Mitch Mitchell

For the Guided by Voices guitarist, see Mitch Mitchell (Guided by Voices). For other people named John Mitchell, see John Mitchell (disambiguation). Mitch Mitchell Background information Birth name John Mitchell Born 9 July 1947(1947-07-09) Ealing, Middlesex, England Died 12 November 2008(2008-11-12) (aged 61) Portland, Oregon, US Genres Rock, psychedelic rock, hard rock, jazz fusion Instruments Drums, vocals, Percussion Years active 1966–2008 Associated acts The Coronets, Johnny Harris and the Shades, The Pretty Things, Georgie Fame, The Riot Squad, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, Gypsy Sun Experience, The Dirty Mac, Ramatam, The Who John "Mitch" Mitchell (9 July 1947 – 12 November 2008) was an English drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life and the Jimi Hendrix Experience 1.2 Post-Hendrix 1.3 Death 2 Style 3 Discography 4 References 5 External links Biography Early life and the Jimi Hendrix Experience Before joining the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Mitchell gained considerable musical experience touring and playing as a session musician. He also had an acting background, and had starred in a children's television programme, Jennings and Derbyshire, when he was a teenager.1 He became a musician through working for Jim Marshall at his drum shop on Saturdays while still at school. 2Pre-Experience bands included Frankie Reid and the Casuals (1962), Johnny Harris and the Shades, The Pretty Things, Bill Knight & The Sceptres, The Riot Squad, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, and The Who as a session drummer while the band was deciding on a replacement for Doug Sandom.3 (The band's eventual choice was Keith Moon).Mitchell auditioned for Hendrix's band in October 1966, beating out many other British drummers, including Aynsley Dunbar (who, according to Hendrix's manager Chas Chandler, was their other final choice. Mitch won the job on the flip of a coin). Mitchell was praised for his work with the Jimi Hendrix Experience on songs such as "Manic Depression", "Stepping Stone", "Little Miss Strange", "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", "Fire" and "Third Stone from the Sun". Mitchell came from a jazz background and like many of his drummer contemporaries was strongly influenced by the work of Elvin Jones, Max Roach, and Joe Morello.4 Mitchell played in Hendrix's Experience trio from October 1966 to mid-1969, in his Woodstock band of August 1969, and also with the later incarnation of the Experience in 1970 with Billy Cox on bass, known posthumously as the "Cry of Love" band. Hendrix would often record tracks in the studio with only Mitchell, and in concert the two fed off of each other to exciting effect. In December 1968, Mitchell played in the band The Dirty Mac assembled for The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus in 1968. Other members included John Lennon as vocalist and rhythm guitarist "Winston Leg-Thigh"; Yoko Ono providing improvised primal screams; Eric Clapton as guitarist, and Keith Richards as bassist. The group recorded a cover of "Yer Blues" as well as a jam called "Whole Lotta Yoko". Another noteworthy musical collaboration in the late 1960s was with the Jack Bruce and Friends band featuring Mitchell along with ex-Cream bassist and vocalist Jack Bruce, keyboardist Mike Mandel and jazz-fusion guitarist and future The Eleventh House frontman Larry Coryell. Mitchell played in this band during late 1969 and early 1970, when Hendrix was working with the Band of Gypsys. Mitchell also took part in some of Miles Davis' demo sessions for Miles' 1969 album Bitches Brew, but does not appear on the final album. Post-Hendrix After Hendrix's death, Mitchell (with engineer Eddie Kramer) finished production work on multiple incomplete Hendrix recordings, resulting in the posthumous releases The Cry of Love and Rainbow Bridge. In 1972, he teamed up with guitarists Mike Pinera (from Iron Butterfly) and April Lawton to form the innovative act Ramatam. They recorded one album and were Emerson, Lake & Palmer's opening act at a number of concerts. Interestingly, Mitchell and Hendrix had been offered spots in the band Keith Emerson and Greg Lake were forming. But it never came to pass, Carl Palmer got the drum position and the band was Keyboard led with Lake doubling in on guitar now and again. Ramatam never achieved commercial success and Mitchell left the act before their second LP was released. Mitchell also performed in some concerts with Terry Reid, Jack Bruce and Jeff Beck (substituting for drummer Cozy Powell, then sick). According to John McDermott's book Hendrix: Setting the Record Straight, Michael