The last surviving member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience has died with Mitch Mitchell being found dead in his Portland hotel room on November 12th.
The 61 year old was touring the United States with the Experience Hendrix tour, remaining a wonderful musician to the last. An employee at the Benson Hotel discovered Mitchell’s body in the hotel room, reports Associated Press. He is believed to have died of natural causes.
Mitchell played an important part in one of the defining groups of the sixties. His furious jazz-styled drumming allowed Hendrix free reign to play his typically wild solos, but Mitchell had a sensitive side that worked well with the group’s famous ballads such as ‘Little Wing’.
Mitchell remained at Hendrix’s side throughout the guitarist’s life, playing in the Gypsy Sun & Rainbows Band at Woodstock. It is Mitchell’s astonishing drumming that can be heard on the iconic version of ‘Star Spangled Banner’. Done, he claimed, to keep his hands warm.
In addition to his career with Hendrix, Mitchell also played with The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Beatles singer John Lennon.
Mitch Mitchell has died aged 61.
