebuilt architectural fragments to explore, bite-sized curated displays and suggested tour routes. Order an Object opened on May 12 and curators are fielding requests from researchers, students, designers, entrepreneurs and people who simply enjoy looking at beautiful things. What, I ask, is the most-requested item to date? 'A Balenciaga gown,' says Director of Collections Kate Parsons. 'We're expecting its visitors may be fashion students, but we won't know until they come.' What I ordered at the V&A Storehouse Designer boots These wet-look knee-length boots were made by the Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto in 1971. This is no ordinary footwear: the boots were part of Yamamoto's 'Kansai in London' collection, which brought Japanese avant-garde design to the UK, wowed Bowie and Elton John and changed the direction of fashion for the new decade. Parsons takes the boots out of their box and allows me to handle them. They are tiny and cut delicately, the heels and calves shaped with precision. Close up, with their three-inch platform soles wrapped in electric-blue satin, their visual impact is much clearer. The boots borrow from ancient Japanese design but they are also futuristic, space-age artefacts. They would still look outrageous today. An ancient Egyptian tapestry This tapestry was hand-woven in Egypt in AD 300-600. Parsons removes its protective sheath and lays it on the table but it is too fragile to touch. At its centre is a woven vignette of a horseman in battle with another figure, surrounded by horned beasts. Around them are faint images of women with children. The legends the fragment depicts are lost to time but up close, its faded images of ancient human struggles and triumphs are extremely moving. A bass viol The V&A has a vast collection of musical instruments, so at random I choose a bass viol, made between 1648 and 1675 by the Oxford-based luthier John Baker, according to an inked label. Again it is too fragile to touch, but I peer closely at its highly polished sycamore body, its four strings knotted by human hands, its finger-worn ebony fret. According to the catalogue, the viol would have formed part of an ensemble of differently pitched viols known as a 'consort'. A Vivienne Westwood couture corset Part of the British designer's 'Cut, Slash and Pull' collection of 1990. I, too, once owned a Westwood corset (albeit from her cheaper ready-to-wear collection, black and gold with painted cherubs cavorting on the bodice), but I lent it to an acquaintance and it was never returned. Now cult items, these corsets sell for thousands of pounds. I'm struck by the ivory silk garment's diminutive size. Though it is labelled a 12, as was mine, it looks as if it would fit an actual 12-year-old. And while the corset is exquisitely cut, it was clearly worn a lot in the hedonistic 1990s – the silk is sweat-stained and its former owner's hairs are still caught in the zip. A transistor radio Arguably a proto-iPhone in that it was an early portable mass-media device. Nearly everyone had one in the 1970s, including me as a child. They sounded terrible, but they represented excitement: a broadcast from the exciting world of pop music right under my pillow. By the 1980s transistors were ousted by Sony Walkmans. I don't think I've seen one in 40 years. The V&A owns a pocket-sized Solid-state transistor manufactured by Sharp in 1970. It's a beautifully simple design, with its wheeled dials and Made in Malaysia label: all give me a Proustian rush. I'm struck by the density of its red casing, heavy and opaque, unlike modern plastics. Most Proustian of all are its vinyl case and wrist strap – perfect for dangling from a bike's handlebars. V&A East Storehouse, 2 Parkes Street, London E20, is open from May 31;
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
IN CAS YOU MISSED IT: The Who hint they are about to retire
The iconic British rock band first formed in 1964 with singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon and have been making music ever since. Daltrey and Townshend are the surviving two members of the group, and this week announced The Song Is Over: The North American Farewell Tour - which they have now highlighted could be their last ever. Daltrey told The Sun, "I don't want to say that there won't be (more), but equally I'm not confident in saying there will be. Let's see if we survive this one.".
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
The Who hint they are about to retire
The iconic British rock band first formed in 1964 with singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon and have been making music ever since. Daltrey and Townshend are the surviving two members of the group, and this week announced The Song Is Over: The North American Farewell Tour - which they have now highlighted could be their last ever. Daltrey told The Sun, "I don't want to say that there won't be (more), but equally I'm not confident in saying there will be. Let's see if we survive this one.".
Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Led Zeppelin fans surprised to discover origins behind band name
Long before Led Zeppelin became music legends, they were simply a band on the hunt for the perfect name. And fans have been shocked to discover the roots of the group's iconic title. The journey towards the band's name began with guitarist Jimmy Page. Back in 1966, Jimmy stepped into a group called The Yardbirds as a replacement for bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, but it wasn't long before he took the role of lead guitarist. After many changes to the group's line-up, Jimmy was the last man standing when The Yardbirds disbanded in 1968. Obliged to play out the remaining gigs, he decided to get a new band together. Jimmy first brought in vocalist Robert Plant, who then recommended drummer John Bonham. Bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones was the last to get on board, after learning of the opportunity from his wife, who'd spotted it in the newspaper, reports the Mirror US. They hit the road in Scandinavia as The New Yardbirds, oblivious to the trouble this name would drop them into. Chris Dreja, an ex-Yardbirds member, sent a cease-and-desist their way, insisting the old name was only meant for the concluding tour dates of the original band. A new moniker for the band was required, and they needed it quick. And their now legendary name would come from a conversation occurred years prior. Jimmy had once mused about starting a supergroup with Jeff Beck, Keith Moon, and John Entwistle. Jimmy recalls during those chats, Keith quipped such a band would "go down like a lead balloon". In a chat with the Academy of Achievement back in 2017, Jimmy said: "It was a name that Keith Moon had mentioned back then. He was talking, 'Wouldn't it be fun to have a band called Led Zeppelin?' And I asked him if we could use the name because I was gonna be in this band Led Zeppelin with Keith Moon, so was Jeff Beck." As he was brainstorming names for his new band in 1968, Jimmy remembered that previous suggestion. However, rather than going with 'lead balloon', they aimed for something more imposing. The spelling of 'lead' was tweaked to avoid mispronunciation by American fans as 'leed', and 'balloon' was switched out for 'zeppelin'. Before making their debut as Led Zeppelin, the group took a cautious step. During the recording sessions of their inaugural album in late 1968, tapes were labelled 'New Yardbirds' to maintain secrecy about the group's new name. Jimmy said: "Even on the first recordings, it said 'New Yardbirds' on the box because I didn't want anybody to know what the name of the band was until we really officially unveiled it." By the end of 1968, the band emerged into the music world as Led Zeppelin. Just months later, their first self-titled album hit the record stores, and Led Zeppelin's ground-breaking merge of blues, rock and state-of-the-art production took 1969 by storm. But the true story remains a bit of a mystery. Some have said John Entwistle coined the term "lead balloon" rather than Keith Moon, while others reckon it was Chris Dreja's legal warning that really sparked the change. Yet, it's Jimmy Page's account that often hits the headlines, as he unwaveringly attributes the inspiration to Keith Moon – a story the legendary guitarist supports to this day.
Irish Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Led Zeppelin got their name from a rock legend from another iconic band
Before they became rock icons and cemented their status in music history, Led Zeppelin were just four musicians searching for a band name. The story begins with Jimmy Page. Back in 1966, he stepped into The Yardbirds as a replacement for bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, swiftly transitioning to lead guitar duties. However, after some turbulent line-up changes Jimmy found himself the sole remaining member as The Yardbirds disbanded by 1968. Obliged to perform some remaining gigs, he quickly got to work putting together a fresh group. He first brought on board vocalist Robert Plant, who then recommended drummer John Bonham. John Paul Jones, adept at bass and keys, completed the quartet after learning about the project from his wife, who'd spotted an ad in a newspaper, reports the Mirror US. They briefly toured Scandinavia using the moniker 'The New Yardbirds' to meet previous obligations - however, the usage of that title was short-lived. Former Yardbirds mate Chris Dreja apparently served up a cease-and-desist notice, saying the original name was sanctioned solely for finishing up the tour dates. A swiftly needed alternative name would come from an unlikely anecdote. Jimmy had once considered forming a 'supergroup' with Jeff Beck, Keith Moon, and John Entwistle. During discussions, Jimmy remembered, legendary drummer Keith joked such a band would "go down like a lead balloon". In a chat with the Academy of Achievement in 2017, Jimmy said: "It was a name that Keith Moon had mentioned back then. He was talking, 'Wouldn't it be fun to have a band called Led Zeppelin?' And I asked him if we could use the name because I was gonna be in this band Led Zeppelin with Keith Moon, so was Jeff Beck." When the time came to christen his new band in 1968, Jimmy recalled the earlier conversation. Dropping the 'a' from 'lead' to avoid mispronunciation by American fans as 'leed', and swapping 'balloon' for 'zeppelin', Led Zeppelin was born. Before fully committing to their legendary identity, Led Zeppelin took a discreet intermediate step. As they laid down tracks for their debut album in late 1968, they covertly labelled the tapes 'New Yardbirds' to conceal their actual name for a little while longer. Jimmy said: "Even on the first recordings, it said 'New Yardbirds' on the box because I didn't want anybody to know what the name of the band was until we really officially unveiled it." By the end of 1968, they emerged triumphantly as Led Zeppelin. Just months later, their seminal first album hit record store shelves, with the 1969 record astonishing listeners with its fusion of blues, hard rock, and cutting-edge production techniques. Clearly, the tale of how the iconic name came about has its variations. There are some who insist it was John Entwistle, not Keith Moon, who made the "lead balloon" remark, while another camp credits Chris Dreja's legal warning as the true impetus for the switch. Nevertheless, Jimmy Page has always attributed the inspiration for the band's name to Keith Moon — and that's the account the legendary guitarist firmly upholds.
