The new Jimi Hendrix biopic starring rapper Andre 3000 Benjamin has been in the works for the last 8 years. Problems involving licensing of the music and Jimi’s likeness has delayed shooting. Dre finally managed to pull together financing for the film on the late guitarist’s life. The movie began shooting in Ireland. Photos from the set surfaced over the weekend showing Dre wearing a curly afro wig and bell bottom pants that were popular in the 1960s and ’70s.
In an interview with the New York Daily News in 2004, Dre discussed Jimi’s drug and alcohol-fueled life: “Jimi was wild onstage. Offstage, he was really calm.”
Jimi died the same way British superstars Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse did: he was found dead in his bed after a night of binge drinking at the age of 27.
According to Idolator, the film might still have to hurdle obstacles from Jimi Hendrix’s estate since the music is unauthorized.
The fact that production has begun in earnest is a sign that the project isn’t being held up by objections from Hendrix’s estate. If it does make it all the way to the silver screen, it wouldn’t be the first time a film depicting the superstar had to make do without authorized, original music. Showtime’s made-for-TV biopic Hendrix, released in 2000, used covers of several songs (though it was poorly received).
As a kid growing up in the ’70s, not too many of us were fond of Jimi Hendrix. Despite the fact that he is biracial, he played mostly hard rock music which we kids couldn’t identify with. But the white kids at school LOVED him. It will be interesting to see what the audience of the film will look like.
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Photos: Rap Radar, Idolator
