He Played for Eric Clapton —Then Committed the Unthinkable
In a recent episode of Things Visible and Invisible, music journalist and author Joel Selvin sat down to discuss the chilling and tragic story of Jim Gordon. A central figure in the 60s and 70s rock scene, Gordon was an extraordinarily talented drummer who played for music's biggest names before untreated schizophrenia drove him to commit an unthinkable crime. Selvin details this heartbreaking story in his latest book, Drums and Demons: The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon.
Here is a look back at the life, career, and ultimate downfall of one of rock's greatest drummers.
The Rise of a Master Percussionist
Jim Gordon grew up in a strict household in the San Fernando Valley, the son of an alcoholic father. Despite a challenging family environment, Gordon exhibited an innate and phenomenal talent for percussion from a very early age.
Straight out of high school in the 1960s, Gordon began touring with the Everly Brothers. As he evolved into a sought-after session musician, he played for a staggering array of iconic artists, including:
The Beach Boys (famously playing on a significant portion of "Good Vibrations")
Sonny & Cher
The Byrds
Buffalo Springfield
Glenn Campbell
His intuitive ability to mathematically divide time and play almost any percussion instrument flawlessly made him a legend among fellow musicians.
A Safe Haven Behind the Kit
While his musical genius flourished, Gordon's mental health silently deteriorated. Unbeknownst to those around him, he was plagued by command hallucinations—severe voices in his head that dictated his actions and caused immense distress.
Interestingly, Selvin notes that playing the drums was one of the few things that silenced the voices. The hypnotic, all-encompassing physical and mental experience of rhythm provided a rare sanctuary for Gordon. His drumming wasn't just a career; it was born out of despair, acting as the only safe place in his world.
The Rock & Roll Mask
During the late 60s and 70s, strange behavior in the music industry was often chalked up to eccentricities or heavy drug use. When Gordon exhibited psychotic breaks—such as unexpectedly assaulting his girlfriend Rita Coolidge while on tour with Joe Cocker—his actions were indistinguishable to onlookers from the drug-fueled chaos surrounding them. Cocaine and alcohol, sadly, became his most effective coping mechanisms against the undiagnosed schizophrenia.
He went on to join Derek and the Dominos alongside Eric Clapton, co-writing the legendary track "Layla" and crafting its famous piano coda. But his illness continued to advance, alienating him from bandmates and leading to the group's dissolution.
The Tragic Crescendo
By the mid-1970s, Gordon's symptoms began interfering heavily with his professional life. He entered over 15 different residential treatment programs, yet doctors continually failed to diagnose his schizophrenia, treating him instead for mood disorders or substance abuse.
Eventually, the voices became completely overwhelming. In a horrific turn of events, the voices—chiefly manifesting as a distorted version of his own mother's voice—commanded him to take her life. In 1983, driven completely by his tortured mind, Gordon brutally murdered his mother.
He confessed to the police the next morning, stating simply, "I did it. I killed my mother."
A Legacy of Compassion
Gordon spent the rest of his life in prison, remaining extremely wealthy due to his "Layla" royalties but completely isolated by his disease. He passed away at the age of 76, never truly escaping the confines of his illness.
In writing Drums and Demons, Joel Selvin's goal was not just to recount a true crime story, but to restore a sense of compassion for a man who suffered immensely without proper understanding or help. Gordon's story is a stark reminder of the devastating realities of untreated severe mental illness, hidden in plain sight behind the glare of rock and roll stardom.
