Jim Gordon death: Drummer for Eric Clapton and Beach Boys dies in prison aged 77

Jim Gordon, the drummer who played on the Beach Boys’ iconic album Pet Sounds and for Eric Clapton in Derek & The Dominos, has died in prison aged 77.

The session musician was serving a life sentence when he died of natural causes on Monday (14 March).

Gordon was convicted of killing his mother in 1983 before being diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The musician is credited as a songwriter on Derek & The Dominos’ hit song “Layla”, alongside Eric Clapton.

As a session musician, Gordon featured on tracks by numerous artists. His music can be heard on songs by Tom Waits, George Harrison, John Lennon, Cher and more.

He also played music on the classic track “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon.

Gordon died in a state-run medical facility in California, while still serving his 16 year sentence.

During his life, he struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs, according to Rolling Stone, who interviewed him in 1985.

His mother urged him to seek psychiatric help in the Seventies, and he was admitted to hospital, telling the staff there that she was his only friend.

He went on to murder her in 1983 with a hammer and knife. He told Rolling Stone two years later that he “had no interest in killing [his mother].”

“I wanted to stay away from her. I had no choice. It was so matter-of-fact, like I was being guided like a zombie. She wanted me to kill her, and good riddance to her,” he said at the time.

He was sentenced in 1984 where the judge ruled that his insanity would not find him innocent under laws in place at the time.