Mitch Mitchell of Hendrix Experience Dies

[Joebob034]

Authorities say Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience of the 1960s, has been found dead in his Portland hotel room.
Erin Patrick, a deputy medical examiner, says Mitchell was found dead a little after 3 a.m. Wednesday in his room at the Benson Hotel in downtown Portland.
She says Mitchell apparently died of natural causes at 62. An autopsy is planned.
Mitchell was touring with the Experience Hendrix Tour, which performed Friday at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland. It was the last stop on the West Coast part of the tour.
Mitchell along with bass player Noel Redding backed Hendrix' psychedelic blues sound on hits like "Fire," "Hey Joe" and "Purple Haze."
Hendrix died in 1970 of a drug overdose. Noel Redding, bassist for the trio, died in 2003.






When you listen to Jimi it's hard to focus on anything else but him, but if you listen to Mitch's drums he played w/ such energy and power it really is amazing. Perfect example is "Fire" the drumline on that is ridiculous

[Legmann]

Jimi, Noel, and now Mitch? They've got a really good band up in Heaven, now!

He'll be missed.

[Legmann]

A Mitch Mitchell drum solo.

[Hal-9000]

As every musician knows, it's a thousand times harder to create than to copy...
this may give you an idea of what Joebob's talking about


this kid nails it.From about 1:00 - 1:20 is pure Mitch

[beowulf]

a sad day .................the last one gone...............huge fan of the experience

[AnthemZ]

Drummer for Jimi Hendrix Found Dead

Thursday , November 13, 2008

AP



PORTLAND, Ore. — Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience of the 1960s and the group's last surviving member, was found dead in his hotel room early Wednesday. He was 61.

Mitchell was a powerful force on the Hendrix band's 1967 debut album "Are You Experienced?" as well as the trio's albums "Electric Ladyland" and "Axis: Bold As Love." He had an explosive drumming style that can be heard in hard-charging songs such as "Fire" and "Manic Depression."

The Englishman had been drumming for the Experience Hendrix Tour, which performed Friday in Portland. It was the last stop on the West Coast part of the tour.

Hendrix died in 1970. Bass player Noel Redding died in 2003.

An employee at Portland's Benson Hotel called police after discovering Mitchell's body.

Erin Patrick, a deputy medical examiner, said Mitchell apparently died of natural causes. An autopsy was planned.

"He was a wonderful man, a brilliant musician and a true friend," said Janie Hendrix, chief executive of the Experience Hendrix Tour and Jimi Hendrix' stepsister. "His role in shaping the sound of the Jimi Hendrix Experience cannot be underestimated."

Bob Merlis, a spokesman for the tour, said Mitchell had stayed in Portland for a four-day vacation and planned to leave Wednesday.

"It was a devastating surprise," Merlis said. "Nobody drummed like he did."

He said he saw Mitchell perform two weeks ago in Los Angeles, and the drummer appeared to be healthy and upbeat.

Merlis said the tour was designed to bring together veteran musicians who had known Hendrix — like Mitchell — and younger artists, such as Grammy-nominated winner Jonny Lang, who have been influenced by him.

Mitchell was a one-of-a-kind drummer whose "jazz-tinged" style was influenced by Max Roach and Elvin Jones, Merlis said. The work was a vital part of both the Jimi Hendrix Experience in the 1960s and the Experience Hendrix Tour that ended last week, he said.

"If Jimi Hendrix were still alive," Merlis said, "he would have acknowledged that."

During his career Mitchell played with the best in the business — not just Hendrix, but also Eric Clapton, John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, Jack Bruce, Jeff Beck, Muddy Waters and others.

Mitchell was a member of a later version of the Jimi Hendrix Experience that performed the closing set of the Woodstock Festival in August 1969 — where Hendrix played a psychedelic version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the band launched into "Purple Haze."

The Jimi Hendrix Experience was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 1992. According to the Hall of Fame, Mitchell was born July 9, 1947, in Ealing, England.

Hendrix, Redding and Mitchell held their first rehearsal in October 1966, according to the Hall of Fame's Web site.

In an interview last month with the Boston Herald, Mitchell said he met Hendrix "in this sleazy little club."

"We did some Chuck Berry and took it from there," Mitchell told the newspaper. "I suppose it worked."

[fricnjay]

Wow, that is really sad. I am a huge Hendrix fan and this is really sad news. Mitch was an incredible drummer and he will be missed.

[Joebob034]

[quote=Hal-9000;4272553]As every musician knows, it's a thousand times harder to create than to copy...
this may give you an idea of what Joebob's talking about


this kid nails it.From about 1:00 - 1:20 is pure Mitch


the kid's pretty damn good

[beowulf]

slapped in the 'are you experienced' album in the cd player on the way home from work................still brilliant after all these years............

[Hal-9000]

One of my favorites is Stone Free
got a groovy little drum thing going on and of course,
Mr Hendrix's guitar and lyrics







*I've waited forever to use that smilie..thanks!

[Hal-9000]

bad sound on this...some good shots of Mitch at the start.

How come everyone's pupils look so dilated??



I love this band

[beowulf]

a rare clip

[Hal-9000]

no one can feel that song like Jimi
nice pick beo

[redred]

a sad loss to everyone but the main dude upstairs now the 3 of them can start jamming again