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Noel
Redding Biography
To your average age music
fan, English born Noel Redding needs no introduction. Most
well known for his 3-year stint as the bass player in the Jimi
Hendrix Experience, Noel continues to tour and record,
carrying the torch as the ongoing spokesperson for The
Experience. He also works in a promotional capacity for Fender
Musical Instruments, who unveiled the signature "Noel Redding
Jazz Bass" in 1997.
Noel's career as a solo
performer started while still touring with the Experience in
1969. Frustrated as a songwriter, he formed Fat Mattress
during the early months of 1969 as a recording outlet, gaining
an international major label deal with Polydor. Major exposure
came fast for this new group, being the opening band on The
Jimi Hendrix Experience's last world tour, with Noel doing
double duty as the bass player for Jimi, and as lead vocalist
/ rhythm guitarist for Fat Mattress.
Being caught up in the
swinging '60's music scene in London had it's benefits.
Through his associations with being in one of the world's top
groups, Noel has since recorded and or performed with the
likes of Jeff Beck, Keith Moon, John Paul Jones, and Jimmy
Page to name a few. These relationships continue to this day
with recent projects and dates being completed with members of
the Kinks, Thin Lizzy, Traffic, Mountain and many others.
Currently Noel continues to
play both sides of his musical past, fronting an R 'n' B type
music revue (with horn section) as lead singer / rhythm
guitarist, while also switching to bass guitar and revisiting
several classic Experience hits. While performing in the USA,
Noel is backed by San Francisco quintet 3:05 AM, known for
past associations with David Grissman and Rough Trade
(UK/Europe/North America) recording artists The Ophelias.
Also releasing a series of
major label solo LPs in the 1970's, Noel Redding was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Jimi Hendrix
Experience in 1992.
3:05 AM
"A very hot group, really
nice instrumentation"
Dan Aykroyd: House of Blues Nationally Syndicated Radio
Show 2/21/99
With national exposure via
the "House of Blues" Radio Hour (hosted by Dan Aykroyd as "Elwood
Blues"),and high profile performances on three West Coast
tours with x Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist NoelRedding under
their belts, 3:05 AM stand to take their blend of modern and
traditional musical styles to the altogether next level.
Since hooking up with Noel
Redding in June, 1998 (as his backing group as well as his
opening act), exposure and plaudits have rolled in from
sources as diverse as two-page coverage in the SF Chronicle,
TV coverage on CNN, KPIX & KGO, and extended radio play on FM
and College radio stations across the country. This
hasculminated in the hour long House of Blues Radio Hour Show
in February 1999, as well as two live performances broadcast
on the critically acclaimed college radio station KUSF in San
Francisco.
A compilation CD of the best
of these live tracks "West Cork Tuning" has now just been released by London
based record company Almafame (through Pinnacle Record Group)
for UK and European distribution. Similar contracts are
currently in negotiation and being drawn up for the North
American and Japanese territories.
If that wasn't enough,
Almafame is now preparing for the August 2001 release of the
group's studio CD "I Don't Hear Jimmy Page" as a follow up to
"West Cork Tuning" in The UK and Europe. How many groups do
you know of that play high profile tours in major venues, and
get international recording contracts before they've even
established a local following ?
Made up of various alumnus
and members of successful San Francisco groups The Ophelias,
Dave Grisman, The Corleones and The Bar Feeders, 3:05 AM have
now performed their original material to packed houses
on stages such as The House of Blues in LA, The Maritime Hall
in SF and the headline spots at the 1998 and 1999 Haight
Street Fairs, where they earned rare street fair encores in
front of audiences estimated at 30,000 plus. Augmenting the
group for live performances with a dual saxophone horn
section, only further expands the range and scope of this
diverse group. With Celtic and psychedelic folk-rock styles
established via mandolin virtuoso Patrick Fahey and guitarist
Keith Dion's song writing, the group waltzes with ease through
modern and traditional musical genres as diverse as punk
influenced power pop, acoustic swing, classic rock and
everything else in between.
With more high profile North
American and International dates being planned 3:05AM and
their new CD releases hope to make further impact on the local
and national music scene.
Keith Dion: Songwriter,
acoustic and electric guitars. Previous stints in signed recording acts: The
Ophelias (Rough Trade UK / USA); The Ponsonby DCs (WEA New
Zealand / Australia); Martial Law & Tomorrow's Parties (WEA New Zealand / Australia). Has
also just produced the latest releases for Noel Redding and Arthur Lee of
Love.
Patrick Fahey: Mandolin,
electric guitar. Has recorded or performed with a number of local and
internationally known performers. Amongst them: Dave Grisman,
Jackson Browne, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Cab Calloway, Dave
Lippman, Jesse Colin Young, Pete Seeger, Country Joe McDonald,
Bobby McFerron, Eddie Henderson and mandolin master Rudy
Cippola.
Marco Villalobos: Drums and
percussion. Former lead singer and guitarist for The Corleones.
In demand session drummer and guitarist. Has appeared on local
releases by The Corleones, Horsy and The Bar Feeders.
Arthur West: Bass Guitar.
Founding partner and owner of Strange Weekend Records.
Executive producer for the Ponsonby DCs , The Ophelias first
LP, and two compilations of 22 New Zealand groups to large
critical acclaim and major airplay in North America. Former
Bass player in Almost Modern.
Kyle Scott: Lead and
background vocals. Los Angeles session vocalist extraordinaire
dedicating himself to his first full time performing group.
All photos by Reed Ingersoll or Susan Whitaker. |
