Bobby Whitlock worked with him of course a LOT in Derek and the Dominos. I love his youtube channel it's packed with stories but i can't recall him going into Jim's mental problems in depth other than acknowledging them. He said his drumming abilities were obviously immense so people kept employing him and excusing his serious nuttiness with the attitude "oh that crazy rock guy"
Jim Gordon was one of the best drummers of all time. One of the best studio and session drummers to ever exist. Jim was Jeff Porcaros hero if that tells you anything!!
"I don't think anyone doesn't know anyone who's gone off the rails like that".... Umm..I can say for certainty I don't know anyone who's gone off the rails like that.
We need more guys like Jeff Baxter. He's humble, intelligent and protective of his friends and coworkers. Great interview too, not prying information out of him. That's good journalism!
Forever grateful to NBC's rock concert show, "The Midnight Special," for featuring Steely Dan in February and August episodes of 1973. Jeff Baxter's charismatic stage presence was the main reason my wife and I made sure we saw them live in April 1974, when they headlined at the U. of Toledo. It was just a couple of months after the release of their 3rd album, "Pretzel Logic," which featured Jim Gordon on drums, instead of Steely Dan's Jim Hodder.
Beethoven’s music had made me bawl too. For example, call up; Romance in F. The sound of multiple strings being played at once gives a feeling of absolute euphoria - and sadness, simultaneously. I couldn’t stop the tears from coming during this piece. Particularly the James Last Orchestra version.
Most people - except in the obviously extreme cases - are very good at hiding mental illness. I understand that - I've been dealing with inherited/chronic anxiety and depression for decades. Not that I would ever be embarrassed discussing it, but laying it on somebody if it's not necessary seems a bit too heavy for me, and it could be taken as looking for sympathy.
He played with EVERYONE! Look up a song he did with Harry Nilsson called Girlfriend (which was reworked as Best Friend , The Courtship of Eddie's Father Theme). Jim is playing bass drum triplets that sound almost like Bonham BEFORE Led Zeppelin 1 came out.
Skunk and another Doobie Brother showed up and jammed at a Return To Forever concert at the Atlanta Civic Center in 1975. I was 18, and me and my friend were carrying SLR cameras (back when you could bring a camera to a show). All of a sudden, my friend bolts for the stairs on the side of the stage and headed backstage. I was petrified, until he looks at me and gives me that "C'mon!" look. We pulled it off epically. They thought we were press. We met the band (Stanley Clarke's hands are HUGE!!), and their manager gave us contact information for the images. If you have an e-mail address, I'll send you a few images. Peace.
I can’t imagine Jeff being a Republican in the early Steely Dan days. I’d think Donald and Walter might not find that kosher from such an integral bandmate.
Actually, you'd be surprised at just how many big names (American & English) in the industry who are not down with the current shit show in DC. That's where true tolerance comes in, I suppose, in that they may have a view or two that we disagree with, but we still see them with admiration, just in a more "eye level" perspective, and not pedestalistic one.👍
