The Jimi Hendrix Experience Animals bassist, Chas Chandler, formed a backing band with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell. Mitchell was a seasoned London drummer formerly with Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames. Hendrix chose Redding because of his attitude towards music and his hairstyle. Redding had been a guitar player until that time, but played bass in the band. The name "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" was coined by their business manager Michael Jeffery. The first official appearance of "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" (invited by French singer Johnny Hallyday) was at the "Novelty" in Évreux, France, on October 13, 1966. Six days later
The Jimi Hendrix Experience French Tour 1966 after drummer Mitch Mitchell joined on October 6. The set lists for the first three dates of the tour remain unclear, though are known to have included "Hey Joe", planned as the band's first single; Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor"; "Land of a Thousand Dances", popularised by Wilson Picket; Otis Redding's "Respect"; and Don Covay's "Mercy, Mercy", which Hendrix usually referred to as "Have Mercy". "Killing Floor" and "Hey Joe" were retained for the final date at the Olympia, to which rock standard "Wild Thing" was added as a finale; this was the first Experience performance recorded. The Jimi Hendrix Experience