I was fortunate to have met and had a long conversation with him, years ago at The Saba Club, here in Washington D.C. It was Randy Hansen(gtr.) and Billy Cox(bass). He autographed some old transcriptions I’d done of his playing. When he found out what an absolute dump the backstage was, he decided to hang at the bar. He was glad to see that some what had taken the time to write his playing down in such detail. He was a REAL nice guy and shared some wonderful insights into why he had played the parts the way he had in studio, and then how they evolved in later live performances.
His story about the Ginger Baker/Elvin Jones drum-off was a giggle.

How did I not hear about this til now? What a tragedy. The last one to go from a magical trio. Mitch, you were Jimi’s equal. Thank you for so much beautiful playing. RIP.

one of the few people i would have liked to meet. Seemed like such a unique, intelligent and friendly character. Probably understood Hendrix musically more than anyone else. Just listen to the drumming on 1983.
Thanks Mitch

This one is for the man. one more watching out for the rest of us rockers in the words of AC DC… well you get it…

Mitch was Number One!Forever. No one played quite like Mitch Mitchell. My favourite. For me, he had a style and talent like all his own. No one played jazz drums in rock at that time that I know of, and that was the ticket.
Mitch Mitchell forever in our hearts.
Forever.

Rest in peace Mitch, Noel and Jimi!

great great lyrical drummer. each song a lesson, just listen.
might the JH Experience be the first 1966-67 era band to have all of it’s original members pass on?
play on drummer…

great great lyrical drummer. just listen, each song a lesson. is it possible that the JH Experience is the first band from the era 1966-67 on where all original members have passed on? i cannot think of another…

Saw Hendrix with Albert King and the original Blood, Sweat & Tears at Winterland in ‘68 for $3! Jimi’s 1st song was Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The crowd went nuts. Mitch was on fire. The best musical memory of my life. RIP Mitch.

I live in South Africa and Played lead guitar and sang in a band called Arapaho (we did 2 albums with PolyGram ‘95-’99). The only cover we ever recorded was the JHE’s ‘Can you see me’. We opened for Bon Jovi on their ‘Keep the Faith’ tour of SA and I ended our set with ‘Voodoo Chile’…I am a MASSIVE JHE fan! I’m sooo sad that little mitch has gone, but I’m pretty sure I’ll get to watch them all play in Rock Heaven…RIP Mitch.

Damn, just about all my favorite guys are dead now…at least we still have Jack and Ginger, Pete and Roger, but so few others..There must be one HELL of a jam session going on in Rock n Roll Heaven right about now..Just watched Rainbow Bridge..we’ll miss you Mitch!!

One more rainy wish…
He was my inspiration as a drummer. All of them are together again. No more words.

God Save Mitch.

Mitch Mitchell is my greatest influence and I am truly sorry I didn’t get a chance to see him perform. The world has lost a godly drummer and a beatiful person. Mitch, keep on jamming like Elvin, man.

Keith Moon and John Bonham, please welcome Mitch to the band.

Another unmeasurable hole has been left by his passing. Such a fantastic percussionist! One with amazing style and grace that opened so many doors for many musicians. Myself included. He inspired us all. I know so many that have been so inspired by his playing and drive and ability to enhance everyone’s playing that he worked with. I was blessed to have seen him on his tour this year and last year in Waterbury, CT. It was indeed an honor to Experience Mitch and see him doing what he loved most, playing it from the heart! So nice to see how he has touched so many and will never be forgotten! We are missing you big time Bro! You like will shine forever!

Mitch when I heard the news of your passing it came as a shock.
All that can be said is fly on my
Sweet Angel you shall not be forgotten your work will live on.
You had a killer smile and your
drumming set the world on fire.
It woke me up from the slumber as it did other’s in 1968.

The stuff he played cant be taught.Has to be felt.

Hes feelin it now…traveling south!!

Peace Mitch, you were and are amazing.

Go Listen to Little Miss Lover and GROOVE!!

Mitch was a fine drummer and he will be missed. I just watched woodstock and the Isle of wight the night before he left us. I can’t believe they are all gone now(Noel,Mitch,Buddy ,Larry Lee) But thank god Billy is still among us. I believe Jerry Velez and Juma are also still among the living. Shame …so many of my musical inspirations have passed on….Moon,Entwistle,Harrison, Lennon.I could go on forever. God bless you Mitch. May the Experience have a big jam session in the sky!!

Thanks Mitch. You made growing up playing in rock bands fun. How many drummers played fire? His drums were as important as Jimi`s guitar. Thanks again.

I listened to “Third Stone from the Sun” today in honor. In 1967, at 6:51, that was a long jam to put on an LP. It really showcases Mitch’s unique drumming style.

Thanks Mitch for inspiring me to play ALL of the drums. RIP Bro, up there in the sky…you’re complete again…

Mitch had such a huge early influence on me, as I started playing drums at 11 yrs old around the time ‘Are You Experienced’ came out.
What a fantastic album of music!!!!
His playing on “Fire” is textbook!!!!

CAN YOU DIG IT!!!!

My wish is that Mitch really knew how much he was so respected as the
one and only incredibly amazing drummer (playing so unique!) with the one and only incredible:
Jimi Hendrix

god, was he great. anybody who plays drums and had to play with a hendrix knows this. nobody, no eb=ven elvin jones could back up a great player the way mitch michell could. god love him

reallyyy sad but the jimi hendrix experience together in the heaven !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JAR

Mitch, Buddy Miles, Pink Floyd’s Rick Wright, Jerry Garcia’s compadre Merle Saunders, this year has sucked for losing the psychedelic greats. Its as sad as losing Syd Barrett and Love’s Arthur Lee within a month of each other back in 2006. Heaven is getting trippier, and it makes one want to be there too. And no, there is not enough innovation in todays music, and I am in my 30’s. Just more repetetive indie rock, pop pap, and boring jam band music.

The loss is devastating. A drummer who was as unique as one who had no equal has left us. Besides the great memories I had, I thank you for being one of the most influencial and revered drummers to encourage my son to play his heart out on the skins.

The reason why I started playing drums. Thank you for the inspiration, the enjoyment and impossible drum fills RIP.

Mitch was the canvas on which Jimi painted the masterpieces. He was always there providing the fills and rolls. I was fortunate enough to see him play Voodoo Chile with Stevie Ray Vaughn in LA years ago. He came on stage for the encore and jammed with Stevie. What a rock and roll legend! He played the drums like no other.
Listen to the live recordings and you really understand why Jimi stuck with him all those years. RIP Mitch and let Jimi Stand Next to Your Fire!

Mitch was Number One! No one played quite like Mitch Mitchell. He had a style and talent like all his own. No one played jazz drums in rock at that time that I know of, and tat was the ticket. The Experience blew rock music off the map of the earth in into the far universe.

I am a drummer and Mitch taught me how to play through the headphones and turntable when I was 12-15 back in the late 70’s.

I will always be in debt to to his influence on me and his contribution to the drumming world.

I live in Portland, OR and had to go sit behind the Schnitzer Concert Hall for a bit this morning being it is his last place to grace the almighty skins.

GodSpeed Mitch!

Rip Mitch - The Experience can once again jam together up in the stars
One my 5 favorite drummers of all time (along with Bonham, Moon, Baker and Collins)

I saw Mitch play at the Chicago Theater in October.It was so sad to see him struggling.But at the end of the show him and Eric Gales were wrestling around and Mitch spun around and waved his fanny at the audience. Just beautiful!
I’ll keep that memory forever.
One of, if not THE BEST.
Be at peace.

i just heard about mitch mitchels passing, my jaws just dropped.he was a damn good drummer, and musician, whoose music will live on,and whose drumming will inspire generations of drummers. may u rest in peace, your fans will miss u dearly.

I saw the Experience Hendrix show at the Fox in Detroit. I knew that something was wrong with Mitch because he sat behind the kit and didn’t do much and when he adressed the crowd he was shaking. Very underated drummer, a true friend to Jimi. Long live the mighty Mitch Mitchell. Peace and love brother.

Of course it’s too bad that Mitch is gone, but for those of you who say there is no innovation in rock today, you must not be looking in the right places.

Rock is alive and well, it just doesn’t have the limelight like it did in Mitch’s day. I feel bad for anyone who is bored with today’s rock bands.

Expand your horizons a little. Some of you sound like bitter hippies still moping about in the shadow of the summer of love.

I met Mitch in 1969 when I played guitar for the chambers brother, living in Standford Conn. He and Jimi were staying at a hotel not far from Electric ladyland. That night we sat on the floor and drank wine, listening to Jimi play accoustic guitar, he was great and Mitch was that too. He always had a smile and goodwill towards fellow musicans. I’ll never forget him say to me, you are young but keep playing. Mitch was 3 years older and he was the drummer of all rock drummers. Mitch I love you and tell Jimi I loved him too, not just because of the music but because they were great humanbeans, I LOVE YOU MY FRIEND.
GEORGE

Cheers to one of the most underrated drummers ever.
I read in Hendrix’s Bio that when he met Hendrix, he was pushed to show he was as good of a drummer as Jimi was a guitar player.

