drumming legend Mitch Mitchell dies

The last surviving original member of trio The Jimi Hendrix Experience who pioneered the psychedelic rock scene in the 1960s, has died. Drummer Mitch Mitchell, aged 61, was still touring with the Experience Hendrix tribute tour when he was found on Wednesday morning in his hotel room in Portland, Oregon. It is believed he died from natural causes.

Mitchell, whose real name was John Mitchell, from Ealing in west London, joining legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix and bass player Noel Redding in 1966. The drummer supported the guitar great at some of the famous performances of all time, including the one at the Monterey Pop Festival where Hendrix famously set light to his guitar, Woodstock, and in the early hours of the morning at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970.

The drummer appears on a number of classic albums including 'Are You Experienced?' and 'Electric Ladyland' which featured tracks including 'Purple Haze', 'Voodoo Chile', 'Little Wing', and 'Hey Joe'.

Mitch also played in The Dirty Mac, a supergroup assembled for The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus in 1968 which included John Lennon, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards.

Mitchell, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, is cited as a major influence for many of today's drummers and he's considered one of the greatest drummers ever.


Photograph taken by Roy Bowen and featured on the ukrockfestivals website. To see their coverage of the Isle Of Wight Festival 1970 click here.

Latest Updates