Forum Topic

Jimi Hendrix Experience

I saw reports this week of the death of Mitch Mitchell, drummer to the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience (and with many other groups and stars including Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones and John Lennon).  Apparently he was from Ealing.  Anyone here knew him?  Should there be a blue plaque campaign?

Robin Hall ● 6527d15 Comments

Yes I knew him a little, way back,he was the drum salesman in Jim Marshalls the amplifier supremos' shop in Hanwell,an ace drummer even at 16/17 YO. He was a very introspect guy,very hard to scratch his surface. I think he went to one of the acting schools (Acton?),he was also the child actor who played the Rowntree's Fruit Gum boy in a very early TV ad."Don't forget the fruitgums mum" It was one of those "Oh no!" moments in these here parts when I heard of his death...very sad. Yes he deserves a plaque.

Tony Wood ● 6527d

Mmm! Thanks for mentioning this. I keep telling myself not to dwell in the past too much. But Hanwell Broadway can be a bit dreary and it's inspiring to know these people once graced the pavements.Jim Marshall's Amps are world famous, he must be one of Hanwell's greatest residents. Where exactly was his shop? Someone said there's a photo of Jimi Hendrix sitting in the Rendez Vous cafe, waiting for an amp I suppose. Is it on the internet?Mitch Mitchell was great! The three of them in The Experience were such a hot team. Whenever I get a little tense I always find my self drumming the rhythm of Little Miss Lover.I'd say rest in peace Mitch - but maybe that's not the right thing for someone so integral to the inception of heavy rock!

Alan Anderson ● 6527d

Hi Alan  It's best not to get me started on Ealings Rock heritage :0)  Jims first shop was in the parade just before the bus garage,there's a music shop today which is just to the left of the original,after about two years he moved across to the North side.The new shop was opened by one Screaming Lord Sutch (with a pick axe!) There is a photograph of the new shop here http://www.premierguitar.com/archive/interviews/jim_marshall.htm I don't know of the Hendrix photo,but he was always in the shop along with the Who,The Stones and various other luminaries of the time,all trying to get Jim to "make 'em louder"....he did!

Tony Wood ● 6527d

A bit more info with street numbers.http://aolsearch.aol.co.uk/aol/search?query=marshalls%20hanwell&invocationType=sb_uk

Tony Wood ● 6527d

Doesn't Ealing also have a Blues heritage?I was listening to something this week which said the best blues club in the early 60s was in ealing and lots of great names hung out there.

Sara Nathan ● 6527d

Yes it did have,The Ealing Jazz Club a very sweaty little dive almost opposite Ealing Broadway Station,coming out of the station turn left and cross over,there are some steps going down to an alley,at the bottom of the steps there's a door on the left and that's where it all happened.Yes just about anyone who was anyone at the time played there,some bands would do a first set there the nip down to Richmond,Eel Pie Island or Windsor and do a second set.Heady times!

Tony Wood ● 6527d

http://www.maximumrnb.com/hendrix.htmThe above link takes you to a poster publicising Jimi at the Ricki Tic club in Hounslow back in 1967.  Apparently his first British gig.  In July this year I was in the small market town of Spalding, Lincolnshire and spent the night in the Red Lion Hotel.  On the wall in the bar is a photo and a small plaque comemorating Jimi staying at the hotel on the night of 23 (I think) of May 1967.  When I asked why he was in town I was told that it would have been for the Peterborough Jazz festival.

Bobby Charlton ● 6526d

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Peter Davies ● 6526d

Yeh those were the days in Ealing.Tried to post a photo of HENDRIX.can anyone tell me how to get an image on the forum from photobucket.Think i have wrong code.Too much purple haze in my brain!

Peter Davies ● 6526d

Hi Peter I think it's....gap between img and src

Tony Wood ● 6526d

HTML Code Peter,

Hugh Telford ● 6526d

In my loft is a VHS of Hendrix's first ever appearance  TV. On a US soul music show. It's priceless!

Viv Ellis ● 6525d

Fantastic!...If you can,I should get it transferred to DVD asap,tapes have a terrible habit of shedding their oxide due to moisture(falling apart basically).The very worst thing to do is to bring it out of a cold room/attic in to a warm one,so I would put it on the landing for a week or two,then in the hall and then a gentle airing cupboard with no damp clothes in.Then an end to end fast wind,(the tape isn't in contact with the head then) before going straight to DVD. It may sound a bit of an extreme measure, but I think it was EMI that lost a pile of old master tapes doing just that.

Tony Wood ● 6525d

maybe you're right - it's very short though

Viv Ellis ● 6525d

It'll probably be alright then,but I'd still back it up to a DVD or two,even if the oxide doesn't drop off,VHS machines are great at chewing up tapes.

Tony Wood ● 6525d