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Hendrix

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Movie propaganda

He set the world on fire.

In his London apartment in 1970, guitarist Jimi Hendrix (Wood Harris) reflects on his life, from being raised by his father Al (Dorian Harewood) in Seattle to the magical times between 1967 and 1970 when he was at the vanguard of a cultural revolution in the USA.

Just out of the Army, Jimi tours with many groups as a backup musician. When he becomes a little too flamboyant for Little Richard's band, Jimi moves on to Harlem, where he becomes lovers with the sexy and streetwise Fay Pridgeon (Vivica A Fox). The two drift apart when Jimi begins spending all his time exploring the scene in Greenwich Village.

Jimi soon forms his own band, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, to play at the hip café Wha? where Jimi's friend Linda Keith (Ann Marin), introduces him to Chas Chandler (Christian Potenza), former bass player for The Animals who has begun producing records.

Jimi and Chas go to England where Jimi's reputation grows. there, he forms a new band with bass player Noel Redding (Kristen J Holden-Ried) and drummer Mitch Mitchell (Christopher Ralph): The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The Experience debuts at the St James Club in London and in the audience is manager Michael Jeffery (Billy Zane). Chas introduces them, and later influences Jimi to sign with Jeffery. After the group's first recording session it becomes apparent that Jimi and Jeffery have very different views of the music business.

Back in the USA, Jimi's synthesis of rock, blues and something other-worldly captures the spirit of the times at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival where he is the hit of the show. The era is also one of heightened political awareness in the African-American community - and it is evident that Jimi does not fit the mould of traditional black musicians. This lack of identification with, and from, the black community will continue to put Jimi at odds with African-American activists.

After Monterey, Jimi appears on the verge of establishing his own unique musical identity but Jeffery convinces him to tour as the opening act for the popular, but musically bland group, The Monkees. Chas argues against the move to no avail.

The Monkees tour is disastrous - Jimi's music is completely wrong for this audience - but it does put Jimi back in touch with Ron Terry (Christopher Bolton), an old friend from Greenwich Village who is now a music promoter. Terry tells Hendrix about the future of music - FM radio. It's the perfect format for the longer, more rebellious kind of rock that Jimi wants to play. Hendrix and Terry agree to do business.

FM radio makes Jimi a major star and some of his songs, like Hey Joe and Like a rolling stone, become big hits. But as his concert dates get bigger and more frequent he begins to wear down under the strain. Drugs, which he once took only for recreation, now help him keep working and Jeffery keeps pushing him to make more money.

Then, in a recording session, he argues with Redding and Mitchell and the band breaks up. Jimi's need to grow musically is at odds with his band members' visions for the future. Hendrix asserts himself in a new musical direction, recording Electric ladyland, which many critics hail as his most artistically accomplished album. But 1969 starts off as a bad year with a series of mishaps.

Disillusioned by the music business, Chas quits working for Jimi. Jimi flies to Toronto for a concert and is busted for drug possession at customs. His next venture, the jazz-influenced Sky church experiment, is a flop. Later that year, things start to get back on track. Jimi agrees to join a music Festival in Woodstock, New York, where his fame reaches its apex with his classic rendition of The star spangled banner. He also beats the rap for the Toronto drug possession charge.

In 1970, Jimi collapses during a concert at Madison Square Garden. Following this episode, he goes back to London to regroup. There he meets with Chas and the two decide to go back into business. Jimi is happier than he has been in a long time and he and Chas dream about getting back to happier times, the days when everything was right. Sadly, this dream was never realised.