The first trailer for André 3000‘s Jimi Hendrix biopic Jimi: All Is By My Side has been released, showing even more footage of the Outkast musician turned actor stepping into the Hendrix role seamlessly.
The film tells the story of Hendrix’s transformation from backing musician in New York to guitar legend in London in 1966, the year before he became a household name. The film was directed by Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave writer John Ridley who also wrote the script after he discovered the Jimi Hendrix song “Sending My Love to Linda”, written about fashion model Linda Keith, who discovered Hendrix playing in London in 1966 and helped develop his career.
“You want things to change?” André asks in the trailer. “When the power of love takes over from the love of power — that’s when things will change.” According to Variety, André simulated Hendrix’s guitar playing style — left handed with a right-hand guitar strung upside down — to retain authenticity.
Famously, the producers did not receive permission to use any of Hendrix’s music in the film by the late superstar’s estate, so instead has made do with showing him performing covers of songs by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Muddy Waters and Elmore James.
Jimi: All Is By My Side also stars Hayley Atwell and Imogen Poots, and is set to hit theatres this September.
