Hendrix arrived in England in October 1966, and auditions were launched to find him a backing band. Noel Redding was chosen for the bass spot. Even though he had never played bass before auditioning (he was a guitarist), Hendrix liked his look and attitude. Mitch Mitchell was a seasoned London drummer who brought jazz chops and a lead style of playing to the table. He would prove to be Hendrix's most valuable musical partner.
Though initially conceived as Hendrix's backing band, The Experience soon became much more than that. Along with Cream, they were the first group to popularize the "power trio" format, which essentially strips a rock band lineup down to the essentials: bass, guitar and drums. This smaller format also encourages more extrovert playing from the players involved, often at very high volumes. In the case of The Experience, Hendrix mixed lead and rhythm guitar duties into one, while also making use of then-revolutionary guitar effects such as feedback and wah-wah.
Mitchell played hard-hitting jazz-influenced grooves that often served a melodic role as much as they did timekeeping. Redding was the eye of the storm, playing deceptively simple bass lines that helped to anchor the band's sound. Visually, they decked themselves out in matching psychedelic costumes and permed afros.
The lineup first came to prominence during the Monterey Pop Festival, one of the first major music festivals. The band delivered a stellar performance, that ended with Hendrix famously setting his guitar on fire. The moment was immortalized in a photograph which was used as a cover of Rolling Stone[1] magazine. The appearance was also filmed and put into the documentary film Monterey Pop. This brought them to the attention of North American audiences. They were then asked to go on tour with The Monkees as the opening act. They abruptly left the tour after only a few dates. It was later revealed by Chas Chandler as being a publicity stunt.
With the band, Hendrix recorded his three most successful albums, Are You Experienced?, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland. In June of 1969, he decided to break up the group. Deteriorating relations with Redding had come to a head, and he also felt stilted by the trio format. He used a larger band lineup for his Woodstock concert in August 1969.
Hendrix would revert back to the trio format with Buddy Miles on drums and Billy Cox on bass and called themselves the Band of Gypsys. A live self-titled album was released in March 1970. This line up only lasted a couple of months. From early 1970 they were back to the original The Jimi Hendrix Experience, except Noel Redding was replaced by Billy Cox on bass.
This line up continued until Jimi Hendrix died in London, England from a drug overdose on the 18th September 1970.
Hey Baby
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, Baby... where do you come from?
Well she looked at me and smiled and looked into Space...
and said, "I'm comin' from the land of a new Rising Sun."
Then I said, "Hey Baby, where ya tryin' to go to?"
Then she says, "I'm gonna spin and spread around Peace of Mind...
and a whole lotta Love to you and you!"
Yes, I'd like to come along!
"Would you like to come along?" she asked me.
Yes take me along, right now!
Hey Baby, can I step into your World a while?
"Yes you can," she said, "come on back with me for a while-
we're gonna go cross the Jupiter's sands,
and see all your people one by one!
We gotta help the people out, right now...
that's what I'm doing here, all about."
Yeah! Yeah! May I come along?
May I come along?
May I come along? Yeah! Yeah!
Please take me!
The Jimi Hendrix Experience's song "The New Rising Sun" is a psychedelic journey through space and love. The lyrics start with Jimi asking a woman where she's from, and she replies that she's from the land of a "new Rising Sun." This could be interpreted as a metaphor for a utopian society or a place of new beginnings, as the rising sun often symbolizes renewal and hope. She then tells Jimi that she's spreading peace of mind and love, and invites him to come along and help her help people. Jimi eagerly accepts, wanting to step into her world of love and join her on her mission.
The song speaks to the counterculture of the 1960s, which valued love, peace, and unity. The idea of helping people and spreading love was a central theme at the time, and Jimi's lyrics embody this sentiment. The reference to Jupiter's sands represents an otherworldly journey to help people, which ties into the psychedelic nature of the song.
Overall, "The New Rising Sun" is a song about hope and love, and the desire to make the world a better place. Its lyrics are a call to action for people to join together and help one another, and its psychedelic sound reflects the era of the 1960s and the counterculture movement.
Line by Line Meaning
Is the microphone on?
Checking if the microphone is ready for the performance.
Hey, Baby... where do you come from?
Asking a woman where she is from.
Well she looked at me and smiled and looked into Space...
The woman smiled at the singer before gazing off into the distance.
and said, "I'm comin' from the land of a new Rising Sun."
The woman claimed to come from a place called the new Rising Sun.
Then I said, "Hey Baby, where ya tryin' to go to?"
The artist asked the woman where she was headed.
Then she says, "I'm gonna spin and spread around Peace of Mind...
The woman claimed she was going to spread peace and love wherever she goes.
and a whole lotta Love to you and you!"
The woman wishes to share love with the singer.
Hey, Girl! I'd like to come along!
The artist expresses the desire to join the woman on her journey.
Yes, I'd like to come along!
Reiterating the desire to join the woman on her journey.
"Would you like to come along?" she asked me.
The woman asked the artist if he wants to join her.
Yes take me along, right now!
The singer requests to accompany the woman immediately.
Hey Baby, can I step into your World a while?
The artist asks the woman if he can experience her world.
"Yes you can," she said, "come on back with me for a while-
The woman allows the singer to join her and experience her world.
we're gonna go cross the Jupiter's sands,
The woman and the singer are headed on a journey through a vast and unknown place.
and see all your people one by one!
The woman wishes to meet and help everyone in her community.
We gotta help the people out, right now...
The woman emphasizes the need to help people immediately.
that's what I'm doing here, all about."
The woman's purpose for traveling and spreading love is to help people.
Yeah! Yeah! May I come along?
The singer expresses excitement and reiterates his desire to join her.
May I come along?
The singer asks again if he can join the woman on her journey.
May I come along? Yeah! Yeah!
Repeating the artist's desire to join the woman on her journey.
Please take me!
The artist pleas for the woman to take him with her on her journey.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JIMI HENDRIX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind