Mitch Mitchell

Add your memories or messages

Add
Share
13.11.2008 : Mick Franks wrote I had the honour of being in the support band to Jimi Hendrix at the Boston Gliderdrome in Lincolnshire on March 25th 1967. The first thing I remember is Mitch wanting to buy my cymbal. I declined the offer...just think, it could have been on the recordings from that date on. I remember Jimi, Mitch and Noel all being polite gentlemen. This band will NEVER be forgotten. Mick Franks..Sons and Lovers. www.sonsandlovers.co.uk
13.11.2008 : Ron Macera Ron M wrote I was lucky enough to catch the Hendix Experience in New York at Cafe Wha? in August 1967 before Are You Experienced was released. Needless to say it was an Experience I will never forget. Being a drummer myself at the time I couldn't believe some of the stuff Mitch was doing. He was a pioneer and someone you couldn't help liking as a person. The band is finally back together and they are playing up a storm upstairs.
13.11.2008 : John 'Jel' Nixon wrote I had the pleasure of not only meeting Mitch but got to play drums with him.Inthe late seventies he was touring with
Tim Hinckleys Heroes it was a gig at leicester university,my
friend the late Vincent Swan was roady for the band and mitch & I put some great licks together,only to my astonishment to be invited on stage to jam during the gig.
Fond memories of a great guy who treated me like an old friend even though we had only just met.
13.11.2008 : graham verrall wrote Mitch was just as important as Moonie & Bonham as a rock drummer. He was the heartbeat of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Rest in peace Mitch.
13.11.2008 : Juan Cernuda wrote I will always enjoy his music and his extraordinary drumming style. A great loss.

Juan M.
Puebla, Mexico
14.11.2008 : Adam Weir wrote I, the Adam Weir have been playing drums since I was 7yo. When I was a teenager after learning from jazz albums like Woody Herman, I discovered Hendrix. After learning guitar Hendrix style, I continued playing Drums. My main influence has always been, Mitch Mitchell. I Identify my whole life as a drummer with Mitch as a major component to my drumming ability. A true inspiration for my now Jazz rock style. Every recording I have every done, has a little Mitch inside it.

This for me is a wake up call to identify my roots as a musician.
I love the Hendrix experience and I dearly loved the lessons learned from Mitch Mitchell.
At my age as a now 39yo, I wonder if there is still room in my life for another Hendrix cover band. I know I can do better job than any other drummer in this world to play Mitch style. I played his style for the past 15 years.

Why not? Why not indeed....

I love you Mitch - and thank you.
Adam Weir, Australian
15.11.2008 : Eric Robson wrote Wow…I am stunned…and can’t believe this has happened. I was at the LA show less than two weeks ago! I shot some great pics and decent video footage from the 6th row. It was a truely great night of Hendrix music played by great players! I have played guitar for 35 years now and Jimi was my biggest influence. I know almost every recording very well. Mitch Mitchell was absolutely amazing back in the day, and the main reason I went to the show on November 2nd was to see him & Billy Cox. I missed Hendrix by 2 weeks when I first moved to San Diego in 1970. (the live recordings from “In The West” at the Sports arena were all anyone was talking about! I was 12 and had all the Hendrix records already) “The Experience” may now be gone , but I will be playing them for the rest of my days!! R.I.P. Mitch….I’ll still be listening!…and enjoying!…Eric Robson, Laguna Beach, CA
16.11.2008 : Christopher Cavey wrote I am listening to "The Experience" which is Jimi, Mitch and Noel. You just know that Mitch is there with Jimi. He listens and combines and that is why he stayed with Hendrix.

Three songs changed life: they are: "Heartbreak Hotel", Elvis; "Love. Love Me Do", Beatles, and "HeyJoe". The rest is up to you.

The beauty of Mitch is that Jimi could not have done it without him. Just listen to the backing, listen to the drums, listen to the syncopation, listen to the pauses, listen to the rhythm, listen to the craziness, and then just relax and enjoy a bunch of guys making history.

God Bless you John Mitchell, only met you once and your parents once, many years ago, but always remembered.

