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Estates of Jimi Hendrix bandmates can sue over royalties dispute


London’s high court rules that companies representing bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell can seek a copyright change, after signing away rights in 1970s

The estates of two British musicians who laid down the rhythms on Jimi Hendrix’s greatest hits are able to sue Sony Music Entertainment, in the hope that they can secure a share of the songs’ royalties. Bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell joined the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1966 and played on the group’s three studio albums: Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love and Electric Ladyland, landmarks in psychedelic rock which contain classics such as Purple Haze, Little Wing, Hey Joe and Foxey Lady. Musicians have been known to prevail in royalties cases against their late collaborators, most notably producer Quincy Jones, who had helmed Michael Jackson’s albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad.

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