Drums & Demons

The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon

By: Joel Selvin

Narrated by: David Bendena

Jim Gordon was the greatest rock drummer of all-time. Just ask the world-famous musicians who played with him—John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Frank Zappa, Steely Dan, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, Joe Cocker, and many more.

They knew him for his superior playing, extraordinary training and technique, preternatural intuition, perfect sense of time, and his “big fill”—the mathematically-precise clatter that exploded like detonating fireworks on his drum breaks. And as bestselling author and award-winning journalist Joel Selvin reveals, the story of Jim Gordon is the most brilliant, turbulent, and wrenching rock opera ever.

This riveting narrative follows Gordon as the very chemicals in his brain that gifted him also destroyed him. His head crowded with a hellish gang of voices screaming at him, demanding obedience, Gordon descended from the absolute heights of the rock world—playing with the most famous musicians of his generation—to working with a Santa Monica dive-bar band for $30 a night. And then he committed the most shocking crime in rock history.

With full cooperation from the late Gordon's family and based on his trademark extensive, detailed research, Joel Selvin’s account is at once an epic journey through an artist’s monumental musical contributions, a rollicking history of rock drumming, and a terrifying downward spiral into the unimaginable madness that Gordon fought a valiant but losing battle against. One of the great untold stories of rock is finally being told.

©2024 Joel Selvin (P)2024 Dreamscape Media

Profoundly Sad

A good telling of the biography of Jim Gordon. I am haunted by this account of his descent in to the chaos and destruction of his schizophrenia. This account also gives a good account of his stellar accomplishments as a musician. Jim was a drummer, one of the best.

It’s a sad story

I liked the story but it’s a very sad one. But he did play on some of the most recognizable music in the last 50 years

Tragic and Triumphant: Rock n Roll Meets True Crime

This is a compelling look at one of Rock’s most important drummers—-both famous and infamous, a musician’s musician. Or in this case, a drummer’s drummer.
As definitive a character study as it is one of the world’s most impressive Rock n Roll resumes, this is a must read study on the healing power of music (chronicling the 15 years he survived the scene); as much as an eye opener to the demons of mental illness.

Mental Health Struggles Destroys One of the Most Amazing & Talented Drummers of out time.

The way the author was able to share what was happening in Jim Gordon's head while struggling to be a fully functioning person in the real word. As a drummer and music fan, I was saddened by Jim's struggles and new of him from magazine and television interviews with other studio musicians who spoke highly of his ability to add just what the songs he recorded needed, and was a true master of his instrument both Live and in the Studio. A Tragic Story that gave me new insight into mental health treatment and how much we know now compared to the 70's & 80's.

Great talent with a tragic end.

This is another tragic story about drug use and untreated mental illness. Jim Gordon was one of the greatest rock drummers of all time. His studio work and the music he played touring with well known 60s and 70s top bands will be remembered and heard for generations to come. I was a fan of his work and realized that he played on many of my favorites, but had no idea of the true extent of his catalog until I read ( listened to), this book.

Jim Gordon suffered from untreated mental illness that may have come about, or even tripped by his intense drug use. He is another casualty of the cultural revolution of 1960s America, where everything became permissable except personal responsibility.

Gordon eventually became so psychotic that be killed his mother because voices in his head told him to. Another aspect in this tragedy is how few of the many, many people who new that something was wrong actually tried to help him. Other artists and producers needed him for his enormous talent as a "hit maker," but most ignored his needs. Hopefully they have learned a lesson.