Mitch Mitchell

John “Mitch” Mitchell (9 July 1947 - 12 November 2008) was an English drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Before joining the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Mitchell gained considerable musical experience touring and playing as a session musician. He also had an acting background, and had starred in a children’s television programme, Jennings and Derbyshire, when he was a teenager. Pre-Experience bands included Johnny Harris and the Shades, The Pretty Things, Bill Knight & The Sceptres, The Riot Squad, and Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames. He had also worked in Jim Marshall’s (creator of the Marshall amplifier) music shop in London. Mitchell auditioned for Hendrix’s band in October of 1966, beating out many other British drummers, including Aynsley Dunbar (who, according to Hendrix’s manager Chas Chandler, was their other final choice. Mitch won the job on the flip of a coin). Mitchell was praised for his work with the Jimi Hendrix Experience on songs such as “Manic Depression”, “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”, “Fire” and “Third Stone from the Sun”. Mitchell came from a jazz background and like many of his drummer contemporaries was strongly influenced by the work of Elvin Jones, Max Roach, and Joe Morello.

Mitchell played in Hendrix’s Experience trio from October 1966 to mid-1969, in his Woodstock band of August 1969, and also with the later incarnation of the Experience in 1970 with Billy Cox on bass, known posthumously as the “Cry of Love” band. Hendrix would often record tracks in the studio with only Mitchell, and in concert the two fed off of each other to exciting effect. In December 1968, Mitchell played in the band The Dirty Mac assembled for The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus in 1968. Other members included John Lennon as vocalist and rhythm guitarist “Winston Leg-Thigh”; Eric Clapton as guitarist, and Keith Richards as bassist. The group recorded a cover of “Yer Blues” as well as a jam called “Whole Lotta Yoko”.

Another noteworthy musical collaboration in the late 1960s was with the Jack Bruce and Friends band featuring Mitchell along with ex-Cream bassist and vocalist Jack Bruce, keyboardist Mike Mandel and jazz-fusion guitarist and future The Eleventh House frontman Larry Coryell. Mitchell played in this band during late 1969 and early 1970, when Hendrix was working with the Band of Gypsys. Mitchell also took part in some of Miles Davis’ demo sessions for Miles’ 1969 album Bitches Brew, but does not appear on the final album.

Dennis Chambers

Dennis Chambers (born May 9, 1959) is an American drummer who has recorded and performed with John Scofield, Carl Filipiak, Steely Dan, Santana, Parliament/Funkadelic, John McLaughlin, Niacin, Mike Stern, and many others. Despite a lack of formal training, Chambers has become well-known among drummers for his technique and speed. He can play in a wide variety of musical genres, but is perhaps most notable for his jazz-fusion, funk, and Latin music playing. He is mostly known for his fast hands and triplets on the bass drum.

Chambers began drumming at the age of four years old, and was gigging in Baltimore area nightclubs by the age of six. In 1978 (at 18 years old) he joined Parliament/Funkadelic, and stayed with them until 1985. In the early 1990s he joined the John Scofield band. Since then he has played with most of the major figures in jazz fusion music. Recently, he has been part of the Maceo Parker live band. He is currently touring with Carlos Santana and makes appearances with his band Niacin. He plays Pearl drums, Zildjian cymbals, and Zildjian sticks.

Vinny Appice

Vinny Appice has anchored the rhythm and power live and in the studio for the music of DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN AND HELL, WWIII, AXIS, RICK DERRINGER, JOHN LENNON and more. He has recorded and co-written songs on over 25 albums and CDs including many multi-platinum records. Touring the world for over 2 decades resulted in selling millions of records!

Vinny’s drumming can also be heard on numerous movie soundtracks including “Wayne’s World 2, Heavy Metal, Iron Eagle and Bedazzled.” Vinny, the author of drum instruction book “Rock Steady” and DVD “Hard Rock Drumming Techniques” has performed incredible powerhouse drum clinics around the globe also. Numerous books have been written about Black Sabbath and Dio with the authors always mentioning Vinny’s unique powerful drumming style! I would like to mention some of the boys that got my drumming blood flowing: John Bonham, Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, Mitch Mitchell…Thanks!

Elvin Jones

Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 - May 18, 2004) was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family’s home in Pontiac, Michigan. He served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1949 and subsequently played in a Detroit houseband led by Billy Mitchell. He moved to New York in 1955 and worked as a sideman for Charles Mingus, Teddy Charles, Bud Powell and Miles Davis. From 1960 to 1966 he was a member of the John Coltrane quartet, a celebrated recording phase, appearing on such albums as A Love Supreme. Following his work with John Coltrane, Jones led several small groups, some under the name The Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. He recorded with both of his brothers during his career, jazz musicians Hank Jones and Thad Jones.

Elvin Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan. By age two he said he knew he held a fascination for drums. He would watch the circus marching band parades go by his home as a boy, particularly fascinated by the drummers (sometimes wandering off for miles after the parade). Following his early passion, Elvin joined his high school’s black marching band, where he developed his foundation in rudiments. Jones began service in the United States Army in 1946. He was discharged in 1949, and returned home penniless. Jones said he borrowed thirty-five dollars from his sister when he got back to buy his first drumset.

Elvin began his professional career in 1949 with a short-lived gig in Detroit’s Grand River Street club. Eventually he went on to play with artists such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Wardell Gray. In 1955, after a failed audition for the Benny Goodman band, he found work in New York, joining Charles Mingus’s band, and releasing a record called J is for Jazz. Elvin Jones’ sense of timing, polyrhythms, dynamics, timbre, and legato phrasing brought the drumset to the foreground. Jones was touted by Life Magazine as “the world’s greatest rhythmic drummer”, and his free-flowing style was a major influence on many leading rock drummers, including Mitch Mitchell (whom Jimi Hendrix called “my Elvin Jones”) and Ginger Baker. He appeared as the villain Job Cain in the 1971 off-beat Western film Zachariah, in which he performed a drum solo after winning a saloon gunfight. In 1999, Jones worked with Our Lady Peace on their album Happiness…Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch. He was featured playing drums on the song “Stealing Babies”, which was also featured on their 2009 compilation album The Very Best of Our Lady Peace.

Jones performed and recorded with his own group, the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, whose line up changed through the years. Sonny Fortune and Ravi Coltrane, John Coltrane’s son, both played saxophone with the Jazz Machine in the early 1990s, appearing together with Jones on In Europe on Enja Records in 1991. Jones, who taught regularly, often took part in clinics, played in schools, and gave free concerts in prisons. His lessons emphasized music history as well as drumming technique. He died of heart failure in Englewood, New Jersey on May 18, 2004.