The RIP Thread
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Further to my post, l found these details…..
Drumming with the Wrecking Crew
Gordon’s professional career started with a gig backing the Everly Brothers in 1963. But it was his apprenticeship with the Wrecking Crew’s legendary sessioneer Hal Blaine that paved Gordon’s future path. Blaine was the recording industry’s most in-demand studio drummer. When his schedule became too full to handle incoming requests, Blaine began referring musicians to his protégé. At 6ft-plus, Gordon struck an imposing figure on stage and a powerful rhythm in the studio.
Gordon quickly joined Blaine as one of the premier session guys in the business.
Holding Down the Classics
By the end of the decade, Jim Gordon’s playing had graced numerous landmark records, including The Beach Boys Pet Sounds and The Byrds Notorious Byrd Brothers. Then, in 1970, he joined Carl Radle and Bobby Whitlock as the touring band for Delaney and Bonnie. They shared a double bill with a recently solo Eric Clapton.
Forming Derek and the Dominos
Most who were there remember the tour as one filled with tension. Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett were a singing duo and a married couple. But both partnerships ruptured on the road.
With the tour over and the band dissolved, the three backing musicians merged with Clapton to formDerek and the Dominos. They added Duane Allman for one record and achieved perfection.
It was also thus that Gordon made his most important contribution to rock and roll history.
Jim Gordon’s Coda?
“Layla” was the title track from the band’s debut album, and a monstrous hit, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972.
As per the copyright, Jim Gordon supplied the epic piano coda that closes out “Layla.” Therefore, Clapton and Gordon share authorship. If you feel inclined to skip the first three minutes of riffing and jump right to the piano part, I recommend watching the death montage from Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas.
Rita Coolidge’s Coda?
In spite of the considerable royalties that Gordon has earned for his part in the classic rock staple, first-hand reports suggest that he actually stole it from his then-girlfriend, the up-and-coming soft-rock singer Rita Coolidge. According to Dominos keyboard player Bobby Whitlock, Gordon was on hand as Coolidge composed the piece. She only learned that her portion of the composition was used in the final cut upon hearing the full version of the song on the radio.
A shocked Coolidge contacted Clapton’s manager, Robert Stigwood and said she simply wished to be properly credited for her contribution. Stigwood dismissed her with vague threats.
Rita Takes Her Time
But as Rita recalls in a 2016 interview, “I wrote the bridge and all of the melody. He (Gordon) was not much of a songwriter. … And he wasn’t a great piano player.”
Rita’s original composition–”Time”–would resurface when her sister Priscilla recorded it with husband Booker T. Jones in 1973.
Incidentally, stealing his girlfriend’s piano coda was hardly the worst thing Jim Gordon would do in his life.
Jim Gordon and the Devil
From as early as 1969, there was evidence that the otherwise affable and well-mannered Gordon was prone to episodic fits of psychotic delusion. During recording sessions, he was known to cease playing with no warning in the middle of a take to accuse one of his fellow musicians of being the devil and psychically disrupting his timing.
On one occasion, Coolidge remembered, Gordon turned to her suddenly and punched her without provocation.
At the time, many dismissed Gordon’s bizarre behavior as drug-induced. Certainly, that was a factor.
Gordon Grows His Resume
Still, following the break-up of Derek and the Dominos in 1971, Gordon went on to compile perhaps the single most impressive session and touring drummer CV of the classic rock era. He manned the skins on Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Dave Mason’s Alone Together, Traffic’s The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, Harry Nilsson’s Nilsson Schmilsson, Frank Zappa’s Apostrophe, Steely Dan’s Pretzel Logic and Alice Cooper Goes to Hell.
He also recorded the drum part on the Incredible Bongo Band’s Apache,which is easily one of the most sampled hip hop breaks of all time.
He played with Little Richard, Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, John Denver, Hall & Oates, Merle Haggard, George Harrison, John Lee Hooker, Dr. John, Carole King, Tom Waits, Leon Russell, Tom Petty, John Lennon, the Monkees, B.B. King and too many others to name.
Things Fall Apart
And then everything went to ****. By the late ‘70s, the drummer regularly complained of hearing voices in his head. In particular, his mother’s voice tormented him, shamed him, restricted him from eating and even prevented him from drumming. He was diagnosed as an acute schizophrenic and, over the course of just a few years from 1977 to 1983, was admitted for psychiatric hospitalization more than a dozen times.
Gordon’s worsening condition finally came to a head in 1983 when he bludgeoned his mother with a hammer and fatally stabbed her with a butcher’s knife.
Lance Reddick, Really liked him as an actor. Currently watching him play the Police Chief in Prime's series of Bosch. Was good in John Wick and The Wire as well. Far too young to die at 60. RIP
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Lance Reddick, Really liked him as an actor. Currently watching him play the Police Chief in Prime's series of Bosch. Was good in John Wick and The Wire as well. Far too young to die at 60. RIP
First remember seeing him in Oz as an undercover cop in the prison who ended up a junkie, brilliant acting.
RIP
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RIP
Bryn Hargreaves: Body of missing former Wigan Warriors star found
Image caption,
Bryn Hargreaves moved to the United States when he quit rugby league
The body of former Wigan Warriors rugby star Bryn Hargreaves has been found more than a year after he went missing in America, his family have confirmed.
The 37-year-old moved to the US about 10 years ago after quitting the sport. He was reported missing in January last year.
The family had turned to a private investigator in a bid to find him after a police search "turned up nothing".
His brother said "with incredible sadness we have finally found Bryn".
