Mitch Mitchell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mitch Mitchell
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Mitchell in 1967
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Graham Mitchell |
| Born | 9 July 1946 Ealing, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 12 November 2008 (aged 62) Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1960–2008 |
John Graham "Mitch" Mitchell (born July 9, 1946 – died November 12, 2008) was a famous English drummer. He was best known for playing drums in the legendary band the Jimi Hendrix Experience. His amazing drumming helped him get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. He was also honored in the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2009.
Contents
Who Was Mitch Mitchell?
Early Life and Acting
Mitch Mitchell was born in Ealing, England, on July 9, 1946. When he was just twelve years old, he had a main role in a British movie called Bottoms Up (1960). As a teenager, he also appeared in a children's TV show called Jennings at School. He even had a small part in the 1963 film Live It Up!.
Mitchell became a musician by working at a drum shop on Saturdays. He learned a lot about drums there. Some of his biggest influences as a drummer were Elvin Jones and Tony Williams, who were both famous jazz drummers. One of his first bands was called the Soul Messengers.
Early in his career, Mitch played with many different bands. He gained a lot of experience touring and recording music. He even played as a session drummer for the Who for a short time.
Playing with Georgie Fame
From December 1965 to October 1966, Mitchell was the drummer for a band called Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames. He played on their 1966 album Sweet Things. Georgie Fame later said that Mitch loved to play the cymbals loudly, like his hero, jazz drummer Ronnie Stephenson.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Mitch Mitchell joined the Jimi Hendrix Experience on October 6, 1966. He was chosen after a coin toss! His fast, jazz-inspired drumming style fit perfectly with Jimi Hendrix's new and exciting way of playing the electric guitar.
He played on the band's three most popular studio albums:
- Are You Experienced (1967)
- Axis: Bold As Love (1968)
- Electric Ladyland (1968)
Mitch stayed with Jimi Hendrix after the Experience band broke up in 1969. He played with Hendrix's larger band at the famous Woodstock music festival in August 1969. Mitch later rejoined Hendrix for the Cry of Love Tour in 1970. He also recorded many songs for albums that were released after Hendrix passed away, like The Cry of Love (1971) and Rainbow Bridge (1971).
Drum Sets Mitch Used
When he first played with the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1967, Mitch used a Premier drum kit. Later that year, he switched to a Ludwig drum set. He used Ludwig drums through 1968 and 1969. In 1970, his last year with the Experience, he started using a double-bass Gretsch Drums set. For his snare drum, he often used a Ludwig Supraphonic 400. Later in his life, he played DW drums.
Other Music Projects
In December 1968, Mitch Mitchell played with a special band called the Dirty Mac. This band was put together for a TV show called The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. Other famous musicians in this group included John Lennon from The Beatles and Eric Clapton.
After Jimi Hendrix passed away, Mitch helped finish some of Hendrix's unreleased recordings. These became the albums The Cry of Love and Rainbow Bridge. In 1972, he formed a band called Ramatam with guitarists Mike Pinera and April Lawton. They released one album and opened for the band Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Mitch also played with other famous musicians like Terry Reid, Jack Bruce, and Jeff Beck. He even auditioned for Paul McCartney's band Wings in 1974, but he didn't get the spot.
For many years, Mitch Mitchell continued to perform and record music. He worked on different projects and appeared in videos and interviews about Jimi Hendrix. In 1999, he was part of a group called Gypsy Sun Experience, with former Hendrix bassist Billy Cox.
Later Years and Passing
Mitch Mitchell spent his final days on the 2008 Experience Hendrix Tour. This tour celebrated Jimi Hendrix's music and traveled to many cities in the US. The tour also featured other great musicians like Billy Cox and Buddy Guy.
Five days after the tour ended, Mitch Mitchell passed away in his sleep on November 12, 2008, in Portland, Oregon. He had been unwell for some time due to health issues.
Legacy
Many drummers look up to Mitch Mitchell. Queen drummer Roger Taylor said that listening to Mitch Mitchell's early work with Hendrix was "just fantastic." Matt Sorum, who played drums for Guns N' Roses, called Mitch "one of the greatest drummers of all time."
The Police drummer Stewart Copeland said that the Jimi Hendrix Experience's first album, Are You Experienced, was his favorite drum album ever. He remembered thinking about how Mitch Mitchell would play a rhythm when he was a child.
In 2016, Rolling Stone magazine named Mitch Mitchell the eighth-greatest drummer of all time.
Images for kids
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Mitchell in 1967
