Police: Redding Death Natural

Irish authorities say that Noel Redding, the British bassist best known for his late-Sixties work with Jimi Hendrix, likely died of "natural" causes. The fifty-seven-year-old was found Sunday at his home in County Cork.

"He hadn't been seen since Saturday and people were concerned about him," said Clonakilty-based sergeant Aidan Moynihan. "Some friends called, and the body was found in the bathroom. We're not investigating anything. The house was secure."

A formal post-mortem was scheduled for today.

Redding had lived in County Cork for more than two decades. His latest band Noel Redding and Friends had a regular gig at De Barra's in Clonakilty every Friday night, and the pub is decorated with his memorabilia. Local musicians will honor him with a tribute there this Friday.

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Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »

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