To your average age music fan, English born Noel Redding needs no introduction. Most well known for his 3-year stint as the bass player in the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Noel continues to tour and record, carrying the torch as the ongoing spokesperson for The Experience. He also works in a promotional capacity for Fender Musical Instruments, who unveiled the signature "Noel Redding Jazz Bass" in 1997.
Noel's career as a solo performer started while still touring with the Experience in 1969. Frustrated as a songwriter, he formed Fat Mattress during the early months of 1969 as a recording outlet, gaining an international major label deal with Polydor. Major exposure came fast for this new group, being the opening band on The Jimi Hendrix Experience's last world tour, with Noel doing double duty as the bass player for Jimi, and as lead vocalist / rhythm guitarist for Fat Mattress.
Being caught up in the swinging '60's music scene in London had it's benefits. Through his associations with being in one of the world's top groups, Noel has since recorded and or performed with the likes of Jeff Beck, Keith Moon, John Paul Jones, and Jimmy Page to name a few. These relationships continue to this day with recent projects and dates being completed with members of the Kinks, Thin Lizzy, Traffic, Mountain and many others.
Currently Noel continues to play both sides of his musical past, fronting an R 'n' B type music revue (with horn section) as lead singer / rhythm guitarist, while also switching to bass guitar and revisiting several classic Experience hits. While performing in the USA, Noel is backed by San Francisco quintet 3:05 AM, known for past associations with David Grissman and Rough Trade (UK/Europe/North America) recording artists The Ophelias.
Also releasing a series of major label solo LPs in the 1970's, Noel Redding was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1992 A very hot group, really nice instrumentation"Dan Aykroyd: House of Blues Nationally Syndicated Radio Show 2/21/99
With national exposure via the "House of Blues" Radio Hour (hosted by Dan Aykroyd as "Elwood Blues"),and high profile performances on three West Coast tours with x Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist NoelRedding under their belts, 3:05 AM stand to take their blend of modern and traditional musical styles to the altogether next level.
Since hooking up with Noel Redding in June, 1998 (as his backing group as well as his opening act), exposure and plaudits have rolled in from sources as diverse as two-page coverage in the SF Chronicle, TV coverage on CNN, KPIX & KGO, and extended radio play on FM and College radio stations across the country. This hasculminated in the hour long House of Blues Radio Hour Show in February 1999, as well as two live performances broadcast on the critically acclaimed college radio station KUSF in San Francisco.
A compilation CD of the best of these live tracks "West Cork Tuning" has now just been released by London based record company Almafame (through Pinnacle Record Group) for UK and European distribution. Similar contracts are currently in negotiation and being drawn up for the North American and Japanese territories.
If that wasn't enough, Almafame is now preparing for the August 2001 release of the group's studio CD "I Don't Hear Jimmy Page" as a follow up to "West Cork Tuning" in The UK and Europe. How many groups do you know of that play high profile tours in major venues, and get international recording contracts before they've even established a local following ?
Made up of various alumnus and members of successful San Francisco groups The Ophelias, Dave Grisman, The Corleones and The Bar Feeders, 3:05 AM have now performed their original material to packed houses on stages such as The House of Blues in LA, The Maritime Hall in SF and the headline spots at the 1998 and 1999 Haight Street Fairs, where they earned rare street fair encores in front of audiences estimated at 30,000 plus. Augmenting the group for live performances with a dual saxophone horn section, only further expands the range and scope of this diverse group. With Celtic and psychedelic folk-rock styles established via mandolin virtuoso Patrick Fahey and guitarist Keith Dion's song writing, the group waltzes with ease through modern and traditional musical genres as diverse as punk influenced power pop, acoustic swing, classic rock and everything else in between. ,brWith more high profile North American and International dates being planned 3:05AM and their new CD releases hope to make further impact on the local and national music scene.
Keith Dion: Songwriter, acoustic and electric guitars. Previous stints in signed recording acts: The Ophelias (Rough Trade UK / USA); The Ponsonby DCs (WEA New Zealand / Australia); Martial Law & Tomorrow's Parties (WEA New Zealand / Australia). Has also just produced the latest releases for Noel Redding and Arthur Lee of Love.
Patrick Fahey: Mandolin, electric guitar. Has recorded or performed with a number of local and internationally known performers. Amongst them: Dave Grisman, Jackson Browne, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Cab Calloway, Dave Lippman, Jesse Colin Young, Pete Seeger, Country Joe McDonald, Bobby McFerron, Eddie Henderson and mandolin master Rudy Cippola.
Marco Villalobos: Drums and percussion. Former lead singer and guitarist for The Corleones. In demand session drummer and guitarist. Has appeared on local releases by The Corleones, Horsy and The Bar Feeders.
Arthur West: Bass Guitar. Founding partner and owner of Strange Weekend Records. Executive producer for the Ponsonby DCs , The Ophelias first LP, and two compilations of 22 New Zealand groups to large critical acclaim and major airplay in North America. Former Bass player in Almost Modern.
Kyle Scott: Lead and background vocals. Los Angeles session vocalist extraordinaire dedicating himself to his first full time performing group.