Jeffery, Hendrix's manager, relegated Mitchell and Noel Redding to paid employees without an ownership share in future revenues. This limited their earnings to a low rate and led to Mitchell and Redding being largely excluded from sharing in future revenues generated from their work with the Experience. This arrangement pressured Mitchell in the mid-1970s to sell a prized Hendrix guitar. In addition, he sold his small legal claim to future Hendrix record sales for a sum reported to be about $200,000. In 1974, he auditioned for Paul McCartney's band Wings, but was turned down in favour of drummer Geoff Britton. For the rest of the 1970s through to the 1990s, Mitchell continued to perform and occasionally record, usually under the radar of most of his fans. He kept reasonably busy with session work (such as Junior Brown's Long Walk Back album) as well as participating in various Hendrix-related recordings, videos, and interviews. In 1999, Mitchell appeared on the Bruce Cameron's album Midnight Daydream that included Billy Cox and Buddy Miles along with Jack Bruce. Mitchell, seemingly in an attempt to satisfy the most enthusiastic fans of his drum work with Hendrix, even played a series of live shows with the Hendrix emulator Randy Hansen. Most recently, he was part of the Gypsy Sun Experience, along with Cox and guitarist Gary Serkin. He became semi-retired, living in Europe. In 2005, he was named the 23rd greatest drummer of all time by Rolling Stone. Death His last days were spent celebrating Hendrix's music on the 2008 Experience Hendrix Tour. For nearly four weeks the tour travelled coast to coast in an 18-city tour in the US, finishing in Portland, Oregon.5 The tour also featured Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, Cesar Rosas, David Hidalgo, Aerosmith's Brad Whitford, Hubert Sumlin, Chris Layton as well as Eric Gales and Mato Nanji. Five days after the tour ended Mitchell was found dead at about 3am on November 12, in his room at the Benson Hotel in downtown Portland.6 Following medical tests, it was revealed by the Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office that Mitchell had died in his sleep78 of what was thought to be natural causes. He was the last surviving member of the original Experience. Mitchell had planned to leave Portland that day to return to his home in England.citation needed Style Mitchell pioneered a style of drumming which would later become known as fusion. This is a "lead" style of playing distinguished by interplay with lead instruments such as guitar or keyboards, and the blending of jazz and rock drumming styles. Though the use of lead drums was not a new concept in the world of jazz, it was relatively unheard of in the rock genre at the time. Upon joining Hendrix in late 1966, it soon became evident to Mitch that the trio format of the band was similar to the recently formed Cream, and that it would allow him an opportunity to become more free with his playing. Like a jazz drummer, Mitchell's playing not only provided a rhythmic support for the music, but also a source of momentum and melody. He made heavy use of snare rudiments, fast single and double stroke rolls, and jazz triplet patterns in his playing, and shifted between both traditional and matched grips. Notable examples of his style include the rudiment-heavy fills on Hey Joe, which help to carry the song through a series of increasingly intense climaxes. Manic Depression is a 3/4 rock waltz that finds Mitchell playing a driving Afro-Cuban inspired beat, which then shifts to an explosion of triplets all around the drumkit during the outro. Third Stone from the Sun incorporates a swing ride pattern to underpin Hendrix's jazzy surf guitar, and the spacey breakdown section features polyrhythmic drum fills that float over the 4/4 meter. 1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be) features military-style snare drum work and delicate cymbal playing that evokes the sound of wind chimes. The long blues jam Voodoo Chile features Mitchell playing a deep blues groove with subtle hi-hat accenting and powerful drum fills that help to propel the song to new heights. Alongside Hendrix's revolutionary guitar work and songwriting, Mitchell's playing helped redefine rock music drumming.9 Discography 1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? 