Abramorama has acquired the global theatrical distribution rights to the full-length documentary Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision from Experience Hendrix L.L.C. This announcement comes after the company’s previous distribution of two other Jimi Hendrix documentaries, Electric Church and the 2022 Grammy-nominated Music, Money, Madness: Jimi Hendrix Live In Maui.
The documentary chronicles the creation of the legendary recording studio. Directed by John McDermott and produced by Janie Hendrix, George Scott, and McDermott, the film traces the studio’s origins – from its beginnings in the bankrupt ruins of a Manhattan nightclub to its transformation into a state-of-the-art facility inspired by Hendrix’s desire for a permanent recording space.
Electric Lady Studios was the first ever artist owned commercial recording studio. Hendrix had initially envisioned creating an immersive nightclub experience akin to the short-lived Greenwich Village venue Cerebrum, where patrons donned flowing robes and were surrounded by flashing lights, spectral images, and swirling sound. Hendrix was so captivated by Cerebrum that he enlisted its architect, John Storyk, to work with him and his manager Michael Jeffery on their own experiential nightclub project.
However, Hendrix and Jeffery’s plans soon shifted from building a nightclub to creating the first-ever artist-owned commercial recording studio. Shortly after acquiring the former Generation Club space, they pivoted away from the nightclub concept and instead set out to transform the venue into “an electric studio of participation” – the legendary Electric Lady Studios.
The documentary features never-before-seen footage and photos, along with in-depth analysis of Hendrix classics like “Freedom,” “Angel,” and “Dolly Dagger” from acclaimed recording engineer Eddie Kramer, who won an Emmy for his work on the film Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin.
The film also features exclusive interviews with key figures, including Steve Winwood (who joined Hendrix on the first night of recording at the new studio), Experience bassist Billy Cox, and original Electric Lady staff members who helped Hendrix realize his dream.
The documentary also provides an in-depth explanation that while Jimi Hendrix’s untimely death robbed the world of immense musical potential, the continued success of his Electric Lady Studios stands as a lasting legacy. Over the decades, the studio has hosted an illustrious array of artists – from John Lennon, The Clash, AC/DC, Stevie Wonder, and David Bowie to Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift – underscoring Hendrix’s enduring impact on the music industry, which has undergone radical transformation in the 50+ years since his passing.
Reflecting on the film, Janie Hendrix said, “Jimi’s creative mind was always filled with next level ideas. He was never content with the ordinary but was driven by the burning desire to create something incredible that hadn’t been done before. That was the catalyst for Electric Lady Studios. The film, Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision, brings to light just how forward-thinking and inventive Jimi was in every aspect of his music, including production and recording. It was at Electric Lady Studios where he pushed beyond the musical limits of what was known, and he then opened the door to other musicians, allowing them the space to realize their own artistic hopes and dreams. My brother conceived something so amazing and so big that it has lived on for decades since its inception, serving as a passageway for hundreds of artists to bring their creativity to a waiting world audience. This is what Jimi envisioned when he founded the New York brainchild, and his prophecy is fulfilled through the countless, brilliant musicians who have tapped into the energy of the studio Jimi created. Legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, John Lennon, David Bowie, U2, Prince, Jon Batiste, Lana Del Rey, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, D’Angelo and so many others have produced their finest work in the inspired recording house. This film tells the story of how the dream of a visionary, who dared to think outside the musical box, can have a limitless reach, generation after generation. It tells Jimi’s story with his Electric Lady.”
Evan Saxon, Abramorama’s President and Head of International Distribution added, “Abramorama is honored to once again collaborate with Experience Hendrix L.L.C, this time to share an insightful and never-before-seen documentary about one of the most famous recording studios in the world. Listen to an hour’s worth of music on your favorite playlist, DSP or radio station and odds are at least one of the songs was recorded at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios.”
The film is slated for an August 2024 release, premiering in New York City at the Quad on August 9th, before expanding to a global rollout.
