Interesting (old) article about Jim Gordon. I just can't get my head around it that a guy who is as mentally ill as he is was sent to a prison.

[articles.philly.com]

Mathijs

thanks for posting, sad story. as a fellow drummer, he is definitely one of my favotites. Check out the drumming on derek & the dominoes LIVE - awesome playing!

My Jim Gordon story.
I have had the honor and privilege of sharing a bottle with Jim.
I was working a Traffic concert back in the 70's and I ended up (with one of my co-workers) sitting right behind Jim for the show. As he got up to the stage, he handed me a bottle (don't remember if it was whisky or something else) and he said something like "enjoy, pass it back to me between songs" He was already as high as a kite when he hit the stage and I remember wondering how could he play so well in the condition he was in. The show was at the Anaheim Convention Center and Dave Mason showed up for the encore.
It's a shame what happened to Jim.

Indeed a tragic story, but the article says he has (at the time of writing) spent most of his time at a state medical facility, where I believe Gordan remains.

Thanks for posting. As a fellow drummer as well, he is also one of my favourites.

Jim played drums with Bruce Channel for the british "Hey,Baby!!" tour along with Delbert McClinton(harmonica) where they met the Beatles. I dont know if he played on the recording session or not. Anyone here know?

There's a great song by the Dictators called Jim Gordon Blues which pays tribute.

GOD that story was so sad!! I had no idea about any of this. Read plenty about Jim in the new Bobby Keys book but he never mentioned this.

Mental illness is so tragic and this story a a prime example.

Yeah it is terrible and sad because you know that kinda affliction doesnt happen overnight. I think many mentally ill people try to self medicate with booze and drugs just trying to maintain. It makes you wonder if the nature of his profession(and especially the times) made alot overlook his symptons blaming it on drug or alcohol use...

Yeah Mathijs, I agree it is tragic how many folks who don't belong are sent to prison in the U.S.A.

Some jerk brother-in-law of a politicain got good at building prisons in the 1990's and shazam all of a sudden we have shitloads of 'em in every state of the union.

Combine that with alot of testosterone charged kids coming out of the military with skills only to befit a police job and a "need" to fill all these new facilities and you've got the problem we are experiencing here in America. Way too many of our population is imprisoned without criminal rehabilitation. Most learn how to become real criminals while incarcerated and the problem just snowballs.

But Jim Gordon's story is tragic for other reasons as well. Thanks for the post.

Here is a link to some legislation which details just how bad it has become:

[webb.senate.gov]

peace

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scottkeef
Yeah it is terrible and sad because you know that kinda affliction doesnt happen overnight. I think many mentally ill people try to self medicate with booze and drugs just trying to maintain. It makes you wonder if the nature of his profession(and especially the times) made alot overlook his symptons blaming it on drug or alcohol use...

I used to wonder why some took drugs (including alcohol) with impunity and others (Brian Wilson, Syd Barrett, people we know...) crashed and burned. For me there is no question that some are "self medicating" but ultimately that does something in the brain chemistry in someone predisposed to mental illness. So in my opinion situations like this are mental illness exacerbated by drug and alcohol abuse. I've also seen seemingly reasonable people go over the edge from their consumption. Not speaking as an expert here but certainly as an observer.

Oh, and Gordon was an amazing drummer. He did a lot of session work -- I know he was part of a lot of Beach Boys records.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012-03-31 00:24 by Wry Cooter.

What a swinging drummer, one of the greats. His playing on the Fillmore album with Derek & The Dominos is fantastic.

Chris O'Dell (Beatles/Stones fame) dated him for a while. She mentions him in her book. Not pretty.

Love Gordon's intro here:

[url=http://

]Why.....?[/url]

Yes, what a tragical story.

The piano or the 'second' part of "Layla" has always been one of my favourite instrumentals parts. The musical landscape is just so incredibly sad, melancholical, reflective... Always makes me moody. I never realize that is Gordon's. Now it sounds even more blues. No a classy act from Clapton if he didn't mention Gordon in his grammy acceptance speech.

Gordon started his pro career by touring Britain with Everly Brothers in 1963. Hmm... one plus one... I wonder if he get to know the Stones then because I think the Stones were on that tour as well. Another Stones-related co-incidence is him playing the drums in Carly's "You're So Vain".

- Doxa



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012-03-31 10:29 by Doxa.

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Doxa
Yes, what a tragical story.

