Born in Folkestone, Kent, England, he was selected by Chas Chandler to join Hendrix's band in 1966, and left in 1969. Although he appeared in other bands before and after Hendrix's death, he never achieved a similar level of success, and retired to Clonakilty Cork in Ireland in 1972.
At nine, Noel played violin at school and then mandolin at about 12 and guitar at 14 years old. His first public appearances were at the Hythe Youth Club then at Harvey Grammar School where he was a student due to take his GCEs.
His first local bands were:
The Strangers: with John "Andy" Andrews (bass)
The Lonely Ones: 1961 - John Andrews (bass) Bob Hiscocks (rhythm guitar); Mick Wibley (drums); Pete Kircher (vocals and in '63. drums). The Lonely Ones made (45 EP vinyl, private record) at the Hayton Manor Studio in Stanford, Kent, in 1963, with Derek Knight on vocals, Trevor Sutton on drums?, Noel Redding on lead guitar and John Andrews on bass. First recordings: Some Other Guy; Money; Talking About You; Anna.
The Loving Kind: 1966 with Pete (Kircher) Carter (drums); Jim Leverton (bass); and Derek Knight (vocals).
At 17 Noel went professional and toured in Scotland and Germany, in the clubs with The Burnettes and The Loving Kind.
Noel was the first person to join the Experience and that was by accident. He had gone to audition on guitar with Eric Burdon of The Animals and got the job as Jimi's bassist.
Noel went on to form Fat Mattress with another Kent musician Neil Landon (the former Burnettes-singer) on vocals, Jim Leverton from Dover and Eric Dillon, the drummer, from Swindon.
While living in Los Angeles. Noel joined Road, a heavy metal outfit. They released one album, Road (1972).
Noel moved to Ireland in 1972. He formed The Noel Redding Band with Eric Bell from Thin Lizzy, Dave Clark and Les Samson. They did two albums for RCA, three tours of the Netherlands, two tours of England, one tour of Ireland and a 10-week tour in America. The band dissolved after a dispute with their management company.
In his book Are You Experienced? (co-authored with Carol Appleby) and publicly he spoke openly about his disappointment in his being cut off from the profits of the continued sale of the Hendrix recordings. He was forced to sign away his royalties in 1974, and later had to sell the bass guitar he used during that time.
Noel Redding recorded and toured sporadically through the years, occasionally doing session work on other artists' albums. He performed with the rock band Phish in 1993.
He died at his home in Ireland at the age of 57.
Wild Thing
Noel Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make everything groovy, wild thing
Wild thing, I think I love you
But I wanna know for sure
Come on and hold me tight
I love you
Wild thing, you make my heart sing
Wild thing, I think you move me
But I wanna know for sure
Come on and hold me tight
You move me
Wild thing, you make my heart sing
You make everything groovy, wild thing
Wild thing, you make my heart sing
You make everything groovy, wild thing
Wild thing, you make my heart sing
You make everything groovy, wild thing
Noel Redding's "Wild Thing" is a catchy tune with a simple message about infatuation and love. The song captures the feeling of being swept off one's feet by someone who seems to be unconventional and spontaneous. The lyrics express the singer's doubt and uncertainty about their feelings towards this person, but at the same time, they cannot resist their charm.
The repeated line "wild thing, you make my heart sing" serves as a refrain that emphasizes the intensity of the singer's emotions. The use of the word "wild" also connotes the idea of freedom and not being bound by conventions or rules. This reinforces the idea of the person's uniqueness and appeals to the singer's desire for something out of the ordinary. The singer pleads with the person to hold them tight, as a way of seeking confirmation and reassurance about their feelings.
Overall, the song is a perfect representation of the excitement and uncertainty of falling in love. Noel Redding's use of simple words and catchy melodies makes the song easy to sing along to and remember, which has helped to make it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Wild thing, you make my heart sing
The person being addressed is very special and makes the singer feel euphoric.
You make everything groovy, wild thing
The presence of the person being addressed has a positive effect on the atmosphere, making everything more enjoyable and relaxed.
Wild thing, I think I love you
The singer is developing strong romantic feelings for the person being addressed and is unsure if it is true love.
But I wanna know for sure
The artist wants to be certain of their feelings and the authenticity of their relationship.
Come on and hold me tight
The artist desires physical affection and comfort from the person being addressed.
I love you
The singer confirms their love for the person being addressed.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Chip Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind