Mitch Mitchell (1947-2008)

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Mitch Mitchell (1947-2008)

Written by Matt Medlock

Wednesday, 12 November 2008

mitch-mitchell3 John “Mitch” Mitchell was found dead Wednesday morning at Portland’s Benson Hotel at the age of 61. There is no official report as yet of the cause of death, but it is presumed to be natural.

For those who don’t know, Mitchell had a hand in several seminal rock and roll acts in the 1960s and 70s, including the innovative Ramatam, the vastly-underrated and influential the Pretty Things, and, most famously, as the drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He was also a member of the short-lived supergroup side project, the Dirty Mac, assembled for the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus in 1968, featuring John Lennon as vocalist/rhythm guitarist, Eric Clapton on lead, Keith Richards at bass and Mitchell on the drumkit. He also had gigs with artists like Jack Bruce (of Cream), Jeff Beck, Terry Reid (Jimmy Page’s first choice as vocalist for Led Zeppelin), the Riot Squad, and Georgie Fame.

While not the household drummer name like Keith Moon, John Bonham or Neil Peart, Mitchell is considered one of the most influential musicians to ever pick up the sticks. He was arguably the lead pioneer in a style of drumming later known as fusion, where the drums came to the lead, allowing for dynamic interplay with the guitars/keyboard. It had already been popularized in the jazz scene, but in the mid 1960s, almost no one in the rock world was attempting it. And while the Experience was always dominated by Jimi’s fiery guitar, attention to the percussion can be a revelatory encounter. Witness the drum solo recorded in January, 1969 at the bottom of the article.

Most recently, Mitchell was a part of the 2008 Experience Hendrix Tour, featuring musicians such as Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, Brad Whitford, Hubert Sumlin and Billy Cox, another veteran of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The tour just wrapped this past weekend, making it Mitchell’s performing swansong. He will be missed, but never forgotten.