Friday 'Fro: RIP, Mitch Mitchell

The Jimi Hendrix Experience is no more. Okay, I know, Jimi's been dead for 38 years; but with the death of bassist Noel Redding in 2003, and with drummer Mitch Mitchell (pictured above right) passing away this week, all mortal traces of one of the greatest bands of the 1960s (and perhaps ever) have been officially snuffed. And I must confess that makes me a wee bit teary-eyed...

I've been listening to Hendrix for nearly 30 years now, and I'm still surprised, moved and blown away by his playing every time I spin his records. But even musical geniuses need great sparring partners; and while Mitchell didn't always the credit he deserved back in the day, he might well have been Jimi's greatest and most valuable collaborator. Mitchell's loose, rolling, yet hard-hitting style (honed in countless British R&B and jazz combos) and his telepathic ability to sync up with Hendrix on all manner of improvisatory adventures were absolutely key to the Experience's stage and studio magic. And I haven't even mentioned the hair, yet...

Unlike Redding, who had naturally curly locks, Mitchell had to get his hair permed to measure up to Jimi's wild 'do. But he took one for the team, at least for a while, allowing the JHE to claim the mantel of "All-Time Greatest 'Fro-Topped Power Trio," at least in my book. C'mon, name a better one, I dare ya...

Alas, I couldn't find a clip of the Experience in action that really did justice to both Mitchell's playing and his short-lived 'fro-age, so I'm gonna go with this incredible 1967 clip from the "It's Lulu" TV show. The back-story behind it is that Lulu was actually supposed to come out half-way through "Hey Joe" and sing a duet (!!!) with Jimi, and was just about to take the stage when the band abruptly switched gears and went into their tribute to the Cream, whose breakup had just been announced. Lulu was apparently quite pissed, but it made for some amazing television. Mitchell gets a ton of camera time, too, so you can really get an eye- and ear-ful of his unique and soulful playing — somewhere between Ginger Baker and Keith Moon, yet more rhythmically grounded than either. He was, as they say, the absolute shit. I'm sure there's a wicked jam session going on in Rock and Roll Heaven right about now...

Comments

[Bob]

Nice find Dan,
Showed Mitch doing what he did best. Truly one of the greats. And, I never knew Geddy Lee sat in on bass for the Experience... [see 2:19]. ;^)

[John Battles]

DAN , CHECK OUT THE FOOTAGE FROM BEAT ! BEAT ! BEAT! , TOO , WHEN THE BAND WAS JUST STARING TO GET OVER IN EUROPE.....Mitchell played , much later , in Sky Saxon's band , Dragonslayers , and probably one or two other little bands he had....He's on Sky's version of "Don't Slander Me"...

[Laura]

Have you heard The Entrance Band yet?

[Michael Azerrad]

Mitchell was an incredible drummer -- he'd unleash those crazy-long fills, daredevilishly syncopated, and the tension was exquisite -- will he hit the one? He (almost) always did.
BTW, I love the quick "I Feel Fine" quotation Hendrix throws in at about 2:00. I'm sure he was one of the many musicians who were ignited by the feedback at the beginning of that song.