You made history.
16.11.2008 : tony kearns wrote In 1967 i lived in highbury,and played in a band called the area,a fellow band member(ian clarke) and i went to a gig in clalk farm,THE ROUNDHOUSE,and we saw the jimi hendrix experience, we stood right in front of the stage,while all round were strobe lights,and projected images on the walls. a memory i will allways treasure.a light went on that night in music,and it will never,ever go out.rest in peace mitch, tony kearns.
16.11.2008 : brian davies wrote HI, I AM BRIAN DAVIES THE BASS PLAYER WITH THE RIOT SQUAD, IN 1964/5/6 MITCH AND I AND GRAHAM BONNEY WERE GREAT FRIENDS IN THAT BAND AND WHEN THE BAND SPLIT IN 1966 I KNEW MITCH WOULD GO ON TO GREAT THINGS, IN THOSE DAYS HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING DRUMMER AND THE BEST DRUMMER I HAVE EVER PLAYED WITH (TO THIS DAY)
OVER THE LAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HOLD OF MITCH AS I HAVEN'T SPOKE TO HIM FOR OVER 30 YEARS, SADLY I WON'T SPEAK TO HIM NOW.
GREAT MEMORIES.
BRIAN DAVIES
19.11.2008 : Phil McCarthy wrote My favourite memory of Mitch, goes back to 1978. We were at The Who's studio at Sheperton, Hinkley's Heroe's were rehearsing for a charity gig. Mitch played drums, along side John Halsey "The Admiral" a great drummer in his own right, and a host of well known musicians including the late Mike Patto (my brother) the late Boz Burrell, Henry McCullock, Roger Chapman, Polly Palmer, Bobby Tench,Mel Collins, to name but a few. To have experienced close up the talent in that line up. is something I will never forget. Mitch and "The Admiral" played many times together, both superb at their trade. He was also a real nice guy to be around.
Phil McCarthy
20.11.2008 : Mike Harris wrote Mitch came into our studio to record for the US Congress Library of Recording. We got his whole amazing life story - 2 hours of recording - then jammed with him. Unbelievable! More on http://www.littlelondonstudios.com/tam/mitch including a clip of Mitch's interview.
He was a wonderful man - sadly missed - fondly remembered.
Every time the thunder rolls across the sky we'll be thinking of you Mitch. R.I.P.
Terri & Mike
24.11.2008 : Mark Dean Ellen wrote Bought a pair of Zyjlian High Hats belonging him 1968.
They broke soon after. So I bought a new pair exactly the same and I still use em today with www.vanityfare.co.uk
People forget just how great he was technically. He was one of the first to master the finger style method aka Buddy Rich. He got real close to single stroke rolls on one hand.
Check out youtube * just watch his left hand.
Mark Dean Elen
24.11.2008 : jezz baverstock wrote I was lucky enough to meet and move mitch mitchell back from france as it was a back load i had no idea who i was moving, being one of the biggest hendrix fans you could imagine my shock when mitch opend the door
he turned out to be one of the funnest people i had met i have kept in contact with mitch and his wife dee and was presented with signed LPs by mitch and his wife wich i will treasure .MITCH IS NOT DEAD BUT AWOKEN FROM LIFES DREAM .[jezz]
25.11.2008 : Lloyd Hayden wrote I am one year older than Mitch was when he sadly left us and needless to say, have been listening to the Hendrix Experience since their inception. Their music is timeless and only the week before he died I had yet again been repeatedly playing their double album all day long whilst working at home.
Although self taught, Mitch was technically brilliant with a unique style and I have played their stuff so much since the sixties that it had a great influence on my son, Chris "the kid" Hayden who is now a great drummer in his own right playing for Florence and the Machine.
God bless you Mitch for all the pleasure you have given me and the rest of the music loving world.
19.12.2008 : Christopher Perry wrote While I am not a professional musician, and I never had the pleasure of meeting Mitch, I just wanted to express my sincere thanks for all the wonderful music he made with Jimi and Noel. I will listen and enjoy for the rest of my life. Mr. Mitchell you made a difference in so many lives. God Bless you on your last journey.
Chris Perry--Arizona
21.12.2008 : alec Duncan wrote As a '60s touring drummer who has just retired I believe that there were four drummers from that period who were sufficiently creative in their styles, allowing them to ignore the rule book and bring drumming and drummers to the fore as never before. All of them were British and all influence drummers around the world to this day.
Rest in peace John Bonham, Keith Moon and Mitch Mitchell,
Keep on rocking Ginger Baker.

Sadness - Respect - Gratitude.
13.01.2009 : Stephen Lewis wrote I just wanted to say how beautiful the tributes to Mitch are that I've read here tonight; especially those relating to Mitch's generosity of spirit (like his invitation to a fellow drummer to join him on stage - priceless!)

My all time favourite recording is Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble's reading of Little Wing (on The Sky Is Crying) - it's fitting I think that one of the musicians Mitch was playing with just before the end was Chris Layton. As I understand it, without Mitch this song wouldn't have been the same; perhaps it may never have come to be at all;
if you haven't read the Wikipedia entry on Mitch I can't recommend it enough - it is very respectful - and it's how I came to be here.

I feel very privileged. God bless you all, and RIP Mitch; your music will go on forever.
21.01.2009 : Frederic Zermeno wrote Mitch became my good friend after Hurricane Mitch. He visited L.A. City Hall many days after the Hurricane as we helped Mitch with a concert at the Sports arena. He had so much energy, I took him around to various offices at City Hall and introduced him to people and he sat there and drew something for them. He helped me start my business with advice and contacts. I last saw Mitch at the Greek Theater where he jammed with all his musician friends. He seemed in god spirits, he did mention that he was happy and had fulfilled some dreams recently. He left me and my wife with a nice rose drawing of our names. I will have it framed with one of his photos. Thanks for the memories Mitch. Now he's jammin again with Jimi.

FZ
Mitch Mitchell