 Moon 's drumming has been praised by critics . Author Nick <unk> described him as " the greatest drummer in rock , " adding that " he was to the drums what Jimi Hendrix was to the guitar . " Holly George @-@ Warren , editor and author of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame : The First 25 Years , said : " With the death of Keith Moon in 1978 , rock arguably lost its single greatest drummer . " According to Eder , " Moon , with his manic , lunatic side , and his life of excessive drinking , partying , and other indulgences , probably represented the youthful , zany side of rock & roll , as well as its self @-@ destructive side , better than anyone else on the planet . " The New Book of Rock Lists ranked Moon No. 1 on its list of " 50 Greatest Rock ' n ' Roll Drummers , " and he was ranked No. 2 on the 2011 Rolling Stone " Best Drummers of All Time " readers ' poll . In 2016 , the same magazine ranked him No. 2 in their list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time , behind John Bonham . Adam <unk> , editor of Drummer magazine , said that Moon 's performances on Who 's Next and Quadrophenia " represent a perfect balance of technique and passion " and " there 's been no drummer who 's touched his unique slant on rock and rhythm since . " 
