The Noel Redding Band
Encyclopedia
The Noel Redding Band were an Irish folk rock
supergroup
that formed in Clonakilty
, County Cork
in 1972. Comprising bassist, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Noel Redding
(formerly of The Jimi Hendrix Experience
, Fat Mattress
and Road
), lead vocalist and keyboardist Dave Clarke
, lead guitarist Eric Bell
(formerly of Thin Lizzy
and Them
) and drummer Les Sampson (formerly of Road), the band released two albums – Clonakilty Cowboys
(1975) and Blowin'
(1976) – before disbanding in 1976.
split up in 1970, Redding joined the Los Angeles
-based supergroup
Road which released a self-titled album before disbanding in 1972. Following this, Redding decided to form an eponym
ous band, working again with Road drummer Les Sampson. Redding also hired vocalist and keyboardist Dave Clarke
and, later, former Thin Lizzy
guitarist Eric Bell
, who at first expressed doubts about the quality of Redding's written material. The band, like others formed by Redding, was relatively short-lived, releasing two albums in 1975 and 1976 before splitting up the same year. Tracks recorded for a third, unreleased album were later released as The Missing Album http://mouserecords.kastoffkinks.co.uk/html/noel_redding.html on Mouse Records http://mouserecords.kastoffkinks.co.uk/
Redding once suggested in an interview that The Clonakilty Cowboys was the band which gave him "the most pleasure."
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
that formed in Clonakilty
Clonakilty
Clonakilty , often referred to by locals simply as Clon, is a small town on the N71 national secondary road in West County Cork, Ireland, approximately 45 minutes away by road to the west of Cork City. The town is on the southern coast of the island, and is surrounded by hilly country devoted...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1972. Comprising bassist, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Noel Redding
Noel Redding
Noel Redding was an English rock and roll guitarist best known as the bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Biography:...
(formerly of The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
, Fat Mattress
Fat Mattress
Fat Mattress were an English folk rock band that formed in Folkestone in 1968. Founded by guitarist and vocalist Noel Redding, during his time as bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and vocalist Neil Landon, the band was completed by multi-instrumentalist Jim Leverton and drummer Eric Dillon...
and Road
Road (band)
Road was an American hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1970. Comprising bassist/vocalist Noel Redding , guitarist/vocalist Rod Richards and drummer/vocalist Leslie Sampson, the band released one album, Road, in 1972.-History:Road was formed in 1970, after Redding left Fat...
), lead vocalist and keyboardist Dave Clarke
Dave Clarke (musician)
Dave Clarke is a singer, guitarist and keyboard player.-Biography:Clarke started playing piano at the age of 4 and guitar at 9. His first record in 1963 was produced by Luigi Creatore at New York’s Roulette Records. Often confused with his Dave Clark Five namesake, his 1971 solo album Pale Horse...
, lead guitarist Eric Bell
Eric Bell
Eric Robin Bell is a Northern Irish rock musician and guitarist, best known as a founder member and the original guitarist of the rock group Thin Lizzy.-Early career:...
(formerly of Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
and Them
Them (band)
Them were a Northern Irish band formed in Belfast in April 1964, most prominently known for the garage rock standard "Gloria" and launching singer Van Morrison's musical career...
) and drummer Les Sampson (formerly of Road), the band released two albums – Clonakilty Cowboys
Clonakilty Cowboys
-Personnel:The Noel Redding Band*Noel Redding – bass, vocals, guitar arrangements*David Clarke – vocals, keyboards, piano, organ, clavinet*Eric Bell – guitar, vocals*Les Sampson – drums, percussionAdditional personnel...
(1975) and Blowin'
Blowin' (album)
-Personnel:The Noel Redding Band*Noel Redding – bass, vocals, guitar*David Clarke – vocals, keyboards, piano*Eric Bell – guitar, vocals*Les Sampson – drums, percussionAdditional personnel*Andy Kealey – vocals...
(1976) – before disbanding in 1976.
History
After his group Fat MattressFat Mattress
Fat Mattress were an English folk rock band that formed in Folkestone in 1968. Founded by guitarist and vocalist Noel Redding, during his time as bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and vocalist Neil Landon, the band was completed by multi-instrumentalist Jim Leverton and drummer Eric Dillon...
split up in 1970, Redding joined the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Road which released a self-titled album before disbanding in 1972. Following this, Redding decided to form an eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous band, working again with Road drummer Les Sampson. Redding also hired vocalist and keyboardist Dave Clarke
Dave Clarke (musician)
Dave Clarke is a singer, guitarist and keyboard player.-Biography:Clarke started playing piano at the age of 4 and guitar at 9. His first record in 1963 was produced by Luigi Creatore at New York’s Roulette Records. Often confused with his Dave Clark Five namesake, his 1971 solo album Pale Horse...
and, later, former Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
guitarist Eric Bell
Eric Bell
Eric Robin Bell is a Northern Irish rock musician and guitarist, best known as a founder member and the original guitarist of the rock group Thin Lizzy.-Early career:...
, who at first expressed doubts about the quality of Redding's written material. The band, like others formed by Redding, was relatively short-lived, releasing two albums in 1975 and 1976 before splitting up the same year. Tracks recorded for a third, unreleased album were later released as The Missing Album http://mouserecords.kastoffkinks.co.uk/html/noel_redding.html on Mouse Records http://mouserecords.kastoffkinks.co.uk/
Redding once suggested in an interview that The Clonakilty Cowboys was the band which gave him "the most pleasure."
Band members
- Noel ReddingNoel ReddingNoel Redding was an English rock and roll guitarist best known as the bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Biography:...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Dave ClarkeDave Clarke (musician)Dave Clarke is a singer, guitarist and keyboard player.-Biography:Clarke started playing piano at the age of 4 and guitar at 9. His first record in 1963 was produced by Luigi Creatore at New York’s Roulette Records. Often confused with his Dave Clark Five namesake, his 1971 solo album Pale Horse...
– lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, clavinetClavinetA Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various... - Eric BellEric BellEric Robin Bell is a Northern Irish rock musician and guitarist, best known as a founder member and the original guitarist of the rock group Thin Lizzy.-Early career:...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Les Sampson – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Discography
- Clonakilty CowboysClonakilty Cowboys-Personnel:The Noel Redding Band*Noel Redding – bass, vocals, guitar arrangements*David Clarke – vocals, keyboards, piano, organ, clavinet*Eric Bell – guitar, vocals*Les Sampson – drums, percussionAdditional personnel...
(1975) - Blowin'Blowin' (album)-Personnel:The Noel Redding Band*Noel Redding – bass, vocals, guitar*David Clarke – vocals, keyboards, piano*Eric Bell – guitar, vocals*Les Sampson – drums, percussionAdditional personnel*Andy Kealey – vocals...
(1976) - The Missing AlbumThe Missing AlbumGreg Prato's review in allmusic said little about the album's content, only noting that it is easily distinguishable from the work of other bands which one of the members, Noel Redding, had worked with...
(1995)