Noel Redding

Noel Redding fue un músico de rock inglés, conocido principalmente como el bajista de The Jimi Hendrix Experience y como guitarrista y vocalista de Fat Mattress. Tocó en los tres álbumes clásicos de estudio de Experience: 《Are You Experienced》 (1967), 《Axis: Bold as Love》 (1967) y 《Electric Ladyland》 (1968). Tras dejar la banda en 1969, formó Fat Mattress, luego Road y más tarde Noel Redding Band con el exguitarrista de Thin Lizzy Eric Bell. Pasó sus últimas décadas viviendo en Clonakilty, Irlanda, donde actuaba ocasionalmente a nivel local. Redding fue incluido en el Salón de la Fama del Rock and Roll en 1992 como miembro de The Jimi Hendrix Experience.[editar]

Noel Redding creció en Folkestone, una ciudad costera en Kent, Inglaterra. Su padre trabajaba en los ferrocarriles y su madre era ama de casa; tenía un hermano. La música entró en su vida temprano gracias al auge del skiffle y el rock and roll británico de los años 50. Aprendió a tocar la guitarra de niño y tocó en bandas amateur durante su adolescencia, interpretando versiones de canciones populares en locales locales y clubes juveniles. Tras dejar la escuela, se mudó a Londres para dedicarse a la música a tiempo completo, tocando en varios grupos en la capital. Su gran oportunidad llegó en septiembre de 1966, cuando Chas Chandler, exbajista de The Animals y nuevo mánager del guitarrista estadounidense Jimi Hendrix, le pidió a Redding que hiciera una audición. Chandler necesitaba un bajista para la nueva banda de Hendrix. A Redding, que era guitarrista de oficio, se le ofreció el papel con la condición de que se pasara al bajo. Aceptó, y el trío con el baterista Mitch Mitchell se convirtió en The Jimi Hendrix Experience.[editar]

La etapa de Redding con The Jimi Hendrix Experience abarcó tres años y tres álbumes emblemáticos. El debut de la banda, 《Are You Experienced》, alcanzó el número 2 en el Reino Unido y el número 5 en Estados Unidos, impulsado por sencillos como «Hey Joe» y «Purple Haze». Actuaron en el Festival Pop de Monterey en 1967, una actuación que definió su carrera y presentó a Hendrix al público estadounidense. 《Axis: Bold as Love》 siguió en diciembre de 1967, y 《Electric Ladyland》 en octubre de 1968. Redding contribuyó con la canción «Little Miss Strange» a este último, su único crédito como compositor en solitario en un álbum de Experience. Las tensiones crecieron a medida que Hendrix ejercía más control creativo, y Redding dejó la banda en junio de 1969. Ya había formado un proyecto paralelo, Fat Mattress, en 1968, lanzando dos álbumes: 《Fat Mattress》 (1969) y 《Fat Mattress II》 (1970). Tras disolverse Fat Mattress, se mudó a Estados Unidos y formó la banda Road, que lanzó un álbum homónimo en 1972. Ese mismo año, se trasladó a Clonakilty, Irlanda, donde formó Noel Redding Band con Eric Bell. Lanzaron 《Clonakilty Cowboys》 (1975) y 《Blowin》 (1976). En la década de 1980, Redding se había retirado en gran medida de la industria musical, aunque ocasionalmente actuaba en pubs locales con su esposa Carol. Fue incluido en el Salón de la Fama del Rock and Roll en 1992 como miembro de The Jimi Hendrix Experience.[editar]

A menudo se recuerda a Redding como el ancla tranquila y constante de The Jimi Hendrix Experience, eclipsado por la virtuosidad de Hendrix y la batería explosiva de Mitchell. Su imagen pública era la de un músico modesto y trabajador que nunca buscó el centro de atención. Prefería la moda mod de los años 60: pelo largo, patillas, chaquetas de terciopelo y pantalones acampanados. Entre los fanáticos del rock clásico, es respetado por sus sólidas líneas de bajo en grabaciones icónicas. La cultura de los fanáticos es de nicho, centrada en foros que discuten grabaciones en vivo raras y bootlegs. No hay un nombre de fandom oficial. A menudo se le retrata en los medios como el «tranquilo» de la banda.[editar]

Noel Redding is currently evaluated by iFANN but holds no placement in the published Global Top 1,000 rankings or any Top-100 scope list. While his name resonates deeply within rock history circles, he does not appear on the current scope lists that track the world's most famous personalities. The vast majority of those who seek out his story identify simply as fans of The Jimi Hendrix Experience rather than followers of a distinct Redding movement. Unlike the devoted subcultures surrounding other icons, there is no formal name for his supporters, though a dedicated niche of enthusiasts gathers on forums and social media groups to dissect his post-Experience work with Fat Mattress. These communities often engage in gentle rituals, such as contrasting his baritone vocals on tracks like "Bleeding Heart" with Hendrix's psychedelic intensity, treating his musical contributions as a beloved insider secret. The cultural narrative surrounding him is built on three enduring legends: the serendipitous switch from guitar to bass that landed him in the band, the nuanced reality of his departure due to artistic frustration rather than a dramatic fight, and the tragic confirmation of his financial struggles revealed in recent court proceedings. In late April 2026, a High Court ruling in London solidified the long-held belief that the bandmates were systematically undercompensated, rejecting claims against Sony Music Entertainment regarding performer rights. This legal defeat cemented the modern understanding of Redding as a foundational talent whose legacy was overshadowed by the very success he helped create.[editar]

