Jimi Hendrix Biopic: See The New Trailer [Video]

Jimi Hendrix passed away more than 40 years ago, but his version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” is still recognized as a classic spin on the patriotic tune. The day before Independence Day this year, makers of the long-in-the-works Hendrix biopic Jimi: All Is By My Side released a new trailer for public consumption. The film is set for release in theaters September 26.

Andre 3000 – billed as Andre Benjamin in the film – is featured in the role of Hendrix. The movie covers the early years of his career in London’s music scene in 1966 and 1967. Shot in Dublin in 2012, the movie debuted at the Toronto Film Festival last year.

Benjamin learned to mimic Hendrix’s guitar playing and bears a striking physical resemblance to the iconic rock star. Slate called Benjamin’s performance “very convincing.” Check out the trailer here:

The film is the directorial debut of John Ridley, who won an Academy Award for writing 12 Years a Slave. Ridley has both director and screenwriter credit on All Is By My Side. It is a passion project for the filmmaker, who conceived of it after hearing Hendrix’s song “Sending My Love To Linda,” about model Linda Keith. Keith and Hendrix’s relationship plays a prominent role in the film.

Linda told TheGuardian last year that she lent Hendrix a white Fender Stratocaster guitar because his was in the pawn shop. The guitar actually belonged to her boyfriend, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. She became focused on promoting Hendrix’s career and never went back to Richards. Rumor has it the Stones wrote “Ruby Tuesday” about her.

Actress Imogen Poots plays Keith in the film, and according to a Hollywood Reporter review published last year, the movie does not “sugarcoat” Hendrix’s treatment of her or of Kathy Etchingham, the subject of the other relationship featured in the movie.

Notably absent from the new film will be any actual Hendrix recordings, to which, as Slate notes, Ridley was unable to secure the rights. According to the critic at The Guardian who reviewed it, this does not detract from the film’s overall impact:

“In [the songs’] place are montage and feedback, cross-dialogue, distortion and the odd cover version (Muddy Waters, Dylan, the Beatles). The result is an unpredictable film, a difficult approximation of a biopic. But it delivers a Jimi Hendrix experience somehow the richer for sidelining the man and subverting his music.”

The film’s late September release will fall just over a week after the 44th anniversary of Hendrix’s death.

[Image: OurBlackStars.com]