The Who drummer gets blue plaque

The Who played at the Marquee Club in London a total of 29 times

The Who drummer Keith Moon is to be honoured with a blue plaque at the site of the band's first gig.

The plaque will be unveiled by his former bandmates Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend at the location of the Marquee Club on Wardour Street, London.

Moon, whose wild drumming and wilder lifestyle became legendary, died of an accidental drug overdose in 1978.

The ceremony will be held on 8 March after a campaign by The Who fans Gary and Melissa Hurley.

Mrs Hurley said: "We were friends with Keith Moon and we felt he was a phenomenal character and a most wonderful drummer and he really deserved it.

"He has been such an influence on rock music as a whole."

'Wrong time'

The Who made their live debut at the Marquee Club, at 90 Wardour Street, on 24 November 1964, and went on to play at the venue 29 times.

The plaque has been organised by the Heritage Foundation after a request by Mr and Mrs Hurley was turned down by English Heritage.

An English Heritage spokesperson said they decided not to erect an honour because "more time needs to elapse to judge his contribution more fully".

"It's probably not appropriate [to award a plaque] at this stage while so many of his contemporaries are still making a contribution to the music industry," she said.