Remembering Mitch Mitchell

John Graham Nash Mitchell was born July 9, 1946 – somewhere in England. Mitch was a child actor and his first role was when he was 6 months old. He appeared in a baby food commercial and portrayed an actual baby. As a teenager, he starred in a children’s television programme, ‘Jennings at School’. Mitchell starred as Jennings and he went to school and hilarity ensued. The show also starred future stars, Mr. Bean, Benny Hill and Sir Laurence Olivier. It lasted 10 episodes in 1958.

Bottoms Up

Mitchell also had a leading role in the 1960 British film ‘Bottoms Up’. The film was a hilarious slapstick comedy. The plot involved a mean Headmaster at an all boys school who plays a new game with the boys called ‘bottoms up’. Quite controversial for the time. The Headmaster was played by Alfred Hitchcock.

Remembering Mitch Mitchell — Jimi Hendrix Experience – Illustration By Paul King Art

Bubby

Mitch Mitchell joined the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1966. Jimi hired him on the spot because he looked like Bob Dylan’s grandmother. Jimi called him ‘Bubby’. Mitchell played drums on all of the classic albums and performed with Hendrix at Monterey & Woodstock. These albums are considered masterpieces and some of the greatest recordings ever made.

Mitchell was an incredible drummer and influenced a generation of players. Drummers praised his “pure musicianship” and called him “one of the greatest drummers of all time. After Jimi passed away in 1970, Mitchell never found his place in the music world. He passed away November 12, 2008. He was inducted in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and The Drummer Hall of Fame.