The drummer for Derek and the Dominos who was later convicted for murdering his mother, has passed away at the age of 77 years old. His passing was confirmed through a press release that noted he died due to “natural causes” after “a long incarceration and lifelong battle with mental illness.”
Jim Gordon was born in Los Angeles and at 17 years old he was offered a scholarship to UCLA’s music program and turned it down, choosing instead to join the Everly Brothers. That is when his official career as a drummer began.
Gordon contributed to classic LPs such as the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and The Notorious Byrd Brothers by the Byrds. In 1969, Gordon met Eric Clapton while both of them played in the backing band for Delaney & Bonnie. Clapton, Gordon, bassist Carl Radle and keyboardist Bobby Whitlock later formed Derek and the Dominos. At first they were simply a backing band for George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass prior to recording their own album.
The band’s 1970 double LP, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, became a landmark release for the band and is regularly ranked among the greatest rock albums of all time. Gordon contributed drums for every track and even had piano parts for the album’s single, “Layla,” that he co-wrote along with Clapton. However, the band would break up before ever finishing their second album,
Things eventually turned dark for Gordon who stabbed and killed his 72 year old mother, after claiming a voice inside his head told him to. After his arrest, he was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison. Gordon was eligible for parole starting in 1991, but remained behind bars until his eventual death. Reports state that it was due to Gordon being “seriously psychologically incapacitated” and “a danger when he is not taking his medication.”
—
Evannovostro / Shutterstock.com