Jungle wallpaper has transformed the kitchen into an ersatz fern grotto. The bedroom is nothing less than rococo. The spirit of Mardi Gras inhabits the game room. But the soul of Malibu's newest $800,000 mansion lies in its bathroom. "I thought it only appropriate to cover the walls with rocks," smiles The Who's millionaire drummer, Keith Moon, 30. "The house does belong to a rock star."
Malibu's middle-aged gentry may be excused for labeling this young Englishman an eccentric. Lifetime subscribers to Sunset magazine cannot conceive of anyone placing a tangerine pool table around the corner from a mirrored King Henry VIII fourposter. Bergère ottomans never should be buffeted by the whizap of a Death-Race Videogame. But when one has money, things bizarre are described, politely, as eclectic. Says Moon: "It's just a quiet place to escape the madness, a little English manor house with modern conveniences."
Big rock musicians have always made big money. The Who's original version of Tommy, released in the pre-inflation year of 1969, grossed over $5 million in twelve months. Rolling Stone magazine's 1976 album of the year, the quadruple platinum Fleetwood Mac record, has earned close to $400,000 for each of the group's five members.
Rock stars do not own Los Angeles, not yet anyway. But they do control some of the choicest real estate in Beverly Hills and Malibu. The rustic Mulholland aerie where Greta Garbo retreated when she wanted to be alone is now occupied by Rock Singer Johnny Rivers. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys holds title to the rambling Spanish colonial house Edgar Rice Burroughs built in Bel Air with profits from Tarzan. Rod Stewart resides with Britt Ekland not far away in a demi-chateau with a formal garden and a warehouse or so of rare French glass. The giants of celluloid are being ousted slowly by kids who make their millions in vinyl. The endangered superstars do not always accept the transition easily. Steve McQueen planted a little forest of protective saplings when he heard that Moon was to be his new neighbor. Moon promptly jumped his motorcycle over the side fence and tore up McQueen's guard trees.
Schmoozing Distance. Malibu's colony is an exclusive enclave, but it is also a casual community of equals. Neil Diamond's beach house, Linda Ronstadt's $325,000 clapboard and the sprawling nine-bedroom house Guitarist Robbie Robertson took over from Carole King are all within schmoozing distance, as are the leased beach mansions of Mick Jagger and Ron Wood.
The exercise of unlimited wealth can be startling when it comes to lifestyles. Los Angeles Architect David Tobin became aware of that form of exuberance two years ago when he undertook a $50,000 remodeling job for Bob Dylan. Says he: "I quickly realized that this guy had so much money that he didn't need to conform to any of the rules binding me." During his two years with Dylan, the $50,000 remodeling grew into a $2.25 million mansion. "I had to keep a straight face when Dylan said he wanted a living room he could ride a horse through," recalls Tobin. "It would have helped a lot to have been a shrink."