Jimi Hendrix Experience Drummer Mitch Mitchell R.I.P.
Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience, was found dead at a Portland hotel early this morning (November 12), according to reports from kgw.com and elsewhere. He is presumed to have died of natural causes, and sources vary as to whether he was 61 or 62.
Mitchell had a hand-- two very able hands, in fact-- in rock and roll history as part of the Experience in the late 1960s. He played in the Pretty Things and Georgie Fame's Blue Flames before joining Hendrix, and even served as part of the Dirty Mac supergroup that John Lennon assembled for the Rolling Stones' 1968 "Rock and Roll Circus" event, playing alongside Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Lennon himself. Two years after Hendrix's death in 1970, he formed the trio Ramatam, and went on to do session work for a number of musicians and partake in several Hendrix tributes.
Most recently, Mitchell took part in the traveling "Experience Hendrix" tribute tour, which wrapped up its three-week run last Friday in Portland and also featured Mitchell's latter day Experience bandmate Billy Cox.
Mitchell is the second drumming Jimi Hendrix collaborator to pass away this year; Band of Gypsys stickman Buddy Miles died in February.
Jimi Hendrix Experience: "All Along the Watchtower" (live at Isle of Wight)
Mitch Mitchell drum solo
"Mitch Mitchell on Drums"
The Dirty Mac
Recent News
Most Read News
- The Pitchfork Guide to Summer Festivals 2008
- The Pitchfork Guide to Upcoming Releases: Summer '08
- My Bloody Valentine Lead Unfuckingbelievable Lineup for New York All Tomorrow's Parties Fest
- Is This Really the New Weezer Album Cover?
- Dear God, Please Let This Be the Lil Wayne Album Cover
- My Bloody Valentine Announce North American Tour!
- Tom Waits Reveals "Glitter and Doom" Tour
- Sigur Ros Line Up Summer Tour Dates
- Coldplay Reveal Viva la Vida Tracklist
- Sigur Rós Announce Full North American Tour
- Photos: Bonnaroo [Saturday]
- Wolf Parade March Out New LP Tracklist
- Photos: Sasquatch! Festival [Monday] (NSFW)
- Beck Announces Summer Tour
- Wolf Parade Announce Summer Tour
- Sonic Youth Reveal Starbucks Hits Comp Details
- Photos: Bonnaroo [Thursday/Friday]
- Sigur Ros Sneak Peeks of New Album, Expand Tour
- Pitchfork's Guide to Record Store Day
- Radiohead, Live Nation Respond to Virginia Washout
- Peter Hook Talks New Order Split, DVD, Joy Division
- Ian Curtis' Gravestone Stolen
- Was Bonnaroo Really M.I.A.'s "Last Gig Ever"?
- Tom Waits Extends "Glitter and Doom" Tour
- Pitchfork Festival: Set Times Revealed! Tix Going Fast!
- The New Mogwai Album Tracklist Is Amazing
- Wolf Parade Join the 2008 Cover Art Hall of Fame
- The Conor Oberst Album Cover Is Dreamy
- Built to Spill Reveal Full-Blown Perfect Tour
- Crystal Castles Caught Up in Artwork Controversy
- Photos: Radiohead [West Palm Beach, FL; 05/05/08]
- Girl Talk's Feed the Animals Available Now!
- Radiohead Use Fancy Technology in Camera-Free Video
- The New Mogwai Album Cover Is Disappointing
- My Morning Jacket Announce Lengthy American Tour
- Weezer Reveal "Red Album" Tracklist, Bonus Cuts
- The National Design T-Shirt for Obama
- Arcade Fire Scoring Donnie Darko Dude's New Movie
- Josh Homme Defends Himself: "Homophobic? I'm in Queens of the Stone Age for Crissake"
- Radiohead, Prince at Odds Over Blocked YouTube Vids
- Radiohead to Go "Green" on "Conan O'Brien"
- Feist Does "1234" on "Sesame Street", Adds Dates
- Radiohead, Interpol, Pornos Fete Independents Day
- R. Kelly Not Guilty!!!!
- Crystal Castles Respond to Chip Music Controversy
- Kanye West Responds to Bonnaroo Haters
- Wanna Open for Coldplay?
- Sub Pop Announces 20th Anniversary Bash
- Bob Dylan Big Ups Barack Obama
- OiNK Users Apparently Arrested by British Police