The guy's name was Scot Halpin, who passed away only a couple of weeks ago.It was reported as a "Gorilla Tranquilliser" but was probably Ketamine.
What the hell he expected it to do to him is uncertain but he collapsed very early in the Who's set.
I have a report about it in an old drumming magazine (Drums and Drumming)from the late '80's which had an interview with the chap who sat in on drums. The sub, who's name I've long since forgotten, was a teenager at the time (happened in 1975) and went to see The Who with a mate in San Francisco I believe it was.
The Who were only a song or two in when Keith Moon collapsed. An attempt was made to revive him but he collapsed again. All the while this chap and his mate are moving ever closer to the side stage to get a better view when next thing a chap who crossed a barrier and turned out to be The Who's road manager asked no-one in particular "Does anyone here play drums?".
The subs mate collared the sub and shouts "This guy does!!" and before he knew where he was the sub was being briefed backstage by the road crew and being introduced to Townshend, Daltrey and Entwhistle before being shepherded out onto a stage in front of a stadium full of people.
Moon was by now on his way to hospital in an ambulance. The kid on stage instead of him did his best and muddled his way through a curtailed set. By 1989 (when the interview was done) he'd become a bassist and had quit drums some years earlier.
Bookmarks