The heirs of Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell have been suing Sony Music since 2021. The London High Court will decide on royalty claims by December 18th.
A court case began in London on December 9, 2025 over the royalties claim of the heirs of Jimi Hendrix’s bandmates. There has been a legal dispute between Sony Music Entertainment UK and the heirs of Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell since 2021. This case will now be decided at the London High Court.
Bandmates died in relative poverty
The heirs of the former Jimi Hendrix Experience members are currently taking legal action against missing royalties from three Hendrix classics. According to The Independent, lawyer Simon Malynicz KC recently explained that both bandmates died in relative poverty, partly because they “earned next to nothing from the recordings that shaped their careers and lives.” Among other things, Redding and Mitchell were completely excluded from the royalties from the album ELECTRIC LADYLAND.
Sony denies allegations
The other side, Robert Howe KC, the lawyer for Sony Music, argued against this in a written statement on December 9th: Redding and Mitchell had not exercised their right to sue, which would have enabled them to share in royalties in the probate proceedings after Hendrix’s death in 1970. According to Howe, Sony is also not the party that can be accused of wrongdoing in this case.
Shared successes with the Jimi Hendrix Experience
The bassist and drummer worked with the Jimi Hendrix Experience between 1966 and 1969. During this time, the chart album ELECTRIC LADYLAND was created, which spent two weeks at the top of the charts and 40 weeks in total in the Billboard 200. Another joint success was the hit “All Along the Watchtower”, which reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Decision expected by mid-December
Whether the heirs of Redding and Mitchell can actually assert their claims will be decided by December 18th. If the case ends in their favor, the exact amount of financial damages would be determined in a second trial. The case in Great Britain is not the only one initiated by the descendants. They also sued in New York for millions in royalties.