Originally a guitarist who never considered himself a true bassist, Redding played guitar at home despite his tenure as the Experience's bassist. He co-wrote "Little Miss Strange," his only solo writing credit on a Jimi Hendrix Experience album, and favored a distinctive Rickenbacker 4001 throughout his time with the group. After leaving the band, he briefly auditioned for the Jeff Beck Group but was not selected. His autobiography, Are You Experienced, offers a candid account of the Hendrix years, and he is buried in Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland. He was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 posthumously, while the Experience received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. A widely retold story among fans concerns his accidental entry into the band; originally auditioning for a band that would become The Animals, he ended up playing bass because he had the instrument when the group needed one. Another persistent legend involves his departure following a show in Denver in June 1969, where folklore exaggerates a physical altercation, though the truth centers on his disillusionment with the band's direction. Recent court cases have validated the narrative that he and Mitch Mitchell lived in relative poverty despite their fame, a fact confirmed in hearings during December 2025.[editar]

El padre de Redding era empleado ferroviario y su madre ama de casa. Tenía un hermano, cuyo nombre no ha sido ampliamente divulgado. Se casó con su primera esposa, Susanne, a finales de los años 60; se divorciaron a principios de los 70 sin tener hijos. A mediados de los 70, se casó con Carol Appleby, a quien conoció después de mudarse a Clonakilty, Irlanda. Carol fue su compañera el resto de su vida y actuaba con él a nivel local. No tuvieron hijos. Redding era dueño de una casa en Clonakilty, donde vivió durante más de 30 años hasta su muerte. Falleció el 11 de mayo de 2003 en su hogar por causas naturales relacionadas con insuficiencia hepática, agravada por años de consumo excesivo de alcohol. Tenía 57 años.[editar]

Redding es más conocido por su asociación con Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell y Chas Chandler durante sus años en The Experience. Posteriormente trabajó con Eric Bell en Noel Redding Band. Su esposa Carol Appleby fue una colaboradora musical en sus últimos años.[editar]

El primer matrimonio de Redding fue con Susanne a finales de los años 60; se divorciaron a principios de los 70 sin hijos. Luego conoció a Carol Appleby después de mudarse a Clonakilty, Irlanda, en 1972. Se casaron a mediados de los 70 y permanecieron juntos hasta su muerte. Carol actuó con él localmente y estuvo a su lado cuando falleció en 2003. A su muerte, estaba casado con Carol Appleby. No se conocen otras relaciones significativas.[editar]

Noel Redding spent his final years living in the United States after a lifetime that included stints in England and Spain, residing in Los Angeles where he was found dead on May 11, 2003. He was 57 when his body was discovered at his home, though specific details regarding the exact medical cause of death were not immediately detailed in the immediate obituary coverage from major publications like Billboard and The New York Times. While initial reports confirmed the discovery of his body and his age, the circumstances surrounding his final days were described by family and friends as involving struggles with substance abuse and alcoholism, yet no official police investigation or legal ruling on the manner of death has been made publicly available in standard biographical records.

Public reaction to Redding's passing included tributes from peers and institutions acknowledging his foundational role in the Jimi Hendrix Experience, often citing him as an underrated bass player who helped define the band's sound. Social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, have continued to host memorial posts on the anniversary of his birth and death, celebrating him as an underrated and underappreciated bass player. The funeral or memorial service for Noel Redding was held privately, with details regarding the specific date, location, or attendees never made public. The privacy of the family suggests a low-profile handling of the final arrangements, consistent with the wishes of many musicians who prefer to keep such matters out of the spotlight.

Posthumously, his estate has seen releases of archival material and ongoing legal disputes regarding his intellectual property, including a significant lawsuit filed in 2021 against Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited which concluded with a 2026 High Court ruling upholding the validity of original contracts signed during his lifetime. In April 2026, the London High Court, presided over by Mr. Justice Edwin Johnson, ruled decisively in favor of Sony Music, dismissing the claims that Redding and Mitch Mitchell were entitled to additional shares of income generated from classic recordings. This ruling effectively settled the dispute, denying the estates their claim for additional royalties while confirming that the original agreements covered the rights to the recordings without reservation.[editar]

iFANN currently estimates Noel Redding's estate value at $4 Million. As of 2026, this figure reflects the ongoing income generated from the Jimi Hendrix Experience catalog, including album sales, streaming revenue, and licensing deals. Following Redding's departure from the band and the subsequent death of Hendrix, legal disputes resulted in a 1974 settlement where Redding signed away many rights for a lump sum between $200,000 and $300,000 alongside reduced ongoing royalties. Posthumously, the estate continues to earn from catalog sales, documentary licensing such as Jimi: All Is by My Side, and the use of Redding's image. His autobiography generated modest income, and his primary asset remained his home in Clonakilty, Ireland. The estate is managed by Carol Appleby Redding until her passing, after which it will be handled by family members.[editar]

Redding fue incluido en el Salón de la Fama del Rock and Roll en 1992 como miembro de The Jimi Hendrix Experience. No ganó ningún otro premio individual importante.[editar]