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 The Jimi Hendrix Experience French Tour 1966 The French Tour 1966 (officially untitled) was a short concert tour by American-British psychedelic rock band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The tour began on October 13, 1966, concluded on October 18, 1966 and featured four shows. On all four dates, The Experience were supporting Long Chris, The Blackbirds and Johnny Hallyday; The Brian Auger Trinity also performed, before headliner Hallyday, on the final date. The 1966 tour of France marked the first show performed by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, on October 13. This was only one week after the formation of the band,