Noel Redding facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Noel Redding
|
|
|---|---|
Redding with the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1967
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Noel Redding |
| Born | 25 December 1945 Folkestone, Kent, England |
| Died | 11 May 2003 (aged 57) Clonakilty, Ireland |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1963–2003 |
David Noel Redding (born December 25, 1945 – died May 11, 2003) was an English rock musician. He is most famous for being the bass player for the amazing band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Noel also played guitar and sang for a band called Fat Mattress.
After leaving the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1969, Noel formed a band called Road in the United States. They released one album. Later, he moved to Clonakilty, Ireland, in 1972. There, he started the Noel Redding Band with Eric Bell, a guitarist from Thin Lizzy. They released two albums together.
Noel Redding was honored in 1992. He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Contents
Noel Redding: Bass Legend
Early Life and Music
Noel Redding was born in Folkestone, Kent, England. He grew up in a town called Seabrook. His mother ran a guest house there. Noel started playing music at a young age. When he was nine, he played the violin at school. He also learned to play the mandolin and guitar.
Noel's first public performances were at his local youth club and school. By the time he was 17, he became a professional musician. He toured clubs in Scotland and Germany with different bands. These bands included Neil Landon and the Burnettes, and the Loving Kind.
Joining the Jimi Hendrix Experience
In September 1966, the famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix came to England. Jimi and his manager, Chas Chandler, were looking for musicians for a new band. Noel Redding had mostly played guitar before this. But he switched to bass guitar to join Jimi's new group.
Noel became the second member of what would be called the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Soon after, drummer Mitch Mitchell joined, forming a powerful three-person band. With this group, Noel helped record three very important albums: Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland.
Noel also wrote and sang two songs on these albums: "Little Miss Strange" and "She's So Fine." His bass playing style was special. He used a pick and created a clear, mid-range sound. Later, he also used special effects like fuzz and distortion.
By 1969, Jimi Hendrix started playing with other musicians. Without telling Noel, Jimi announced he wanted to make the band bigger. Because of this, Noel decided to leave the Experience on June 29, 1969. He went back to England.
Other Bands and Projects
In 1968, while still with Jimi Hendrix, Noel formed his own band called Fat Mattress. He played guitar and sang in this group. The band also had Neil Landon, Jim Leverton, and Eric Dillon. A big part of their sound was the singing harmonies between Noel, Neil, and Jim.
Fat Mattress sometimes toured with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. This meant Noel had to play two full shows every night! He left Fat Mattress after their first album.
Noel then moved to Los Angeles and formed another band called Road. This was also a three-person band, similar to the Experience, playing psychedelic hard rock. Noel switched back to playing bass for this group. They released one album called Road in 1972.
In 1972, Noel moved to Ireland. He formed the Noel Redding Band with Eric Bell from Thin Lizzy. They released two albums and toured in many countries. The band later broke up because of problems with their management. Some songs they recorded for a third album were released later as The Missing Album.
Later Years and Legacy
Noel Redding later wrote a book called Are You Experienced? with his wife, Carol Appleby. In the book, he talked about his sadness over not getting money from the sales of Jimi Hendrix's music. He had signed away his rights to royalties in 1974. In 1980, he sold the bass guitar he used with the Experience to a collector.
In 1997, a famous guitar company called Fender made a special bass guitar named after Noel Redding. It was called the Noel Redding Signature Jazz bass. Only 1000 of these special guitars were made. It was based on the 1965 Jazz bass that Noel used when he played with the Experience.
Noel continued to perform music in his later years. He played with a band called "3:05 AM" and toured the United States. Recordings from these tours were released on albums like West Cork Tuning and Stone Free.
In 2002, a live album called Live From Bunkr · Prague was released. This concert was recorded in 1995 in the Czech Republic. Noel played with other musicians, including Anthony Krizan and Ivan Kral. The President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, even watched the show!
Noel's very last performance was at a pub in Clonakilty, Ireland. He had played there every Friday night for almost 20 years. He performed with local musicians who were on his last album, Thank You, Goodnight and Good Luck.
Death
Noel Redding was found dead in his home in Clonakilty, Ireland, on May 11, 2003. He was 57 years old. He was survived by his brother, sister, and a son named Nicolas Noel Redding.
Legacy
People in the village of Ardfield in Ireland put up a plaque to remember Noel Redding.
Before he passed away, Noel was trying to get more money from the company that manages Jimi Hendrix's music. He felt he was owed money from the sales of the recordings. Even after his death, a special album called The Experience Sessions was released in 2004. This album included songs Noel wrote while he was with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Some of these songs even featured Noel playing guitar and Jimi Hendrix playing bass!
A town square in Noel's hometown of Folkestone was renamed "Noel's Yard" to honor him. It is a public space for arts, entertainment, and community events.
In 2013, an art exhibition was held to mark 10 years since Noel's death. His brother, Anthony, opened the exhibition.
Discography
The Loving Kind
- "Accidental Love" / "Nothing Can Change This Love" (1966)
- "Love the Things You Do" / "Treat Me Nice" (1966)
- "Ain't That Peculiar" / "With Rhyme and Reason" (1966)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Are You Experienced (1967)
- Axis: Bold as Love (1967)
- Electric Ladyland (1968)
Fat Mattress
- Fat Mattress (1969)
- Fat Mattress II (1970)
Road
- Road (1972)
Noel Redding Band
- Clonakilty Cowboys (1975)
- Blowin' (1976)
- The Missing Album (1995)
Noel Redding and Friends
- Live From Bunkr · Prague (2002)
- Thank You, Goodnight and Gud' Luck (2009)
See also
In Spanish: Noel Redding para niños
