The first clip for the upcoming Jimi Hendrix biopic ‘All Is by My Side’ by Academy Award winner John Ridley was released on Wednesday that displays actor/rapper André Benjamin taking on the smooth mannerisms of the legendary guitarist.
An exclusive clip released by Entertainment Weekly shows Hendrix (Benjamin) talking with model/friend Linda Keith (Imogen Poots) before traveling off to California’s Monterey Pop Festival where he earned his iconic status by playing along famous musicians and burning his guitar. The movie highlights the year before the festival, when Hendrix went from an average back-up guitarist to making rock n’ roll history.
According to MMTV, the Outkast member took his role extremely seriously as he "listened to hours of interviews [and] watched his mannerisms" to fill the rocker’s shoes. The film is written and directed by John Ridley, who just won an Oscar for his screenplay 12 Years a Slave.
The film premiered last year at the Toronto Film Festival with praise, and will make its U.S. debut at the South by Southwest Music and Film Interactive festival March 12.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons