I was backstage tonight, massaging at the AC/DC show in Madison Square Gardens and was having the best time ever until I heard, during the last massage, that Drummer Mitch Mitchell died. The promoter told me when I mentioned my massage team had just massaged the Experience Hendrix tour just about every stop of their tour. He interrupted me and said "I hate to be the one that tells you, but Mitch Mitchell just died tonight". I couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. Mitch had just left a voice mail on my answering machine a few days ago, asking me to have the massage therapist (Catherine) come to his hotel room for another round of massage. He sounded a bit tipsy, sweet, but mostly lonely.
Mitch loved massages and my team was very excited at each show, because he mentioned the massage therapist that massaged him at each show ON STAGE, during the show. Sadly, I never got to meet/massage him, but my Dot Bots did. Catherine, one of my Denver Dot Bots called me in tears when she heard the news. I am a massive Hendrix fan, listen to him on a daily basis, so this is extra hard for me to hear. The last remaining member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience has left the planet, heading to that great gig in the sky. You will be missed. My team all said, in their individual reports, pretty much the same thing about him: "He is super sweet" "He is an adorable tiny man" "A joy to work on" "Charming old man", etc. I am gutted. I will write about Ac/Dc show soon, this news about Mitch can not be overshadowed by a concert review.
RIP Mitch
🙁
Hendrix's drummer Mitchell dies
The band was one of the most influential of the 1960s
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Mitch Mitchell, the British drummer in the seminal 1960s band the Jimi Hendrix Experience, has been found dead in his US hotel room, authorities say.
The 61-year-old was discovered in the Benson Hotel in Portland, Oregon, in the early hours of Wednesday.
A medical examiner told Associated Press news agency the death appeared to be from natural causes but that there would be an autopsy.
Hendrix died in 1970 and the band's bassist Noel Redding died in 2003.
Mitchell, from Ealing in west London, had been touring with the Experience Hendrix Tour.
'Rock 'n' roll hero'
Janie Hendrix, chief executive of the tour and step-sister of Jimi Hendrix, paid tribute to Mitchell.
"He was a wonderful man, a brilliant musician and a true friend," she said.
Mitchell drummed for Hendrix at his legendary Woodstock performance
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He performed on Hendrix classics such as Are You Experienced? Electric Ladyland and Axis: Bold As Love.
The top session drummer also played with the likes of Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Keith Richards and Muddy Waters.
A musical pioneer, he is credited with helping to develop a "fusion" drumming style that combined rock with jazz.
He joined the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1966 and backed the rocker for his legendary performance at Woodstock three years later.
Bob Merlis, a spokesman for the tour, said his death was "devastating".
He had seen Mitchell perform two weeks ago in Los Angeles and the drummer appeared healthy and upbeat, he said.
Blues-rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who is part of the tour, said Mitchell was to drums what Hendrix was to guitar.
"Today many of us have lost a dear friend, and the world has lost a rock 'n' roll hero," he said.
Source: BBC
