Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia

Richard Robinson interviews Hendrix and Noel Redding for Hullabaloo at the Upper Berkeley Street flat. The interview is published in May.

Hullabaloo interview Interviews Noel Redding Richard Robinson Upper Berkeley Street

February 2, 1968 Noel Redding completes an interview for the In Sound radio program. The program is hosted by Harry Harrison. The band remains in San Francisco but moves from the Fillmore East to perform two shows at the Winterland Ballroom.

1968 February 2 Fillmore East Harry Harrison in sound radio program interview Interviews Noel Redding San Francisco the band Winterland Ballroom

Noel Redding completes an interview for the In Sound radio program. The program is hosted by Harry Harrison. The band remains in San Francisco but moves from the Fillmore East to perform two shows at the Winterland Ballroom.

Fillmore East Harry Harrison Interviews Noel Redding Sound radio

Jimi Hendrix records a series of songs at Sound Center Studios (247 West 46th Street) in New York City. Recordings on this date include “My Friend” which features Ken Pine (12-string), Paul Caruso (harmonica), Jimmy Mayes (drums) and Stephen Stills (piano) accompanying Hendrix playing a bass guitar. The song would be later released on the posthumous album The Cry Of Love in 1971. Noel Redding joined the session later in the evening bringing rise to an instrumental workout of “Little Miss Lover” and while Hendrix records a version of “1983…(A Merman I Should Turn To Be).”

Jimmy Mayes Ken Pine Little Miss Lover My Friend New York City Noel Redding Paul Caruso Recording Sound Center Studios Stephen Stills

Jimi Hendrix, along with Noel Redding, spends the evening at The Scene Club in New York City.

Jimi Hendrix New York City Noel Redding Personal the scene club

Recording for “Three Little Bears” would take place at the Record Plant, where Steve Winwood, Jack Casady and a host of others visited the group. Although Hendrix originally coined the title, “Cherokee Mist” for the session, he later settled on “Three Little Bears” as its final working title. Throughout the session, Jimi developed a jazzy rhythm pattern that would eventually become “South Saturn Delta.” As the session progressed, Hendrix and bassist, Noel Redding get into a heated argument about the number of people in the studio. In his autobiography, Are You Experienced? Redding says, “There were tons of people in the studio – you couldn’t even move. It was a party not a session. He just said, ‘Relax man…’ I’d been relaxing for months, so I relaxed my way right out the place, not caring if I ever saw him again.” Taking a break from the session Hendrix leads an entourage to their local hangout at the Scene Club for some fun. Afterwards, Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, Eddie Kramer, Winwood, Casady, Larry Coryell and others, return to the Record Plant to jam. These jams would become the foundation of “Voodoo Chile.” A number of recordings with Winwood and Casady participating were laid to tape on this night, with 3 of the takes being fused together as “Voodoo Chile Blues,” which was released on MCA’s 1994 release – :Blues.

Casady eddie kramer Hendrix Jack Casady Larry Coryell Mitch Mitchell Noel Redding Record Plant Recording Steve Winwood Three Little Bears Winwood

Larry Coryell (playing 12-string guitar) joins Noel Redding, at this early morning session at the Record Plant for the recording of his self-penned number, “Little, Little Girl.” A rough mix of the recording was also produced during the session. Later, Hendrix and Kramer prepare rough mixes of “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” and “House Burning Down.”

Larry Coryell Little Little Girl Noel Redding Record Plant Recording Voodoo Child

Hendrix reportedly jams with Noel Redding, Frank Zappa, Arthur Brown, Steve Paul and Jimmy Carl Black at the Wreck Bar in the Castaways Hotel in Miami, Florida during the early morning hours. Redding boards a plane to return to London later that day.

Arthur Brown Castaways Hotel Florida Frank Zappa Jimmy Carl Black Miami Noel Redding Recording Steve Paul Wreck Bar

Back in London, Noel Redding offers Neville Chesters a job as Road Manager for the upcoming Experience tour of Italy.

Band London Neville Chesters Noel Redding Road Manager

Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding and his sister Vicki, and Eric Barrett arrive in Italy after flying from London’s Heathrow International Airport.

Heathrow International Airport Italy Mitch Mitchell Noel Redding Personal

Eric Barrett and Keith Altham join Noel Redding on a flight from London to Terrino, Spain for a few days of relaxation.

