Julien's Auctions, the world-record breaking auction house, has announced that HENDRIX ERA: PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF MITCH MITCHELL will hit the auction stage for a special one time only engagement on November 4, 2017 in Los Angeles and live online. Hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest drummers of all time, Julien's Auctions will pay tribute to The Jimi Hendrix Experience legend by offering this collection of Mitchell's fine instruments including, his famous drum kits, memorabilia, gear, wardrobe and ephemera as part of their recently announced IDOLS & ICONS: ROCK "N" ROLL auction.
A former child actor in British television and film turned drummer, John Graham "Mitch" Mitchell developed his signature jazz rock drumming style and skills as a touring and session musician playing from 1962 to 1966 with the likes of the Riot Squad, the Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames.
In September 1966, Mitchell was invited to "come and have a play" with a newly arrived American guitarist in London named Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix had auditioned many drummers by this time and could not find the right one to be a part of his new band until he met Mitchell. Mitchell, along with Hendrix on lead guitar and Noel Redding on bass guitar, formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience and the rest is rock and roll history. Mitchell's pioneering jazz fusion drumming provided the perfect counter punch to Jimi Hendrix's open-stringed, revolutionary electric guitar playing. Mitchell and Hendrix worked together for four years from 1966-1970 with Redding replaced by Billy Cox in 1969. Recordings included their debut album Are You Experienced?Axis: Bold as Love, Electric Ladyland, Smash Hits, the posthumous release of City of Love (produced by Mitch Mitchell and Eddie Kramer) and Rainbow Bridge. Their recordings are considered landmark works by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and their iconic performance at the Monterey Pop festival, during which Hendrix torched his guitar, have become the stuff of rock and roll legend. Mitchell's other notable performances and work include the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival, the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970, participation in the all-star The Dirty Mac band at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus in 1968 with fellow music legends, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards; and more. Mitchell, devastated by Hendrix's death in 1970, went on to play with Jack Bruce, Larry Coryell, Miles Davis and so many others. Mitchell continued to perform and tour until his death at the age of 62 in 2008 just five days after finishing a US tour celebrating The Jimi Hendrix Experience. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1992, where both Mitchell and Redding attended the ceremony in New York. (photo right: Mitchell's Zildjian drum cymbals)
"Mitch Mitchell's explosive drum playing and innovative technique was the beating heart of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, one of the most influential rock bands in history," said Darren Julien, President/Chief Executive Officer of Julien's Auctions. "His impact remains in the canon of the greatest, most experimental rock music ever recorded and his style inspired many drummers who followed from The Police's Stewart Copeland to Queen's Roger Taylor. This incredible collection represents the zenith of rock and roll's most seismic and counterrevolutionary decade that will surely exhilarate and thrill any fan of this remarkable music era."
High-hats of this collection feature Mitchell's legendary drum kits, such as his beloved vintage Ludwig Silver Sparkle kit played at numerous concerts and in studio as a member of The Jimi Hendrix Experience (estimate: $60,000-$80,000); The Rock and Roll Circus Gretsch drum kit played in rehearsal with the super group Dirty Mac ($20,000-$30,000) and the DW Siberian Tiger finish drum kit, whose brand of drums and equipment, Mitchell endorsed later in his career (estimate: $10,000-$20,000). Also featured are Mitchell's record awards, including an RIAA-certified multi-platinum award (photo near left) commemorating the sale of more than two million copies of the MCA album, compact disc and cassette Electric Ladyland (estimate: $2,000-$4,000);
an RIAA-certified "gold" record award commemorating the sale of more than 500,000 copies of the Reprise album and cassette The Jimi Hendrix Experience/Otis Redding which went gold in 1970 (estimate: $1,000-$2,000) and a group of record albums, including multiple copies of Axis: Bold As Love, Are you Experienced,Cry of Love, Gris-Gris by Dr. John, the self-titled album Spirit, Dance to the Music by Sly & the Family Stone, The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,Four Tops Story: 1964- 72, and Dusty Springfield's Stay Awhile (estimate: $400-$600) as well as his drums sticks made by Vic Firth, Calato and more (estimates ranging from $150-$4,000); Mitchell's psychedelic wardrobe worn for various performances and social engagements, including a 1960s blue velvet mod ensemble with a floral Deborah & Clare bespoke shirt and a pair of Anello and Davide Beatle style boots (estimate: $1,000-$2,000); an emerald green custom-made snakeskin suit (estimate $1,000-$2,000) and a 1960s multicolor shag coat that Noel Redding's mother, Margaret, repaired using vintage yarns (estimate: $2,000-$3,000) (shown in photo top left); a striped djelleba given by Graham Nash ($800-$1,200); a leather and cord necklace with jade-colored beads and white shells owned by Hendrix (estimate: $3,000-$5,000); Zildjian drum cymbal sets, which Mitchell admired and endorsed (estimates ranging from $500-$4,000); original artwork by Noel Redding (estimate:$1,000-$2,000); various Jimi Hendrix owned equipment and ephemera including a telecaster-style black "Frankenstein" pickguard that came off of Hendrix's guitar made of spare parts in his early instrument smashing performances ($4,000-$6,000); a Hendrix Fuzz Face distortion pedal made by Arbiter, circa 1967 (estimate: $8,000-$10,000) (photo left). The Fuzz Face was embraced by Hendrix and used in the studio and on performances including at Woodstock and The Isle of Wight Festival in 1970; and a Radiola 007 model turntable purchased by Hendrix and Mitchell while on tour in Sweden (estimate: $1,000-$2,000) (photo top right). Hendrix and Mitchell bought this turntable right before playing their concert as they wanted to listen to a newly-arrived acetate of "Burning of the Midnight Lamp."
Other highlights include Mitchell owned snare drums, drumheads, gongs, a chime xylophone, programs and posters from various performances and concerts, road cases and more.
Prior to the auction, Mitchell's Rock and Roll Circus Gretsch drum kit will go on tour once again with a special exhibition at the Newbridge Silverware Museum of Style Icons (MOSI) in Kildare, Ireland through October 25th before making its way back to the Julien's Auctions Gallery in Los Angeles.
PUBLIC EXHIBITION & LIVE AUCTION LOCATION
Julien's Auctions Gallery
805 North La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(photo right: an original Monterey International Pop Festival poster)
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