Even though Hendrix died when I was very young, I discovered his music as I was just starting to learn about Rock music. Even though the first Hendrix album given to me by a friend was "Band of Gypsys" (love Buddy Miles too), I picked up "Are You Experienced" shortly thereafter. Man, talk about an eye opener! Mitch was such a "tasty" drummer, and he complimented Hendrix perfectly. In my first "real" band we did "Manic Depression", "Fire", and Purple Haze", so I couldn't help but be influenced by Mitch. Luckily now, one of the gigging bands I'm in, is a Hendrix/SRV band, and I get to play all those great songs that Mitch played on. :cool:

> Hendrix/SRV band, and I get to play all those great songs that Mitch played on.

From about 94' to 99' I played in a Hendrix/SRV cover band. We only played about a half-dozen gigs a year or so, but playing with those guys was (musically) the most fun I've had as a drummer/player. Playing those tunes allows you walk in Mitch's shoes. In order to execute that material you have play and move around the drums like Mitch did. Most people only get to listen to the music, when you play it yourself, you get to -feel- physically what it was like for Mitch when he played it. You can get inside the musicians head in a way that ordinary listeners will never be able to. We can connect with the music on a visceral level. Ordinary/passive listeners of the music can't do that. We can almost literally get inside their heads, their skins and -know- what it's like to make that kind of music. We get to feel the energy the music produces as it comes through us, in our gut. We can relate to our hero's in a

very real way that few others can. Because of the special skill-set we all have developed, we can walk a mile in their shoes.

As musicians, we're very lucky people.

John

Ok I get that you have a favorite drummer. We all do. No disrespect here whatsoever, seriously. But Mitch Mitchell? Really????

I'll give you that he's a great drummer. One of the many many great drummers. But I really don't think you can put him in the same category with Bonzo! or Buddy. Sorry but just my opinion. And I'm ready to get pounced on here but that's my opinion.

mcdrummer

Not 'pouncing on you' here:

A lot of why a drummer is a favourite has to do with nostalgia - what 'we' as future drummers or drummers back in the day were listening to or hearing for the first time.....stuff that makes us feel good now when we think back etc etc. Often it's got very little to do with pitching one drummers abilities against anothers. For instance....in my case....I absolutely know that Sandy Nelson is no where near the best drummer out there - or ever was - but I listened to him when I was 11 years old and he had a great impact on me becoming a drummer. I won't take anything away from Mr. Nelson here for the simple fact he was the only drummer to ever....in the history of music, not just drumming, to make a career out of recording and playing tunes that totally revolved around drumming....period. So he does have some huge claim to fame on that note alone. But to compare him to Buddy Rich...as a drummer...that's just nuts.

Pounced? Not at all, you and every member here is entitled to their opinions. What I am surprised at is; why you would bother to put up a negative post in thread where people who like and admire, Mitchell are expressing the reasons why they like him so much. It's a (Tribute) thread to him. Not an open critique. You knew when you wrote it that you were pi$$ing on our parade... that's why you fear being "pounced on."

Growing up, my mom always told me... "If you don't have anything good to say about someone, or something, sometimes it's better not to say anything at all."

Your opinion has been duly noted. Thanks for the contribution, but it's -not- what this thread is about..

John

I'd have to agree. I'm not disparaging Mitch's work in any way, shape, or form - heaven knows it's difficult to be a professional drummer in ANY context - but I would not place him in the stratosphere of the very best. I listen to his work and am just underwhelmed. I'm a jazz drummer, so perhaps his style of play, when viewed in the context of straight-8 rock, is unique, but from a modern jazz standpoint, I don't think it's particularly innovative (you might even call it mainstream, in a looser, Elvin Jones style).

Yet, I do understand that to try and emulate a player's style - regardless of the player - is very difficult in many ways, sometimes even impossible, and that makes an identification with that player even more compelling.

Well your Mom sounds like a smart lady. And I really didn't mean to "pee on your parade" at all. I guess I didn't thoroughly read the "rules" of this post. Just thought we could express opinions. I mean if he had just passed in the last few weeks or months or something I'd get the whole tribute thing.

I've just heard so much Mitch adoration over the years that I spent some time really listening (to Hendrix) particularly to the drums and I really didn't get it. I didn't mean to be disparaging. I do respect that certain drummers strike a note with you and influence you. For me it was Ringo, yet every time I mention Ringo I get bashed. That's all. Again no disrespect intended. I appreciate you "not pouncing".

McD

Right On John! When I was 12 and asked my (ancient I thought at the time) drum teacher if he could teach me how to play like Bonham and Mitch Mitchell he told me not to study what they had played on the albums yet. 1st he took me to the same well that the two of them drank from as students back in the 50s. So for over a year that's all I studied were the Jazz drummers associated primarily with Blue Note Recordings. The Scottsdale Public library had a gigantic collection of Jazz records, 78s and the newer 33s. I wish I still had the list he gave me in his shaky handwriting.

Not in the same category as Bonzo?

I think maybe it's the other way around. And I love Bonham!

Listen to Little Wing from Axis Bold as Love 1:23 in where Mitch does that fill that I have never ever heard any other drummer duplicate exactly.

It's bloody hard!!!

> It's bloody hard!!!

You said a mouthful with just a few words!

Mcdrummer - It's cool that you've listened to the music, but as a drummer, have you ever tried to play it? You're a musician, I promise you, if you spend a little time trying to pick up/cop just a few licks from Mitch, you'll gain a whole new respect for him. Guaranteed. The day you can play some of the lines in this tune on your drums, I invite you to come back to me and critique Mitch as a drummer.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FANaegwQKg[/ame]

Rick - can't compare apples and oranges, Mitch was not a 'modern jazz drummer' and shouldn't be judged by those standards. What he was, was an innovator. I guess you had to be a working musician and there at the time, to fully realize the impact and changes that guys like Mitch and Jimi brought to the music. Traditionally, the role of the drummer in a Rock band was one of, time-keeper basically. Lots of straight-ahead 4/4, 2/4 stuff with a little fill or two, all night long, every night. Jimi and Mitch came along and literally blew down all the old barriers. They shattered and altered the traditional roles of; the guitarist, (Jimi played lead and rhythm simultaneously) and the drummer, (Mitch's playing shadowed what Jimi was doing on guitar perfectly) he turned the drums in a Rock band into a melodic instrument. That was an earth shaking shift in the 'rules.'

Mitch was not 'the best drummer in the world,' nor is anyone trying to paint him that way. But, if you were there, you'd know that what he accomplished as a drummer and as a musician was nothing short of a paradigm shift of huge proportions. The fact remains... the music was changed forever after them.

John