Biography Billy Cox

William "Billy" Cox (born October 18, 1941) is an American bassist, best known for performing with Jimi Hendrix. Cox is the only surviving member of Jimi Hendrix's three main bands, including the original Experience lineup (which did not include Cox); he was in the Band of Gypsys and afterwards the Cry Of Love (a.k.a. Jimi Hendrix New Experience) trio. Cox was also in the short-lived Hendrix band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows (there are other surviving members from this group) which played Woodstock, prior to the Band of Gypsys formation. Cox continues to perform dates with the Band of Gypsys Experience and the Experience Hendrix Tour. Read more here: Wikipedia - Billy Cox

George Allen "Buddy" Miles, Jr. (September 5, 1947 – February 26, 2008), was an American rock drummer, vocalist, composer, and producer. He was a founding member of The Electric Flag (1967), a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys (1969–1970), founder and leader of the Buddy Miles Express and later, the Buddy Miles Band. In addition to Jimi Hendrix, Miles played and recorded with Carlos Santana, Mike Bloomfield, and others. In a lighter vein, he sang lead vocals on the popular "California Raisins" claymation TV commercials and recorded two California Raisins R&B albums. Read more here: Wikipedia - Buddy Miles

Cox & Miles Collaboration - Band of Gypsys Return

During his brief yet legendary career, the albums released during Jimi Hendrix's lifetime could be broken down into two categories -- psychedelic hard rock and funk/soul rock. The latter style could be pinpointed to the 1970 release Band of Gypsys, a live recording which saw Hendrix hook up with old pals Billy Cox (guitar) and Buddy Miles (drums), and shy away from the pyrotechnics of his early days in favor of heavy jamming. Thirty-six years after the release of the Band of Gypsys' lone album comes a follow-up, Band of Gypsys Return, on which Hendrix's shoes are filled by such players as Eric Gales, Kid Rock's Kenny Olson, and Guitar World Magazine's Andy Aledort, among others. Comprised of both studio and live recordings, several Hendrix classics are revisited, as well as a pair of tunes penned by Cox for Jimmy Stewart (aka Buzzard), who was a musical influence on Hendrix and Cox (according to Cox's liner notes). For the most part, the renditions of the Hendrix classics follow the original versions closely -- especially Aledort's fine job of re-creating the long-and-winding solos of "Machine Gun," as well as Olson tackling "Stone Free." But elsewhere, tracks like "Manic Depression" get a significant overhauling, and the two aforementioned Stewart tribute tracks, "You've Got the Best in Town" and "Let Your Word Be Your Bond" fit in well. As evidenced by Band of Gypsys Return, Cox and Miles still make up one hell of a rhythm section. [Also included is a DVD, which includes performances, as well as interviews with both Cox and Miles.]

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