His former clubs including St Helens and Bradford Bulls have also expressed sadness at the news and paid tribute to him.
The ex-prop forward last spoke to his family on 3 January 2022, nine days before they contacted police after his apartment was found to be empty.
Despite a police search and family members going to America to join in the efforts, no trace was found of him.
Posting on Facebook, his brother Gareth Hargreaves said the family do not yet know the cause of his death or "what actually happened on 3/1/22".
His mother Maria Andrews said she was "in bits" and "heartbroken".
Image caption,
Hargreaves played for Wigan, St Helens and Bradford Bulls before leaving the game and moving to the US
Wigan Warriors, where Hargreaves made 33 appearances over a two-year stint, said the club was "deeply saddened".
St Helens RFC chairman Eamonn McManus said: "Bryn was extremely well liked and respected by his team mates and all involved with the club during his four seasons with us from 2007 to 2010.
"He was very much part of the great Saints team of that era and was a World Club Challenge winner in 2007 and a Challenge Cup winner in 2008.
"He will be remembered with genuine warmth and with affection by us all."
Hargreaves joined Bradford Bulls in 2010, before quitting the sport, saying he had become disillusioned by off-field problems at the club.
He moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his now ex-wife, before he relocated to rural West Virginia.
Bradford Bulls posted on Twitter: "We are extremely saddened to learn the body of former player Bryn Hargreaves has been found.
"Our thoughts and condolences are with Bryn's family and friends at this difficult time."
The Foreign Office said it was providing support to the family and was in contact with local authorities in the US.
- Published
3 hours ago
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IMAGE SOURCE,FAMILY HANDOUTImage caption,
Bryn Hargreaves moved to the United States when he quit rugby league
The body of former Wigan Warriors rugby star Bryn Hargreaves has been found more than a year after he went missing in America, his family have confirmed.
The 37-year-old moved to the US about 10 years ago after quitting the sport. He was reported missing in January last year.
The family had turned to a private investigator in a bid to find him after a police search "turned up nothing".
His brother said "with incredible sadness we have finally found Bryn".
His former clubs including St Helens and Bradford Bulls have also expressed sadness at the news and paid tribute to him.
The ex-prop forward last spoke to his family on 3 January 2022, nine days before they contacted police after his apartment was found to be empty.
Despite a police search and family members going to America to join in the efforts, no trace was found of him.
Posting on Facebook, his brother Gareth Hargreaves said the family do not yet know the cause of his death or "what actually happened on 3/1/22".
His mother Maria Andrews said she was "in bits" and "heartbroken".
You must log in or register to see images
IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIAImage caption,
Hargreaves played for Wigan, St Helens and Bradford Bulls before leaving the game and moving to the US
Wigan Warriors, where Hargreaves made 33 appearances over a two-year stint, said the club was "deeply saddened".
St Helens RFC chairman Eamonn McManus said: "Bryn was extremely well liked and respected by his team mates and all involved with the club during his four seasons with us from 2007 to 2010.
"He was very much part of the great Saints team of that era and was a World Club Challenge winner in 2007 and a Challenge Cup winner in 2008.
"He will be remembered with genuine warmth and with affection by us all."
Hargreaves joined Bradford Bulls in 2010, before quitting the sport, saying he had become disillusioned by off-field problems at the club.
He moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his now ex-wife, before he relocated to rural West Virginia.
Bradford Bulls posted on Twitter: "We are extremely saddened to learn the body of former player Bryn Hargreaves has been found.
"Our thoughts and condolences are with Bryn's family and friends at this difficult time."
The Foreign Office said it was providing support to the family and was in contact with local authorities in the US.
One of greatest & toughest rugby league players to ever play the game has passed away.
He played a Grand Final with a broken jaw, he refused to leave the field and stayed to the end.
John Sattler was a true great and a true gentleman. I had the pleasure of meeting him on a work matter some twenty years ago.
A remarkable humble human being and l am very thankful to have had the chance to chat with him.
Vale, Johhny Sattler, they just don't make them like you anymore.
He played a Grand Final with a broken jaw, he refused to leave the field and stayed to the end.
John Sattler was a true great and a true gentleman. I had the pleasure of meeting him on a work matter some twenty years ago.
A remarkable humble human being and l am very thankful to have had the chance to chat with him.
Vale, Johhny Sattler, they just don't make them like you anymore.
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Ex-Swan & QPR. Born 9 months before me.
Remember him well, for both teams and Wales, had a silky touch and a decent goal in him. RIP Robbie
Down to earth guy.
In the summer, you’d often see him joining in and playing footie with a group of lads on the sand at Caswell Bay
Paul O'Grady aka Lily Savage RIP...
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Sad news & shock & only 67 RIP Paul
He'd had heart problems. Quick-witted, talented guy. Always admired his care for, and love of, animals. RIP
A National Treasure..... RIP
Absolutely, my ex-wife knew him through her dog grooming business back in the late 80s just as he was finding fame but it never changed him. A thoroughly loveable guy as a nation has discovered over the past 30 years or so. A true one-off who will be sadly missed...
RIP Ken Buchanan, lightweight world champion and voted by American Sportswriters as best boxer of 1970, ahead of Ali, and Frazier. One of the first boxers I was aware of and the greatest Scottish and one of the greatest British boxers ever. His son linked the dementia he died with to his trade.
RIP Ken, a great fearless boxer with a never say die attitude. Fondly remember some of his bouts, as I do Minter and Conteh around that time and a few years later. There were some great British boxers around at that time !