Noel Redding

blog

Musician

Noel Redding, bass player for the Jimi Hendrix Experience from its formation in 1966 through its dissolution three years later, was found dead May 12 at his home in the town of Clonakilty, Ireland. He was 57. Born in the English city of Folkestone, Redding played with the Modern Jazz Group and the Loving Kind before joining the Experience. The band produced three groundbreaking albums of psychedelic rock — “Are You Experienced?,” “Axis: Bold as Love” and “Electric Ladyland.” Its hits included “Purple Haze,” “Hey Joe” and “Foxey Lady.” Redding wrote two Experience songs: “She’s So Fine” and “Little Miss Strange.”

Group broke up in 1969 before the famed Woodstock appearance by Hendrix, who died the next year as a result of a drug-and-drink mixture.

After the breakup of the Experience, Redding formed his own band, Fat Mattress, which released a 1969 album of the same name, followed by “Fat Mattress 2” in 1970. The two were re-released as a set in 2000.

Popular on Variety

Later, he formed the Noel Redding Band, which recorded “Clonakilty Cowboys” in 1975 and “Blowin’ ” in 1976. Other recordings included “On Tour” in 2001 and last year’s “Live From Bunkr-Prague.”

In 1990, Redding published a book about his experiences. The Noel Redding Bass Guitar Method was published last year in the U.S. by Carl Fischer Music.

Survivors include longtime partner Deborah McNaughton.

Jump to Comments

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXF%2FjqasrKGTZLqivsqeq6xllprAtbXVmqOsZ56ksq150Z6bnaGenHpzeZBqaHBwaGx%2FcYOO