If they were to make a motion picture about the life and times of Jimi Hendrix, don't you think Prince should be considered for the role? If not him, who?

Don't know if its true but I heard this question was asked by Prince years ago and he said no due 2 Jimi's drug use.

I always remember this rumour that back in the 80s they were gonna make a film of Jimi Hendrix life and Prince was so keen to play the part he turned up at the producers office dressed just like him.

I'm sure now it was a load of baloney.

Prince could pull off the guitar posing, but I doubt he has the range to pull of the behind the scenes stuff.

If he did play the role of Jimi, all his guitar playing scenes would have to use a mirror-image effect - Jimi was a left handed guitarist and Prince is a righty! He'd also be way too old for it now as Jimi was late 20s when he died (I think), and Prince is almost 50!. I know he looks good for his age, but he certainly doesn't pass as being that young anymore.

Prince 5'3 Jimi 6'1 Prince too light skinned, Jimi was darker, prince cant play blues to save his yella ass, Jimi played blues like a mad man jimi was 27 when he died.

Leonardo DiCaprio should play it. Prince would just play himself.

I'm sure I read recently that Andre3000 from Outkast was lined up to play Jimi Hendrix in a film about his life!

Savage said:

This topic was discussed to DEATH over in the Non Prince section well over a year ago. The news then was Andre 3000 was "rumored" to play Hendrix. So the discussion on that thread was how would 3000 pull it off. What I posted then is what I still believe today; Andre, not being a real musician, portraying one of the most talented and most well known musicians EVER, would be highly risky at best. Andre, from the little that he has shown the public, even holding a guitar, comes off waaay more like Prince and not at all like Hendrix. What truly iced it for me was when Andre performed at some MTV awards show playing the guitar. He was not at all ready to get up on any stage, let alone one of that magnitude and showcase on guitar. He definately needed more time practicing and woodsheding. That's why I favor that if this movie ever gets made, they should go with a real musician who can recreate Jimi's skills on the guitar. U must remember that there would be so many different types of folks who will see this movie. Jimi's legion of fans aren't all of who u would expect. They come in all ages, all creeds and all types and all genders. Little old grandmothers to kids that are 9 yeras old to stockbrokers. NOT just musicians or musician types.

blackguitaristz said:

Pt. II of this post; That said, one thing that I stressed over a year ago on a thread that was deeply passionate by many over in the non prince section (where you will get a more of a non biased thought process regarding Prince) is that, (and Anxiety can attest to may stating this) is that this casting should be as on point as the casting of the brilliant film Malcolm X was. It was hella crucial to who was to play as a diverse man as Malcolm was. Spike Lee NAILED it when he choose Denzel. Denzel doesn't look anyting like Malcolm, BUT being that Denzel is such an excellent actor, he embraced Malcolm's spirit, to the point where he DID look like Malcolm, because he became Malcolm. He embodied who and what Malcolm was. And that was only because Denzel was and is such a great actor. Sure, they dyed Denzel's hair a little, he lost a lot of weight, put on some glasses. But baby, that alone wasn't going to cut it. You can find any brother who wears an afro and throw on him a yellow ruffled shirt, that isn't going to make him suitable to play Hendrix. You'll need someone who really can play guitar and just as crucial, someone who is an excellent actor. To caputure Jimi's complex personality. Because trust me, there are many people who knew how Jimi acted, on stage and off.

blackguitaristz said:

As far as Prince playing Hendrix, he would always be more suited than Andre 3000. Simply because Prince, obviously, is a real guitarist. Prince has always evoked Hendrix visually anyways. More so than any other known musician. Does that make him right for the role. Of course not. One, by now, Prince is waay to old to play Hendrix. Jimi was only 27 when he died. Two, Prince isn't the actor that's needed to recreate Jimi offstage. And third, Prince, obviously, is waaay to short to play Jimi. Besides, I don't believe Prince would want to play Hendrix in a film. Spike Lee had always said that he would want to do a film on Hendrix and that he had considered Prince to play Jimi. It's a shame really that this film has taking this long to get to the big screen. Phil Lynot from the band Thin Lizzy was slated to play Jimi in the 70,s but then he died. Morgan Freeman would have been perfect to play Jimi, acting wise, when he was much younger. Now, I think it's going to take an unknown but a major film company will more than likely want a known person for box office bucks. But just a film alone about Jimi will bring the people in, as long as the person playing Jimi is correct.

Someone who would be better suited than Andre is Lenny Kravitz. No, he's not the guitarist Jimi was. Hell, Lenny isn't even a lead guitaist. BUT, Lenny can play guitar. Don't know if Lenny can act. But at least by him being a musician, he can switch from right to left, visually, to get through the visual elements. Jimi's playing should be what's heard anyways. Lenny would have to lose a lot of weight and even then, he still doesn't resemble Jimi. Neither does Prince. Janie Hendrix, half sister to Jimi and who's in charge of Jimi's estate, said on record, that she didn't want 3000 to play Hendrix and wouldn't allow it. She said that she felt Andre would be totally wrong to play Jimi. I've heard her in an interview saying that she would never clear Andre to play the role.

Maybe Prince could do the guitar work but I don't think he's be good for the acting role this time!

BG, you know who I'm gonna suggest - Eric Gales: http://www.myspace.com/ericgales

Noo, I don't think that would work. Acting isnt Prince's forte, and you need a good actor for that role.

Andre 3000 is apparently going to play him, and I think that is gonna be good.

Only if he wants 2.

Jeezz...this question again!? My answer remains the same. Prince...absolutely not for any & all the reasons mentioned. (LOL)
I would go with a very talented unknown (yes, they are out there) rather than any of known actors/musicians mentioned thus far.
[Edited 12/10/06 22:06pm]

I don't know if Prince would be right to play Jimi in this stage of his life but I do have to say that I was watching the VH1 documentary entitled 'The Drug Years' where they showed Hendrix performing at Monteray(not quite sure how you spell it) Pop Festival from 1967 and during the end of the concert footage where Jimi starts wailing during the song's ending, his facial expression was so much like Prince I was like WOW!

After seeing that concert footage of him there is no way that Prince could say that he did not take on any of Jimi's mannerisms, especially while playing the guitar.

PurpleJam said:

Shhhhh! Hey! Quiet. Don't let Woman Scorned hear u say that!

JesseDezz said:

Yep.

blackguitaristz said:

Spot on, amigo. Spot on...

Prince is 48, Jimi died when he was 27. Prince looks good... but not that good.

IAintTheOne said:

you pretty much nailed it

IAintTheOne said:

Actually, Jimi was 5'11. But trust me, I get where you're coming from.