On November 3rd after walking precincts in the Bay Area, I attended a concert called "Experience Hendrix" in SF.  It's a national tour to honor the work of the great Hendrix.  It featured Billy Cox, Hendrix's second bass player after Redding, and Mitch Mitchell, his first and last drummer (Buddy Miles was in between).  The guitar playing was incredible (Johnny Lang, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Buddy Guy, etc).  Mitch Mitchell frankly did not play that well and only played when another drummer was playing, who did the real "leads" on drums.  He did come to the front mike a couple of times and talked to the crowd.  He looked great, not frail or sick and made everyone laugh.  But, he sounded loopy, like I thought drunk.   I am glad I saw him, as one would have not thought it was his last couple of weeks of life.  Here is the story with some bio:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/13/BA8T143GJC.DTL&tsp=1

I put him right up there for best rock drummer of all time, as he was fast and innovative and heck, it he had some genius too, as he made the background, or setting, for Hendrix's incredible work.  He was jazzy in a way and not powerful like a Bonham.  Listen to "Manic Depression" and you will see what I mean about great drumming way back in 1967.  I saw him twice at Winterland, Feb 1967 and October 1967 in very, very memorable concerts.