I always enjoyed Mitch’s drumming.

When I was in college at Ball State University, Muncie IN, during the mid-late ’60s, my band, the Styx ‘n’ Stones, had its tempo set by a guy from Noblesville IN named Mike Lawhon for most of our group’s existence. Mike went from being an “OK” drummer in a prior group I was in (The Reason Why) to a really damned fine drummer in the Styx ‘n’ Stones. I still recall how Mike faithfully covered Mitch’s licks on J.H.E. songs like “(Let Me Stand Next to Your) Fire.” Mike flunked out of college and was immediately drafted — he was KIA in Viet Nam the summer of 1969; RIP. Maybe now Mitch can give Mike a few lessons.

Unlike what’s on some current cover versions on the Internet, my band’s take on “Fire” was nearly identical to the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s original recording (the radio-airplay version). I still remember handling the lead guitar work — less complicated licks than most other J.H.E. tunes. We had a good time playing “Fire,” and it was a true crowd-pleaser. We covered hard rock, soul-music, and lots of other stuff. Most of our gigs were at small venues — I can’t recall even one performance where people could not and did not dance. I believe the only other J.H.E. tune we did was “Purple Haze”; we were about the only local band to tackle it, and IMHO we did by far the best job; I still recall learning those complicated riffs on my Stratocaster — I think I may have enjoyed performing “P.H.” more than any other song. And I will always remember the backbeat provided by Mitchell-inspired Mike Lawhon beating the hell out of his Ludwigs.

RIP, Mitch!

A tremendous loss. All the recent deaths in music and film make me wonder what the future holds for artistic expression. I don’t feel that we’ve seen a great deal of new groundbreaking product. We need someone to reinvent everything, to completely and utterly shatter the reality of what we call entertainment. Something NEW, in the true sense.

rest in peace friend thank you for the inspiration and i’ll see you one day

I saw Mitch at the Seattle Experience Hendrix show last Thursday night, which would have been his second to last performance. He looked none to healthy at the time appeared to barely make it through the night and the drumming was well covered by the several other drummers recruted for the night. To me Mitch Mitchell was one of the three greatest late 60’s drummers out there 1) Keith Moon, 2 Ginger Baker and 3) Mitch Mitchell.

I saw Mitch at the Seattle Experience Hendrix show last Thursday night, which would have been his second to last performance. He looked none to healthy at the time appeared to barely make it through the night and the drumming was well covered by the several other drummers recruted for the night. To me Mitch Mitchell was one of the three greatest late 60’s drummers out there 1) Keith Moon, 2 Ginger Baker and 3) Mitch Mitchell.

I recently purchased The Live at Monterey DVD (which is incredible) as I watched the interviews, I wondered who this little old man whose face came on the screen so often was, it eventually occured to me it was Mitch Mitchell, I was shocked! Our Rock’n'Roll heroes are dieing from the most horrible cause of all … old age!

What a stinking shame. I am very sad for Mitch’s family and very sad for Rock and Roll. What are we left with? Bloody X-factor, Pop Idol celebrity chasing vacuous nothings. I will play Are You Experienced and watch Jimi at Woodstock tonight and remember them well. Long live Rock….

Certainly the most underrated drummer in rock history. You were the fuel for the fire…..

Thank you Mitch.

I remember spending a whole summer in 1968 and wearing out a few Hendrix albums trying to play like him. He definitly helped send Jimi’s playing airborne.He was the best. I will miss him.

He will be missed. Mitch Mitchell was the greatest drummer in rock, period.

My favourite drummer… Rest in Peace Mitch…

…if there’s a rock n roll heaven….

Rock died a little more today. As if it needed to be brought down any further.

Long live the Experience.

Jimi without Mitch was never quite the same…..

ONE OF MY FAVORITE DRUMMER…ALONG WITH GINGER BAKER,BONHAM,MOON & ELVIN JONES…Rock In Peace !

Jimi needed Mitch to be the best guitarist in the world and Mitch needed Jimi to be the best drummer in the world. Imagine, all three original JHE-members are gone. So sad…

I was at the Experience Hendrix show in Portland. Mitch played only briefly for part of one song, and the song was “Angel” with Chris Layton handling most of the drumming and Doyle Bramhall II singing and playing beautiful guitar. It was my favorite song of the show. Someone with the tour said Mitch “was not feeling well”. He was my favorite drummer and in my opinion, the greatest rock drummer of all time. “Fly on my sweet angel, fly on through the sky.”

Sad news to the world. I once saw the experience 1970 here in Sweden. I’ll never forget that. Jimi, Noel and now Mitch. Please reunite guys and come on down to earth and play for us.

Fine musician. sad day for all good music fans

Fine musician. sad day for all good music fans

RIP brother..

Listen to any experience song when
mitch was young and you think how
could someone get so good in so few years, sounds like has he played thousands of years like jimi, Amazing talent.

A month ago was Richard Wright, now this.One of the best drummers in rock history. RIP Mitch.

I can’t believe it. One of the all time greats in any genre. I am watching the Isle of Wight DVD in tribute and during Machine Gun you can see the connection between Jimi and Mitch. Jimi would not have been able to accomplish what he did without him. A sad loss.

well look at the biright side jimi noel and mitch are just reunighting now and maybe on day jimi will come down and play the song :angle if u no the song it is a good thing he is with his friends now

well look at the biright side jimi noel and mitch are just reunighting now and maybe on day jimi will come down and play the song :angle if u no the song it is a good thing he is with his friends now

Mitch is jammin’ with Jimi, Noel, Jim Morrison, Keith Moon, John Bonham, and other great artists in one mind-blowing rock show in Heaven…

Mitchell is by far my favorite drummer of all time. He is the reason i picked up the sticks in the first place. To hear his drumming was a life changing experience for me. He’s now playing the great gig in the sky. RIP Mitch, god knows you will be missed.

mitch mitchell. joy. loved the way he made everything rock and swing. i will miss him. thank you mitch!

… great drummer & the best white guy ‘fro ever. The Experience is on God’s stage tonight …….. peace, fellas.

don”t ever forget,The Experience…r.i.p.

I just broke down and cried as soon as I heard this news! Mitch Mitchell conveyed the most intense energy as a drummer. He was the perfect complement to Jimi’s playing. The Experience is touring right now, up in Heaven, along with Janis and Jim…imagine that. Bold as Love, I’ll bet.

He (and Redding) were really under rated as musicians. They provided a framework for Jimi’s talents to shine as writer, singer, guitar player and performer. They made the Experience swing.

Music is better because Mitch gave it to us. He was the best drummer in Rock n’ Roll history. Ever!!!

Posted to the Little Feat Hoy Hoy Digest:

Very sad to hear the news about the passing of Mitch Mitchell.

When I got my first drum set (Ludwig Blue Sparkle-still have it!) in 1967, I was just getting turned on to all the great music suddenly being played on New York’s WNEW-FM.

I didn’t know who it was at first, but when I heard “Purple Haze” and “Fire” for the first times, I was determined to find everything I could out about this truly unique percussionist.

Mitch became one of the “Holy Trinity” of drummers I tried to emulate..along with Mitchell, I focused in on Ginger Baker and Keith Moon for true inspiration. Absolutely no one else played like these guys–they were all heads above anyone else playing out there at the time.

I think of the song “Manic Depression”, a 3/4 time raucous adventure in rhythm combining jazz and rock, which later evolved into fusion. Was lucky enough to catch Feat perform it at a soundcheck a few years back at BB Kings in NY. Richie had a big smile on his face as he played it, rivaled only by the shit-eating grin on Master Foo’s face as he shredded it with glee.

And as remarkable as that first Hendrix album was, the follow up, “Axis Bold As Love” took it even further. The production was even more crisp and precise; the bridge on the title track with those tom toms whooshing through the phase shifter effect was a revelation. His use of brushes on “Up From The Skies”, the rat-ta-tat snare and pulsing bass drum on “Spanish Castle Magic” still evoke a chill–Letterman’s band often plays this song between breaks, I would not be surprised to hear it tonight or tomorrow.

Of course the masterpiece “Electric Ladyland”, both in songs and production probably features Mitch’s most diverse work: “Voodoo Chile” with Jack Casady on bass and Steve Winwood on B3–Whoa!! Put the headphones on for that one! Listen to how many different styles he touches on within that song…”Cross Town Traffic”–Check out that snare drum sound! “Rainy Day, Dream Away”–another one for the headphones, with all kinds of transitions, rolling snare, high hat work that still is unrivaled.

“Cry Of Love” was released after Hendrix died, but you can still hear the spark in songs like “In From The Storm”, “Ezy Rider” and “Freedom” among others. Of course, there are a slew of other recordings either released after Hendrix died, along with a multitude of bootlegged live recordings. I would have to say he was every bit the match that lit the fire of Jimi’s playing–Lead Drums indeed!

I had the opportunity to visit the Experience Museum out in Seattle 2 weeks ago on our Northwest Roadtrip. I would highly recommend this as a must see location if you ever get the chance to visit there–and it’s right next to the Space Needle.

They have a remarkable Hendrix Exhibit–Tons of stuff like the guitar Jimi used to play the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock, for example. There’s a “Mitch Mitchell Era” drum kit on display; one is amazed by the sounds he coaxed out of a relatively small kit. All kinds of film clips, most hauntingly a very recent interview with Mitch discussing the “Heyday” of the Experience. I could have spent another hour or two at the exhibit easily…

Excuse me for the indulgence here, but we have truly lost one of the greatest drummers of our era. Mark my word, the tributes will be pouring in once this news is widely distributed. If you ever get a chance, just ask Richie about him…Am sure he will get a little glow as he talks about him.

And raise a glass tonight to one of the true innovators of rock and roll drumming, a legend who took tradional rock drumming and turned it on it’s head. RIP, Mitch.

Later

Paco

can’t believe it,does Death have no fear of Hendrix? if i dont see you no more in this world,dont be late

Extremely gifted, rare and influential presence, behind the cymbals. Never heard anything more furious or complex than “Fire.” Such heavy handed dexterity is unique, and extraordinary. Mitch was better than Bonham. Miss you MM.

Mitch Mitchel RIP.
That said, how come nobody made much noise when Mickey Waller died a while back? They called him “rubber wrists” and he was one monster drummer. Saw him with the original Jeff Beck Group lineup circa 68 at the Fillmore West..Beck, Stewart, Wood and Waller…what a lineup.

I will be raising a glass to the great Mitch Mitchell this evening. What a talent.

He was my favorite drummer, along with Elvin Jones. a very sad day. He was a catalyst of free form energy and now he’s back with Noel and Jimi. Play on Drummer

The Portland, Oregon press is reporting that his body was discovered at around 3am.

Who and why was someone going into his hotel room at 3am?

This is just too much. With the economy, the terrible world situation, etc., I would just about be ready to turn on the gas and seal up the room if Obama hadn’t been elected. Mitchell was probably the best drummer in rock history; not a flailer or bombastic self-promoter, just a jazz-saturated little dude providing the propulsion behind the world-turning guitarist/singer/songwriter. Hendrix, Redding, Buddy Miles…and now little Mitch Mitchell. I can’t stand it. Only Billy Cox left to carry on the Experience/Band of Gypsies legacy.

jimi couldn’t do his thing without mitch… in my opinion he should be revered in the same way that bonham and moon have been. maybe its because jimi’s name was on the band unlike zep or the who, though the experience were very much a creative unit in their own way. mitch mitchell was one of the great rock drummers who came from a jazz background. his touch, sound, and interplay with jimi was such a beautiful thing. this is very sad news. rest in peace mitch.

Mitch was one of the great jazz/rock fusion drummers of all time. He opened up whole new vistas for modern drummers. It’s sad to hear of him passing away at such a young age. He will be greatly missed.

Fly on sweet angel Mitch.61 is still too young to die,and the thought of all 3 members of the Experience and Buddy Miles no longer being among us is heartbreaking.Thank you Mr. Mitchell for being a passionate embodiment of what rock drumming is all about,and all of us who love rock and roll owe you a tip of the cap for the hours of musical enjoyment you gave us .

this sucks. another great gone. the world keeps getting shittier. at least obama won!

Sad to see “little” Mitch go. He was such a great drummer. And one of few drummers who had the chops to propel Jimi to new vistas.

It wasn’t just an off the cuff remark when Jimi called Mitch “My Elvin Jones”. Just as Elvin was invaluable to Coltrane, Mitch played the same role for Jimi.

If there is an afterworld, I really hope you find Jimi and have a wonderful jam session.

A real legend and a vital part of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. RIP.

R.I.P Mitch. We lost another one today. Gonna go light a candle and listen to a live version of “If i don’t live today.”

ROck In Peace

I just saw him play on my birthday 11/3 he was all smiles and jamming. thats how i will remember him.

this is really sad. he was my favorite drummer.