Jimi Hendrix was a force. A supernova. But even a supernova needs a galaxy to hold it together. When people think about him, they usually picture the lone figure with a burning Stratocaster. They forget that he wasn't alone up there. The guys behind him weren't just "backing musicians"—they were the engine room of a revolution.
You've probably heard of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Maybe you've heard of the Band of Gypsys. But do you actually know who these guys were? Most fans can name one or two, but the reality of how these groups functioned—and why they fell apart—is a lot messier and more interesting than the Hall of Fame plaques suggest.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: The Power Trio That Changed Everything
Basically, the Experience was a fluke. In 1966, Jimi's manager, Chas Chandler (the former bassist for The Animals), dragged him to London. Jimi needed a band. Fast.
Noel Redding: The Guitarist Who Hated the Bass
Honestly, Noel Redding is one of the most misunderstood figures in rock history. He didn't even play bass. He was a guitarist who showed up to an audition for The New Animals, didn't get the gig, and ended up meeting Jimi.
Jimi liked his hair. Seriously. That was a big part of it.
Noel was a solid player, but he was always the "reluctant" bassist. Imagine being a lead guitarist and then being told you have to play 3rd fiddle to the greatest guitar player to ever live. It wasn't easy. On albums like Electric Ladyland, Jimi actually got so frustrated with Noel's playing—or Noel got so frustrated with Jimi's endless studio takes—that Jimi just played the bass parts himself.
By the time they played the Denver Pop Festival in 1969, the tension was unbearable. Noel quit, flew back to London, and that was that. He later formed a band called Fat Mattress, which Jimi jokingly referred to as "Thin Pillow." Brutal.
Mitch Mitchell: The Jazzman in a Rock World
If Noel was the anchor, Mitch Mitchell was the hurricane. Mitch got the job on a coin toss. No joke—it was between him and another drummer named Aynsley Dunbar. Jimi flipped a coin, and Mitch won.
Mitch was a jazz drummer at heart. He worshipped Elvin Jones and Max Roach. While most rock drummers in 1967 were just hitting a steady 4/4 beat, Mitch was playing "lead drums." Listen to Manic Depression. That 3/4 time signature "stumble shuffle" is pure jazz fusion before fusion was even a word.
He was the only person in the original lineup who could actually keep up with Jimi's improvisations. They had this telepathic connection. When Jimi would go off on a tangent, Mitch was right there, filling every gap with triplets and rolls that sounded like a building collapsing in slow motion.
The Band of Gypsys: A New Direction
After the Experience imploded, Jimi went back to his roots. He wanted a "heavier" sound. Something funkier. This led to the creation of the Band of Gypsys, which was an all-Black trio that only officially released one live album during Jimi’s life.
Billy Cox was the bassist. He and Jimi went way back. They met in the Army at Fort Campbell in 1961. Billy was Jimi’s "buddy" in the truest sense. He didn't play like Noel; he played "the pocket." He provided a rock-solid, funky foundation that allowed Jimi to explore new, more rhythmic territory. Billy is actually the only surviving member of Jimi’s core bands today.
Then you had Buddy Miles on drums. Buddy was a powerhouse. Unlike Mitch, who was all about finesse and jazz flourishes, Buddy was about the "fatback" groove. He had a voice like a soul legend and a drum style that hit you in the chest.
But it wasn't all sunshine. Buddy liked to "scat" and sing over Jimi’s solos, which apparently drove Jimi crazy. The Band of Gypsys only lasted for a handful of shows at the Fillmore East before things went south. At a Madison Square Garden gig in 1970, Jimi supposedly walked off stage after just two songs, and the band was effectively over.
The Forgotten "Extra" Members
Most people think it was always a trio. It wasn't.
At Woodstock, Jimi didn't play as "The Jimi Hendrix Experience." He played as Gypsy Sun and Rainbows. This was a massive, sprawling group that included:
- Larry Lee: An old friend from the Nashville "Chitlin' Circuit" days on second guitar. His solos at Woodstock were mostly edited out of the film because his guitar was wildly out of tune.
- Juma Sultan & Jerry Velez: Percussionists who added a tribal, rhythmic layer to the sound.
- Billy Cox: On bass (obviously).
- Mitch Mitchell: Back on drums.
Jimi was trying to move toward a "Big Band" sound, but it was chaotic. The rehearsals were a mess, and the group didn't last long after the festival.
Why the Lineups Matter Today
You can't separate the music from the men behind the curtain. The Experience gave us the psychedelic pop hits like Purple Haze and The Wind Cries Mary. The Band of Gypsys gave us Machine Gun, which is arguably the greatest guitar solo ever recorded.
If you want to truly appreciate Hendrix, you have to listen to how he interacts with these different personalities. With Mitch and Noel, he was a rock star. With Billy and Buddy, he was a bluesman.
Next Steps for the Serious Fan:
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- Listen to "Machine Gun" from the Fillmore East: Pay attention to Billy Cox’s bassline. It’s a simple, repetitive riff that anchors the entire 12-minute war zone Jimi creates.
- Compare "Fire" (Experience) to "Who Knows" (Band of Gypsys): Notice the difference between Mitch’s frantic energy and Buddy’s steady, heavy groove.
- Check out the "Cry of Love" Touring Band: In his final months, Jimi brought back Mitch Mitchell but kept Billy Cox on bass. Many critics believe this was his strongest lineup—the perfect mix of jazz technique and soul stability.
Jimi Hendrix was the sun, but his band members were the planets that kept him from flying off into deep space. Without them, the music we know simply wouldn't exist.