The first ever authorised feature-length documentary about the life of Jimi Hendrix is in the works, from the director of The Greatest Night In Pop.
The rock icon died in 1970 at the age of 27 and his estate have never given permission for a full-length documentary, until now.
To be titled Jimi, the film will, according to a press release, tell the story of a “transformational period in music history when Jimi Hendrix set the world – and his guitar – on fire”.
Bao Nguyen helmed The Greatest Night In Pop earlier this year, a Netflix documentary that charted the making of the 1985 smash hit charity single ‘We Are The World’ and the logistic challenges faced by Lionel Richie in gathering a group of the world’s biggest musicians.
Speaking about taking on the challenge of Jimi, Nguyen has said: “Telling the story of Jimi Hendrix during his pivotal years in London is both a profound honor and a unique responsibility. London has always been a city that inspires me.”
“Having lived there, I felt a deep connection to its creative energy, much like Jimi did when his creativity reached extraordinary heights. I approach this project with deep respect for his legacy and the cultural significance he holds as an American original.”
“Through this film, I hope to capture the vibrant atmosphere of the 1960s music scene, and his meteoric rise to superstardom, culminating in the legendary show at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival – a triumphant homecoming where his incendiary performance didn’t just set his guitar alight – it ignited a cultural shift that changed the course of music history.”
Hendrix’s sister Janie has endorsed the project, saying: “Just as Bao Nguyen has achieved in his films highlighting the lives of other iconic figures who influenced pop culture, this presentation of Jimi’s London experience will be inspiring and informative — a story told the way it should be.”
There have been several high-profile unauthorised Hendrix documentaries in the past, including From The Monkees To The Hollywood Bowl last year, and Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision, an exploration of the iconic studio in New York, which is due out on October 4.