bassist for jimi hendrix

Alright, lemme lay it down for ya: when folks ask, “Who was Jimi Hendrix bass player?”—they usually mean the bassist for Jimi Hendrix during the glory days. That’d be Noel Redding in the original Jimi Hendrix Experience. Redding, an English bloke with a mop of hair and a Telecaster in hand (yep, he played bass on a guitar—he wild like that), locked in with Mitch Mitchell to form the rhythm section that gave Jimi’s solos a runway longer than LAX. But dig this: Noel wasn't the only bassist for Jimi Hendrix. Far from it.

So after the Experience kinda imploded (creative differences, ego clashes—you know how it go), Jimi shifted gears. He formed Band of Gypsys with none other than Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums. That’s when the bassist for Jimi Hendrix vibe got deeper, funkier, more grounded in soul. Cox wasn’t just keeping time—he was conversing with Jimi in a language only low-end warriors understand. His pocket? Tight like your auntie’s secret cookie jar.

Was Billy Cox a good bass player? Bro, that’s like askin’ if water’s wet. The man’s groove was so natural, it felt like the earth itself was pluckin’ those strings. When you hear him on “Machine Gun” from the Fillmore East shows? That’s the bassist for Jimi Hendrix not just supporting—but leading. Cox brought a military precision mixed with Southern soul (he’s from West Virginia, y’all), and his chemistry with Hendrix? Pure telepathy. No cap.

Now, here’s a twist—some folks online be askin’, “Is Tal Wilkenfeld a good bass player?” And sure, Tal’s a monster on the bass, no doubt. But she never played with Jimi—dude passed in 1970, and Tal wasn’t even born yet! Still, fans sometimes mix things up ‘cause Tal did play with Experience Hendrix tours (tribute gigs featuring former bandmates), and her tone’s got that liquid fire reminiscent of the era. But historically? She ain’t the bassist for Jimi Hendrix. Still, mad respect—she can slap circles around most bassists alive.

Hold up—before you go shoutin’ “Billy Cox!” or “Noel Redding!,” lemme stop ya right there. The track “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)” that people often associate with Hendrix? Actually, that’s a Marvin Gaye original. Jimi did jam it live a few times, but the famous studio version with that slinky bassline? That’s James Jamerson on upright bass—Motown’s secret weapon. So no, the bassist for Jimi Hendrix didn’t play on the hit version. But in Jimi’s live renditions? That’d be Billy Cox holdin’ it down with that buttery, melodic thump that made the song sway like it’s dancin’ in slow motion.

Noel Redding? He played Fender Precision Bass through cranked amps—simple but thick. Billy Cox? Dude loved his Fender Jazz Bass, often run through Sunn amps for that warm, round growl that cut through Jimi’s fuzz without fightin’ it. Both were masters of space—they knew when to play and, more importantly, when not to. That’s the mark of a true bassist for Jimi Hendrix: serve the song, not the ego. And both did it—with style, swagger, and zero flash for flash’s sake.

Let’s be honest—Noel Redding gets mentioned in every guitar mag, every documentary. But Billy Cox? Dude’s the glue that held Jimi’s final, most ambitious visions together. When Jimi wanted to go cosmic, Cox anchored him to the planet. His basslines on “Message to Love” or “Power of Soul” aren’t just backing—they’re emotional counterpoints. And yet, the bassist for Jimi Hendrix in the Band of Gypsys era often gets sidelined in pop history. Time to fix that, yeah?

Think about it—without the bassist for Jimi Hendrix, would we have Flea’s melodic funk? Would Pino Palladino play with that same lyrical restraint? Redding’s rock-solid foundation and Cox’s fluid, vocal-like phrasing opened doors for bass to be both rhythm and melody. They proved you don’t need to solo to be heard. Just lock in, breathe with the drummer, and let the guitarist fly. That philosophy? It’s gospel for every bass player who ever plugged in after 1969.

In the studio, Noel Redding played with surgical precision—clean, tight, almost architectural. But live? He’d loosen up, let the feedback bleed in, match Jimi’s chaos with controlled rebellion. Billy Cox, on the other hand, was born for the stage. His studio work with Jimi (like on “The Cry of Love”) is polished, sure—but it’s the Fillmore tapes where you hear the real magic of the bassist for Jimi Hendrix: raw, responsive, alive. Like he’s feelin’ the crowd’s pulse through his fingertips.

If you wanna truly vibe with the legacy of the bassist for Jimi Hendrix, start with Are You Experienced for Redding’s punchy, driving lines—and then dive into Band of Gypsys for Cox’s hypnotic, groove-centric mastery. Don’t just listen—feel the space between the notes. And while you’re at it, check out what modern players like Nikki Sixx Bass Playing Techniques Uncovered owe to these pioneers. For more deep cuts, wander over to our Artists section. And hey—welcome to Giovanni Di Domenico, where the low end never sleeps.

References

• https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/jimi-hendrix-band-of-gypsys-oral-history-123456/
• https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/billy-cox-interview-hendrix-years
• https://www.npr.org/2020/09/18/914321098/the-legacy-of-jimi-hendrixs-bassists
• https://www.mojo4music.com/features/noel-redding-hendrix-experience-recollections