1968: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love 1968: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland 1969: Martha Velez - Fiends and Angels 1971: Jimi Hendrix - The Cry Of Love 1971: Jimi Hendrix - Rainbow Bridge 1972: Jimi Hendrix - War Heroes 1972: Ramatam - Ramatam 1980: Roger Chapman - Mail Order Magic 1986: Greg Parker - 'Black Dog' 1998: Junior Brown- Long Walk Back 1999: Bruce Cameron- Midnight Daydream 2010: Jimi Hendrix - Valleys of Neptune References ^ Cross, Charles R (2005). Room Full of Mirrors p.162 Hodder and Stoughton Ltd. ISBN 0-340-82683-5 ^ Saunders, William (2010) Jimi Hendrix London Roaring Forties Press ISBN 978-0-9843165-1-9 ^ [1] The Who Concert File ^ Mitch Mitchell ^ Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell dies aged 62 ^ Jimi Hendrix drummer found dead in Portland hotel By DAVID KROUGH, kgw.com Staff ^ Mitch Mitchell death was 'natural' ^ Oregonlive.com ^ The Hendrix Experience External links Mitch Mitchell/John Mitchell at the Internet Movie Database Obituary in The Times Obituary in The Daily Telegraph Remembered at NPR Mitch Mitchell at Find a Grave v · d · eJimi Hendrix / Jimi Hendrix Experience / Band of Gypsys Noel Redding · Mitch Mitchell · Billy Cox · Larry Lee · Juma Sultan · Jerry Velez · Buddy Miles Studio albums Are You Experienced · Axis: Bold as Love · Electric Ladyland · The Cry of Love · Rainbow Bridge · War Heroes · Loose Ends · Crash Landing · Midnight Lightning · Nine to the Universe · Valleys of Neptune Live albums Band of Gypsys · Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival · Experience · Isle of Wight · Hendrix in the West · More Experience · The Jimi Hendrix Concerts · Jimi Plays Monterey · Johnny B. Goode · Band of Gypsys 2 · Live at Winterland · Bleeding Heart · Woodstock · Live at the Fillmore East · Live at Woodstock · Blue Wild Angel: Live at the Isle of Wight · The Last Experience · Live at Berkeley · Live at Monterey Compilations Smash Hits · Electric Jimi Hendrix · Sound Track Recordings from the Film Jimi Hendrix · Musique Originale du Film Jimi Plays Berkeley · Re-Experienced · The Essential Jimi Hendrix · The Essential Jimi Hendrix Volume Two · Stone Free · The Singles Album · Kiss the Sky · Live & Unreleased: The Radio Show · Cornerstones: 1967–1970 · Lifelines: The Jimi Hendrix Story · Sessions · Footlights · Stages · The Ultimate Experience · Blues · Voodoo Soup · First Rays of the New Rising Sun · South Saturn Delta · Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix · BBC Sessions · The Jimi Hendrix Experience · Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection · The Singles Collection · Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Jimi Hendrix · West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology Official bootlegs Live at the Oakland Coliseum · Live at Clark University · Morning Symphony Ideas · Live in Ottawa · Baggy's Rehearsal Sessions · Paris 1967/San Francisco 1968 · Hear My Music · Live at the Isle of Fehmarn · Burning Desire · Live in Paris & Ottawa 1968 · Live at Woburn Singles "Hey Joe" · "Purple Haze" · "The Wind Cries Mary" · "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" · "Foxy Lady" · "Up from the Skies" · "All Along the Watchtower" · "Crosstown Traffic" · "Stone Free" · "Fire" · "Stepping Stone" · "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" · "No Such Animal" · "Freedom" · "Angel" · "Gypsy Eyes" · "Dolly Dagger" · "Johnny B. Goode" (live) · "Hear My Train a Comin'" · "Day Tripper" · "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" · "Valleys of Neptune" · "Bleeding Heart" Songs "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" · "Are You Experienced?" · "Bold as Love" · "Castles Made of Sand" · "Come On (Part 1)" · "Ezy Ryder" · "Highway Chile" · "I Don't Live Today" · "If 6 Was 9" · "Little Wing" · "Lover Man" · "Machine Gun" · "Manic Depression" · "My Friend" · "Red House" · "Spanish Castle Magic" · "The Star-Spangled Banner" · "The Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice" · "Third Stone from the Sun" · "Voodoo Chile" · "You Got Me Floatin'" Related articles Discography · Posthumous discography · An Illustrated Experience · Black Gold · The King Casuals · The Blue Flames · Chas Chandler · The Cry of Love Tour · Curtis Knight · Dagger Records · Electric Lady Studios · The Jimi Hendrix Experience French Tour 1966 · The Isley Brothers · Michael Jeffery · Monika Dannemann · Karl Ferris · Jimi Hendrix · Rainbow Bridge · Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix · Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix Book:Jimi Hendrix  · Category:Jimi Hendrix  · Portal:Rock and Roll v · d · eThe Jimi Hendrix Experience Jimi Hendrix · Mitch Mitchell · Noel Redding Studio albums Are You Experienced · Axis: Bold as Love · Electric Ladyland Live albums Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival · Live at Winterland · Live at Berkeley · Live at Monterey Compilations Smash Hits · Electric Jimi Hendrix · BBC Sessions · The Jimi Hendrix Experience · West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology