Mitch Mitchell

[7/4]

PORTLAND — Authorities say Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience of the 1960s, has been found dead in his Portland hotel room.

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Natural causes...I always thought that with the Exp, he was amazing (thinking of the studio recordings). He brought a special kind of Jazz drumming into Rock.

Truly a sad day.

[Robert J]

Agreed, very sad. One of the best rock drummers during '66-'70.

[Chalupa]

Yeah I really liked his drumming. Interesting that when Hendrix re-started the "Jimi Hendrix Experience" again after Band of Gypsies broke up that he recruited Mitchell and not Noel Redding to back him up.

[Shawn]

Man...this is a tough one.

[7/4]

It sure is.

So that's last of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Noel Redding died in 2003.

dB

[GA Russell]

RIP. Another artist from my youth gone.

I read not long ago a critic's comment (could be b.s., I don't know) that Mitchell attempted to apply Elvin Jones drumming to rock music.

[JSngry]

Helluva drummer by any standard.

RIP, big thanks, and much uninterrupted love.

[Dan Gould]

Boy do I feel silly. I swore I read this as "Mitch Miller" - and ironically, it turns out that old "Sing Along" is still alive ...

[Big Al]

I'll go out on a limb and say he was as integral to the sound of Jimi Hendrix as Hendrix himself.

RIP indeed.

[Adam]

Didn't he just play in LA a couple of weeks ago at the Greek Theatre?

Yes:

http://www.greektheatrela.com/calendar/pas...nfo.asp?ID=1693

Must be on the same tour.

R.I.P.

[7/4]

I'll go out on a limb and say he was as integral to the sound of Jimi Hendrix as Hendrix himself.

RIP indeed.

Yeah, it wasn't the Experience without him.

dB

[skeith]

Agreed with all the positive comments about Mitch.

I never liked Band of Gypsies as much - and Mitch was probably a big reason why

[Teasing the Korean]

And here I'd been hoping for a Jimi Hendrix Experience reunion for years. Oh well.

[jazzbo]

Sad day.

I don't agree that he was as "integral" as Hendrix himself. . . . But he was an influence to me as a drummer and I think his was an immense talent.

[BFrank]

Billy Cox = last one standing.

[Christiern]

NY Times story here.

[randissimo]

NY Times story here.

When I was a teen pup Mitch was my drummer! Never heard a rock drummer play so creatively.. In an early interview he was quoted as saying he didn't listen to rock drummers but jazz drummers like Elvin, Philly Joe, Tony, and Max.. His work on "Manic Depression" was an obvious jazz influence..

[7/4]

Oh yeah!

His passing reminds me how jazz influenced that generation of rock drummers was.

Ian Paice and Bill Ward come to mind.

dB

Edited November 13, 2008 by 7/4

[BruceH]

Boy do I feel silly. I swore I read this as "Mitch Miller" - and ironically, it turns out that old "Sing Along" is still alive ...

Don't feel bad, you're not the only one.

[Shawn]

Oh yeah!

His passing reminds me how jazz influenced that generation of rock drummers was.

Ian Paice and Bill Ward come to mind.

dB

THANK YOU!!!! I've been afraid I was the only one on the planet that actually heard this....

Bill Ward is the most underrated rock drummer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWxYTDa6lgs

[7/4]

There's an interview out there (AAJ?) where Ward discusses his Jazz influences. One on of the Deep Purple DVDs (I'll look later) Paice is playing with a big band horn section.

dB

[skeith]

NY Times story here.

When I was a teen pup Mitch was my drummer! Never heard a rock drummer play so creatively.. In an early interview he was quoted as saying he didn't listen to rock drummers but jazz drummers like Elvin, Philly Joe, Tony, and Max.. His work on "Manic Depression" was an obvious jazz influence..

I always thought that "Third Stone from the Sun" showed a lot of jazz influence - mostly in the first moments before it gets into the more regular groove and then later into the tune he gets the jazz groove back. Also jazzy is "Up from the Skies" too.

Edited November 13, 2008 by skeith

[Dave James]

The Oregonian article included some clips of Mitchell and Hendrix, some of which are quite rare. One is an audio tape of Hendrix and Eric Clapton rapping after doing a few lines. There's also a fairly lengthly interview with Mitchell himself. He was, for sure, an incredible drummer. I always tend to think of Keith Moon or Ginger Baker in a 60's rock context, but Mitchell may have been the best of the bunch. Really creative ideas. Here's a link to the story and the videos.

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2...r_mitch_mi.html

As you'll see in the article, Mitchell was only up to doing one number in the show last Friday night and that several people reported seeing him being helped into the car that took him back to The Benson Hotel. From everything I've read, this is natural causes and nothing more. Kind of a shame we tend to think otherwise when it comes to rock musicians. I guess he just wore out.

Farewell.

Up over and out.

[Johnny E]

It still blows my mind how fast he is playing in the back ground while Jimi burned his guitar at Monterey.

Fucking amazing drummer was he.

Lost to of my favorite drummer in a ten day span. First Jimmy Carl, now Mitch.

Thanks for the inspiration guys. If it's any consolation, we'll all be joining you soon enough. Carpi Diem!!!

Edited November 13, 2008 by Johnny E

[AllenLowe]

I'm afraid to go to sleep at night - who's next?