R.I.P., Mitch Mitchell
Thursday, 13. November 2008, 05:53:35
Mitch Mitchell was Jimi Hendrix' drummer. He died today. It's big blow because that band's music changed my musical outlook forever. Let me back up a bit.
Once upon a time, I saw Stevie Ray Vaughan on MTV. More importantly, I really heard a guitar for the first time. Guitars had been, by default, part of my auditory landscape from my first day on earth. That was way back in 1970, a muscially pivotal year. Only a few songs from that era don't showcase guitar. It was also the year that Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix died. Jim Morrison died soon after in 1971 but had given up music the previous year.
Eerily, all three were only 27 years old.
Music has always fascinated me. And I could have been a singer if it weren't for my voice. (ahem!) In any case, I'd been living in a black and white world until Stevie splashed it with color. I saw his hands fly up and down the fretboard and thought, I want to do that. My parents, bless them, bought me a guitar and hooked me up with lessons.
I had a great teacher, too. He gave Stevie proper credit, but he introduced me to Jimi Hendrix. If Stevie cured my colorblindness, Jimi's "Purple Haze" gave me synesthesia.
A big part of that was the rhythm section, Noel Redding and Mitchell. Redding's timing was infallible. He syncopated with amazing soul, never losing a beat. I think that's best characterized in "Little Miss Lover."
He did a pretty good job backing Jimi up on Purple Haze, too.
It's too bad, but he died of natural causes. And as they say, Heaven has one Hell of a house band. Rest in peace, Mitch Mitchell.
Once upon a time, I saw Stevie Ray Vaughan on MTV. More importantly, I really heard a guitar for the first time. Guitars had been, by default, part of my auditory landscape from my first day on earth. That was way back in 1970, a muscially pivotal year. Only a few songs from that era don't showcase guitar. It was also the year that Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix died. Jim Morrison died soon after in 1971 but had given up music the previous year.
Eerily, all three were only 27 years old.
Music has always fascinated me. And I could have been a singer if it weren't for my voice. (ahem!) In any case, I'd been living in a black and white world until Stevie splashed it with color. I saw his hands fly up and down the fretboard and thought, I want to do that. My parents, bless them, bought me a guitar and hooked me up with lessons.
I had a great teacher, too. He gave Stevie proper credit, but he introduced me to Jimi Hendrix. If Stevie cured my colorblindness, Jimi's "Purple Haze" gave me synesthesia.
A big part of that was the rhythm section, Noel Redding and Mitchell. Redding's timing was infallible. He syncopated with amazing soul, never losing a beat. I think that's best characterized in "Little Miss Lover."
He did a pretty good job backing Jimi up on Purple Haze, too.
It's too bad, but he died of natural causes. And as they say, Heaven has one Hell of a house band. Rest in peace, Mitch Mitchell.
WIDGETIZE
Angeliki # 13. November 2008, 13:18
he was SO great!
Karen # 13. November 2008, 16:26
James # 13. November 2008, 16:41
The best we can do is make sure that people miss us when we're gone.
Karen # 14. November 2008, 04:13