The Drummer Who Walked Away…
And Found His Calling.
From The Clash to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame —
to a life no one expected.
Founding Member of The Clash • Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee •
Generation X • Hanoi Rocks • Black Sabbath
More Than a Rock Memoir
London in the 1970s was ready to explode. Out of that restless energy came punk — raw, urgent and impossible to ignore. At the back of the stage, driving it all, was a young drummer named Terry Chimes.
This is a story of cramped vans, smoky clubs and songs that would shake the walls of music history. It is about the chaos of touring with The Clash at the height of the punk explosion, the creative fire of Generation X and Hanoi Rocks, and the heavy shadows of the Black Sabbath years.
But it is also the story of walking away. Of leaving one of the most important bands of its generation. Of asking what happens when the noise dies down — and who you are when the lights go out.
As Terry moves from the drum stool to the chiropractor’s table, the book becomes a journey through spiritual insight, personal growth and the quiet work of helping people heal. It is a meditation on identity, purpose and the strange ways a life can transform when you listen to the part of you that refuses to be ignored.
About The Book
"The Strange Case of Dr Terry and Mr Chimes is an autobiography with a difference. This entertaining book covers the life of a man who made a successful transition from the original drummer of The Clash (he left the band in 1977 only to be asked back in 1982) and a succession of punk and heavy metal rock bands (Generation X, Hanoi Rocks and Black Sabbath) to a highly successful chiropractor offering kind words of wisdom and compassion to those in need.
Told with humour and empathy, we learn about Terry’s childhood, about how he got into the world of rock and roll and about the early years of The Clash. Terry tells of why he left the band in the first place and the spiritual insights that have guided his life. The book includes a wealth of true stories ranging from wild antics on the road with a touring rock band to the challenges of carving out an entirely new career."
From The Preface
"Some people only ever have one ambition in life. Others, like myself, have several. Inside me there have always been two people, each trying to dominate. Dr Terry wanted to learn about health and disease and heal people. Mr Chimes wanted to spend his time on a stage and live the life of a rock star.
Who won the fight? Well, the struggle is not over yet, but what has happened so far and what I have learned and experienced is the substance of this book."
A Legacy Written in Rhythm
Founding drummer of The Clash
2003 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee
Drummer for Generation X & Hanoi Rocks
Toured extensively with Black Sabbath
Found renewed purpose as a successful chiropractor
Few musicians have stepped so far outside the spotlight they helped create. Fewer still have found a second calling that offers a different kind of healing. This book is Terry’s own account of that unlikely path.
This isn't just about rock and roll.
It's about identity.
It's about walking away at the height of fame.
It's about embracing change.
What Readers Are Saying
"A vivid, honest and unexpectedly moving journey from backstage chaos to inner calm. You don’t have to be a Clash fan to feel the heartbeat in these pages."
"Part rock history, part spiritual memoir. Terry’s voice is warm, funny and disarmingly reflective. It feels like being invited backstage for the real story."
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The music changed a generation.
The story may change you.
Step inside the life behind the records and take home a signed piece of that history.
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