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

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.

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.

Detailed look into the tortured soul of Jim Gordon

This well written biography takes a deep dive into one of musics most talented musicians. Starting with Jim's early years growing up in the San Fernando Valley to being a first call drummer that producers knew would deliver the goods on a session had me from the first chapter. Joel's description of the music and events took me on a journey as if I were there in the moment. I was aware of the Incident that lead to Jim's demise but did not know the circumstances leading up to it and I felt it was treated tastefully. As an added bonus, the narrator made listening a pleasure which I find is usually not the case with audio books. If you want to be a fly on the wall in the recording studio while musics greatest hits were created or performing on the road with the biggest artists in the world, don't hesitate to put this memoir in your queue.

The writing and performance.

I’ve been a “books on tape” guy for 30 plus years. The performance and the writing are masterful. I know how this book ends and yet I was on a very surprising journey. It made me feel compassion and sympathy towards The Gordon Family and Jim. It made me think hard about how I viewed mental illness and addiction. It’s a classic. This book does what a good book is supposed to do—make you root for the main character. Loved it.

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.

Genius and Tragedy

This is the book I didn’t realize I was waiting for, but I’m glad I found it. I am an aficionado of music of this time period and have read many books about the musicians and those who traveled in their circles. When I was exploring the Layla period, I read up on Eric Clapton and found Bobby Whitlock’s wonderful book, along with others. Jim Gordon was mentioned in many of the books about this period, and I’d heard his beat on so many records of my childhood and teen years. I had learned about his psychiatric problems and his horrible crime, but I didn’t know the other details of his life. I wondered how he’d come to such tragic circumstances, and this book explained with compassion how he got there. It was much more than alcohol and drugs. Despite everything, my heart goes out to Jim Gordon, as well as to those who paid the price of his behavior. This book filled in missing details about Jim and added to my knowledge of the musical time period. It is well written and narrated. I purchased it as soon as I saw it and I’m glad I did. Highly recommended.

Highly Recommended Audiobook

I highly recommend this audiobook, it is well written with excellent narration. “Drums & Demons” is the life story of Jim Gordon a gifted musician. Each chapter moves quickly as we’ve learn of Jim’s success in the music business and his struggle with the challenges mental illness.
Jim’s story left me wondering why so many gifted artists enjoy success and unfortunately suffer from the effects of mental illness. I’m sure I’ll be listening to this audiobook again.

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.

Very sad and tragic

The author does an excellent job of letting reader truly get to know Jim Gordon. Unfortunately much of what you get to know is very disturbing. As far as Jim talent goes he was amazing and absolutely phenomenal musician. There are literally a small handful of drummers that have Jim Gordon’s gift for knowing exactly what to play and being able to do it the first time through on a recording date. He also had the uncanny ability to make songs into hit records. I can’t emphasize enough that his musical genius on the drum set is truly genius. Jim was and still is a drumming idol of mine and I am very sad that he wasn’t able to be helped early in his life. Such a sad and tragic end to a man we still hear playing the big beat on the radio today decades after he recorded them. RIP Jim Gordon