Official bootlegs Live at the Oakland Coliseum · Live at Clark University · Live in Ottawa · Paris 1967/San Francisco 1968 · Live at the Isle of Fehmarn · Live in Paris & Ottawa 1968 · Live at Woburn Singles "Hey Joe" · "Purple Haze" · "The Wind Cries Mary" · "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" · "Foxy Lady" · "Up from the Skies" · "All Along the Watchtower" · "Crosstown Traffic" · "Stone Free" · "Fire" · "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" · "Gypsy Eyes" Songs "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" · "Are You Experienced?" · "Bold as Love" · "Castles Made of Sand" · "Come On (Part 1)" · "Highway Chile" · "I Don't Live Today" · "If 6 Was 9" · "Little Wing" · "Manic Depression" · "Red House" · "Spanish Castle Magic" · "The Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice" · "Third Stone from the Sun" · "Voodoo Chile" · "Wild Thing" · "You Got Me Floating" Related articles Jimi Hendrix discography · Jimi Hendrix posthumous discography · French Tour 1966 · Chas Chandler · Michael Jeffery · Billy Cox · Buddy Miles · Larry Lee · Juma Sultan · Karl Ferris · Electric Lady Studios v · d · eThe Who Roger Daltrey • Pete Townshend • John Entwistle • Keith Moon John "Rabbit" Bundrick • Pino Palladino • Zak Starkey • Simon Townshend Kenney Jones • Doug Sandom Studio albums My Generation • A Quick One • The Who Sell Out • Tommy • Who's Next • Quadrophenia • The Who by Numbers • Who Are You • Face Dances • It's Hard • Endless Wire Extended plays Ready Steady Who • Tommy • Won't Get Fooled Again • Wire & Glass Live albums Live at Leeds • Who's Last • Join Together • Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 • BBC Sessions • Blues to the Bush • Live at the Royal Albert Hall • Live from Toronto • View from a Backstage Pass • Greatest Hits Live Encore Series Encore Series 2002 • Encore Series 2004 • Encore Series 2006 • Encore Series 2007 Compilations Magic Bus: The Who on Tour • Direct Hits • Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy • Odds & Sods • The Story of The Who • Phases • Hooligans • Who's Greatest Hits • Rarities Volume I & Volume II • The Singles • The Who Collection • Who's Missing • Two's Missing • Who's Better, Who's Best • Thirty Years of Maximum R&B • My Generation: The Very Best of The Who • 20th Century Masters • The Ultimate Collection • Then and Now • The 1st Singles Box • Greatest Hits Soundtracks Tommy • The Kids Are Alright • Quadrophenia • Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who Filmography Tommy • The Kids Are Alright • Quadrophenia • Who's Better, Who's Best • Thirty Years of Maximum R&B Live • Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 • Classic Albums: The Who – Who's Next • The Who & Special Guests: Live at the Royal Albert Hall • The Who Special Edition EP • Live in Boston • Tommy and Quadrophenia Live • The Vegas Job • Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who • The Who At Kilburn: 1977 Solo discography Roger Daltrey discography • Pete Townshend discography • John Entwistle discography • Two Sides of the Moon Related people Personnel Jon Astley • Chris Charlesworth • Bill Curbishley • Glyn Johns • Kit Lambert • Peter Meaden • Bob Pridden • Chris Stamp • Bill Szymczyk • Shel Talmy Musicians Mitch Mitchell • Dave Golding • Julian Covey • Chris Townson • Scot Halpin • Tim Gorman • Steve "Boltz" Bolton • Simon Phillips • Jon Carin • Damon Minchella • Steve White • Brian Kehew • J.J. Blair • Jon Button Performances 1968 tour • 1969 tour • 1970 tour • 1971 tour • 1972 tour • 1973 tour • 1974 tour • 1975 tour • 1976 tour • 1977-1978 performances • 1979 tour • 1979 concert disaster • 1980 tour • 1981 tour • 1982 tour • 1985 and 1988 reunions • 1989 tour • 1996-1997 tour • 1999 performances • 2000 tour • 2001 The Concert for New York City appearance • 2002 tour • 2004 tour • 2005 Live 8 appearance • 2006-2007 tour • 2008-2009 tour Categories Albums • Articles • Associated people • Compilation albums • EPs • Live albums • Members • Songs • Soundtracks • Templates Related articles Discography • The Boy Who Heard Music • Lifehouse • The Who's Tommy • The Roots of Tommy • The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard • A Tale of Two Springfields • Musical equipment • Personnel • Track Records • Double O • Ramport Studios • The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus • CSI franchise (Las Vegas • Miami • New York) Category • WikiProject Persondata Name Mitchell, Mitch Alternative names Mitchell, John Short description English drummer Date of birth 1947-7-9 Place of birth Ealing, Middlesex, England Date of death 2008-11-12 Place of death Portland, Oregon, USA