The piano or the 'second' part of "Layla" has always been one of my favourite instrumentals parts. The musical landscape is just so incredibly sad, melancholical, reflective... Always makes me moody. I never realize that is Gordon's. Now it sounds even more blues. No a classy act from Clapton if he didn't mention Gordon in his grammy acceptance speech.

- Doxa

Nevermind, I didn't realise you meant the Grammy for "Layla" specifically.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012-04-01 21:14 by Tumblin_Dice_07.

As for Jim Gordon, terribly sad story but wow.....what a talent. I've read mulitple interviews with members of the Dominos, including Clapton, where the musician's refer to Jim as the greatest drummer any of them had ever played with.

I understand that he was sent to jail due to a change in law following the shooting of Ronald Reagan. The law change was that testimonies by professionals like psychiatrists can be treated as secondary evidence only. In the case of Gordon, the court accepted the fact that he suffered from acute schizophrenia, but that he was sane enough to understand what he did was wrong.

Mathijs

[url=http://

]Jump into....[/url]


[url=http://

]more Jim G....[/url]

Wry Cooter: Yeah ... "Jump into the Fire". FANTASTIC solo though it's clear it's looped. If you're into Nilsson, I recommend the bio "Everybody's Talkin About Harry Nilsson". While good, it does leave a weird vacuum into the man's humor. All those wasted nights. I suppose its biggest weakness is no Ringo interview, who'd give insight into those long weird adventures ... probably would've broken the "R" rating though, if that's what it got.

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TheDailyBuzzherd
Wry Cooter: Yeah ... "Jump into the Fire". FANTASTIC solo though it's clear it's looped. If you're into Nilsson, I recommend the bio "Everybody's Talkin About Harry Nilsson". While good, it does leave a weird vacuum into the man's humor. All those wasted nights. I suppose its biggest weakness is no Ringo interview, who'd give insight into those long weird adventures ... probably would've broken the "R" rating though, if that's what it got.

Saw that doc just recently -- loved it. I pretty much knew him from "Schmilsson" and the legend. Interesting guy -- so talented -- and also an unrepentant alcoholic/addict whom everyone just seemed to love!

I think there's still a "Free Jim Gordon" page on Facebook that had a petition going at some point. I presume he's still in prison though. Tragic story. Danny Kirwan's another one sadly. Peter Green at least appears to have stepped back from the abyss to an extent

Andy

I'm not sure why anyone would want to "Free Jim Gordon"?
It's a tragic story indeed, but the fact is he brutally and savagely murdered his own mother.

_____________________________________________________________
Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go......

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Mathijs

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Hairball
I'm not sure why anyone would want to "Free Jim Gordon"?
It's a tragic story indeed, but the fact is he brutally and savagely murdered his own mother.

Because he is not a criminal, but a patient. And in civilized countries you don't put patients in jails but you give them treatment for their illness.

Mathijs

So you are saying that the USA is not civilized?

So you are saying that the USA is not civilized? <MHR>

Let's see what Holland's funniest America-specialist has to say about the USA. Keep on smiling!

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Amsterdamned
So you are saying that the USA is not civilized? <MHR>

Let's see what Holland's funniest America specialist has to say about the USA. Keep on smiling!

He says he's 59 and preparing for death....zzzzzzzzzzzz. This guys is the funniest? Wow how sad. USA USA USA!!

USA USA USA!! <MHR>

I knew it

You don't understand the Dutch humour of Maarten van Rossum. Here in Holland we love this man for his grumpy opinion.

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More Hot Rocks

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Mathijs

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Hairball
I'm not sure why anyone would want to "Free Jim Gordon"?
It's a tragic story indeed, but the fact is he brutally and savagely murdered his own mother.

Because he is not a criminal, but a patient. And in civilized countries you don't put patients in jails but you give them treatment for their illness.

Mathijs

So you are saying that the USA is not civilized?

hahaha... Mathijs's post is delated... the "sensivity" in some part of the world is so incredible that it is almost scary... it always amazes me.


- Doxa

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champ72
Tragic story. Danny Kirwan's another one sadly.

Good Lord yes, and he's getting by in relation's homes and half-way houses to this day.
A brilliant guy who didn't play kindly with other kids. The Fleetwoods have said that all
doors are open to a Fleetwood Mac Mk2 reunion, but not Danny. And Kirwan is about
1/2 of the entire output on "Then Play On".

Quick Picks:




This during his short stint as leader.






"Albatross2"?






Creepy beautiful song that foreshadows his demise.



After the fall, still in the game:







Fiery, melodic ... one of the most lyrical of the guitarists of the period.
MUCH MISSED.