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John ‘Mitch’ Mitchell, the English drummer and last surviving member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, has died.

In true rock and roll fashion Mr Mitchell was still touring with the Experience Hendrix tribute tour when he was found dead in his hotel room in Oregon, in the US, on Wednesday. The 61-year-old is believed to have died from natural causes.

Mr Mitchell, who was born in Ealing, Middlesex, was the last surviving member of the trio who helped pioneer the psychedelic rock scene in the 1960s. Mr Hendrix died in 1970 and guitarist and bass player Noel Redding in 2003.

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A medical examiner found that Mr Mitchell had died of natural causes after his body was found in his Portland hotel room by an employee.

Janie Hendrix, Jimi's step sister, who is the chief executive of the Experience Hendrix tour, described Mr Mitchell as a “wonderful man, brilliant musician and a true friend.”

“His role in shaping the sound of the Jimi Hendrix Experience cannot be underestimated,” she said.

“Over the course of the recent tour, he seemed delighted with the interchange with the other musicians and the audiences. There is no question he was doing what he loved.”

Mr Mitchell, who started in showbiz as a child actor, met Mr Hendrix, one of the world’s most famous guitarists, in 1966 in a basement strip club in London’s Soho. Soon afterwards, along with bass player Noel Redding, they formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience, a band which would go on to transform rock and roll.

Known as one of rock’s most explosive percussionists who helped create a fusion style of drumming which combined rock and jazz, Mr Mitchell played on Mr Hendrix’s celebrated albums Are You Experienced and Electric Ladyland, which produced some of the guitarist's most famous songs including Purple Haze, Foxy Lady and Hey Joe.

He also played with Mr Hendrix during his now legendary performances at the Monterey, Isle of Wight and Woodstock festivals and played in The Dirty Mac, a supergroup assembled for The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus in 1968 which contained John Lennon, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards.

Mr Mitchell performed in LA two weeks ago and appeared happy and healthy. He had planned to stay in Portland for a four-day holiday, said Bob Merlis, a spokesman for the Experience Hendrix tour.

The tour brought together veteran musicians who had known Mr Hendrix, and younger artists.

“It was a devastating surprise,” said Mr Merlis. “Nobody drummed like he did.”

Mr Merlin said Mr Mitchell was a one-of-a kind drummer. “If Jimi Hendrix were alive today he would have acknowledged that,” he said.

In a 1998 interview Mr Mitchell said he and Mr Hendrix’s musical chemistry was instant and they enjoyed a “mutual respect for each other”.

“There were no boundaries, there were no limits at all,” he said.

“Jimi was irreplaceable, both as a friend and a musician. I miss him as much today.”

Just last month Mr Mitchell told the Boston Herald that he continued to play and tour with the Hendrix tribute tour because: “I’m also one of those really lucky people that still loves playing drums.”

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