Thursday, November 13, 2008
RIP Mitch Mitchell
The best rock drummer in history, in my view, is dead at the age of 61.
I used to listen to Hendrix for hours as a teenager...on vinyl, through headphones. And Mitch's drumming was a huge part of that band. He was the first rock drummer who played DRUMS, as a coequal musical partner. I remember an interview with Alan Holdsworth, where he said "A lot of drummers are just into a groove. I hate that."
Mitch would have been great with Holdsworth. Great with anyone.
Think of it. Without Mitch, "Fire" would have been a throwaway track. Mitch made it into a rawking classic. On the nearly unknown Hendrix track "Waterfall," he became a waterfall. He took a rock waltz. A freaking WALTZ! And made Manic Depression a thrill to listen to. His clever jazzy ride cymbal MADE "Third Stone From The Sun." Mitch helped transcend 3SFtS from a surf music parody to a trippy, rollicking journey in its own right.
A great, great musician.
Splash, out
Jason
I used to listen to Hendrix for hours as a teenager...on vinyl, through headphones. And Mitch's drumming was a huge part of that band. He was the first rock drummer who played DRUMS, as a coequal musical partner. I remember an interview with Alan Holdsworth, where he said "A lot of drummers are just into a groove. I hate that."
Mitch would have been great with Holdsworth. Great with anyone.
Think of it. Without Mitch, "Fire" would have been a throwaway track. Mitch made it into a rawking classic. On the nearly unknown Hendrix track "Waterfall," he became a waterfall. He took a rock waltz. A freaking WALTZ! And made Manic Depression a thrill to listen to. His clever jazzy ride cymbal MADE "Third Stone From The Sun." Mitch helped transcend 3SFtS from a surf music parody to a trippy, rollicking journey in its own right.
A great, great musician.
Splash, out
Jason
Labels: 60s, culture, drums, Hendrix, Music
Comments:
I agree. Hendrix had an excellent rhythm section, which he used to full advantage.
Chris
Post a Comment
Chris
# posted by 
: 2:46 PM
: 2:46 PM