Eric Barrett Keith Altham Noel Redding Personal Spain Terrino

Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding travel to Portland, Oregon for an evening performance at Memorial Coliseum with support from Vanilla Fudge, Eire Apparent, and Soft Machine. The Experience’s set includes “Are You Experienced?” “Fire,” “Hey Joe,” “Foxey Lady,” “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” “Little Wing,” “Spanish Castle Magic,” “Red House,” and “Purple Haze.” Jimi Hendrix is photographed in concert at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon on September 9, 1968. Photo: Alan Hicks / © Authentic Hendrix, LLC

Eire Apparent Hendrix Live Memorial Coliseum Mitch Mitchell Noel Redding Oregon Portland Soft Machine Vanilla Fudge

Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Buddy Miles, Graham Bond and Eric Burdon jam at the Whiskey A Go Go in Hollywood, California.

Buddy Miles California Eric Burdon Graham Bond Hollywood Jimi Hendrix Live Mitch Mitchell Noel Redding Whiskey A Go Go

Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell return to London, England.

England London Mitch Mitchell Noel Redding Personal

Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding return to Los Angeles. Hendrix travels from Los Angeles International Airport to Honolulu, Hawaii where he is promptly interviewed by Wayne Harada for the October 3 issue of The Honolulu Advertiser.

Hawaii Honolulu Los Angeles Los Angeles International Airport Mitch Mitchell Noel Redding Personal

Margaret Robin interviews Jimi Hendrix and Noel Redding for Black Music magazine.

Black Music magazine interview Interviews Jimi Hendrix Margaret Robin Noel Redding

Noel Redding is interviewed by Donna Lawson for the January 1969 issue of Eye magazine.

Donna Lawson Eye magazine interview Interviews Noel Redding

Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding return to London for the Christmas Holidays. During this time, Redding teamed up with Jim Leverton and Eric Dillon to record 12 tracks for the upcoming Fat Mattress album.

Eric Dillon Fat Mattress album Jim Leverton Mitch Mitchell Noel Redding Recording

Hendrix visits Noel Redding at Olympic Studios during a recording session for Fat Mattress. Later that evening, Jimi Hendrix travels to Ronnie Scott’s to enjoy an evening of performances by Roland Kirk & His Quartet.

Fat Mattress Noel Redding Olympic Studios Personal

The Scene, New York Jam Session According to Noel Redding, Hendrix and Mitchell joined him for an evening of jamming at the Scene nightclub, a favorite spot of the group.

Band Hendrix jam session Mitchell new york Noel Redding The Scene

Ellis Auditorium, Memphis, Tennessee [Two Shows] With Fat Mattress Set List: [Second Show] Fire I Don’t Live Today Hear My Train A Comin’ Sunshine Of Your Love Stone Free Foxey Lady Star Spangled Banner Purple Haze Voodoo Child (Slight Return) Burdened with an exhaustive schedule of personal appearances, the tense relationship between Hendrix and bassist Noel Redding further deteriorated. Frustrated, Hendrix reached out to old friend Billy Cox, with whom he had served in the US Army and performed on the famed R&B ‘chitlin’ circuit’ prior to leaving for New York. The bassist reunited with Hendrix backstage at this Experience concert in Memphis. “We met when the Experience played in Memphis,” Cox explains. “He told me that he wanted me to be his bass player. He said that things weren’t in the order the way he wanted them and would I come as a friend and help him out. He said he’d take care of me and everything would be okay and so I gladly accepted. I went back to Nashville, closed my publishing company, dropped everything else and left for New York.” Three days after the backstage meeting in Memphis, Cox joined Hendrix at the Record Plant recording studio in New York.

Ellis Auditorium Events Fat Mattress Memphis Noel Redding Tennessee

Denver Pop Festival, Denver, Co. Set List: Tax Free Hear My Train A Comin’ Fire Spanish Castle Magic Red House Foxey Lady Star Spangled Banner Purple Haze The Experience topped the bill at the 1969 Denver Pop Festival. The festival, staged at Mile High Stadium, boasted a stellar lineup which also included Johnny Winter, Joe Cocker, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Poco, Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention, Iron Butterfly, Tim Buckley, and Big Mama Thornton. An inspired set by the Experience was marred by a riot following the group’s performance. Police officers began firing tear gas at the audience while Eric Barrett, a roadie for the Experience, rushed the band off stage and into the back of their rented equipment truck. Fans climbed all over the vehicle, nearly buckling the roof before the Barrett and the road crew could whisk the group away. The Denver Pop Festival would prove to be the last performance by the original Jimi Hendrix Experience. Immediately afterwards, Noel Redding elected to leave the group and returned to London. Redding cited Hendrix’s stated desire to expand the group without consulting him as one of the factors influencing his decision.

Denver Denver Pop Festival Events Experience Noel Redding pop festival Set List

Mitch Mitchell attends the wedding ceremony of ex-Experience bassist, Noel Redding and Susan Fowsby in Kent, England while Hendrix remains present in New York City.

Mitch Mitchell Noel Redding Personal Susan Fowsby

Just months after leaving the Experience to front Fat Mattress, Noel Redding’s group was coming undone. Rolling Stone magazine was among the first to reveal the group’s undoing. “Despite reports to the contrary, Noel Redding’s Fat Mattress was not breaking up. Redding became ill during the group’s million-dollar American tour. In a statement from the Robert Stigwood Organization (Fat Mattress’s management company) said, “Fat Mattress’s debut tour of America has been postponed because of lead guitarist Noel Redding’s sudden illness.” Chas Chandler, the group’s manager strongly denied all rumors pointing the groups split saying “Noel flew home from New York after consulting his doctor and Rik Grunnell, head of the Stigwood office in the States. Noel will be taking a complete rest over the Christmas holiday at a secret address. New plans for Fat Mattress will be put into operation and announced in January.”

Fat Mattress Media Noel Redding Rolling Stone

Despite initial reports that Fat Mattress had not disbanded, new information surfaced about the group’s messy split. Guitarist Noel Redding left for home after suffering what was being called a “nervous breakdown.” A spokesman for the Robert Stigwood Organization said, “the American tour could have been worth a million dollars.” Meanwhile, Jimmy Leverton of Fat Mattress told Melody Maker “the whole thing got out of hand. It was down to a personal thing within the band. We just couldn’t go on.”

Fat Mattress Media Melody Maker Noel Redding

Under the watchful eye of manager, Michael Jeffery Rolling Stone’s John Burks was invited to Jeffery’s office on West 37th Street in New York to interview Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding (who was recently brought in from England). Jeffery clearly wanted to present the original Jimi Hendrix Experience as a united group and that the disastrous Madison Square Garden performance by Hendrix with the Band Of Gypsys was a single, isolated episode. Rolling Stone was at the forefront of the counter cultural press and Jeffrey desperately wanted to the benefit of positive coverage for his artist. In his interview, Burks made several attempts to pin Hendrix down on his present musical course, but Hendrix offered no definitive explanation or plan. Rather than lay out a comprehensive plan for the Experience, Hendrix alluded to possible future jamming and recording with Cox and Miles. The guitarist also described the recent Madison Square Garden performance as ‘the end of a big fairy tale’.

Interviews Jimi Hendrix John Burks Michael Jeffery Rolling Stone Mitch Mitchell Noel Redding Rolling Stone

Noel Redding returns to New York expecting to begin rehearsing with Hendrix and Mitchell for the next Jimi Hendrix Experience tour unaware that Billy Cox has replaced him in the band. “Noel wasn’t told until he came back, expecting to rehearse for the tour,” explains Mitch Mitchell. “Basically, no one had the balls to do it.”

Band billy cox new york Noel Redding Tour

Now a solo artist, Noel Redding begins recording the album Nervous Breakdown at New York’s Sound Center Studios. Redding was joined by vocalist Roger Chapman (Family), Paul Caruso, organist Gerry Guida (Big Three) and fifteen year old drummer Steve Angel. The sessions included recordings of “Walking Through The Garden,” (previously recorded by Fat Mattress) and Eddie Cochrane’s “Nervous Breakdown.” Also recorded were “Everything’s Blue,” “Highway,” “Eric The Red,” “Wearing Yellow,” and “Blues In ¾.” Ever industrious, Redding copped support from many friends who joined the bassist in the studio including Lee Michaels, Neil Landon and even the doorman from the Penn Garden Hotel (on bagpipes no less).

Gerry Guida Nervous Breakdown Noel Redding Paul Caruso Recording Roger Chapman Sound Center Studios Steve Angel