Janis Lyn Joplin
January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970
One of the most influential musical artists of
the 20th century, and an important figure of
the 1960s rock 'n' roll era. Joplin arrived on
the counter-culture scene of the 1960s as
a rebellious soul with an unconventional
attitude towards sex, drugs, and music.
In 1966 she become lead singer for
Big Brother and the Holding Company.
The almost unheard of rock band took part
in the 1967 Monterey International
Pop Festival in California.
In 1968 after breaking away from Big Brother,
Joplin launched a solo career which
consisted of a new backup group called
the Kozmic Blues Band.
A 1965 Porsche 356 Cabriolet. Bought by
Janis Joplin in September 1968...
and hand-painted by a friend.
1969 - Woodstock Festival was not a happy
affair for Joplin. Faced with a ten hour wait
after arriving at the festival, she shot heroin
and was drinking alcohol, so by the time
she hit the stage, she was
"three sheets to the wind."
By 1969, Joplin was reportedly using at least
two hundred dollars worth of heroin per day.
Two years later, Joplin moved on again,
this time forming the Full-Tilt Boogie band.
It was during this time that Joplin produced
her last record, Pearl. The album included
the track "Mercedes Benz," a social
commentary on materialism that would
become a popular single. It would also be
the last song that Joplin ever recorded.
On October 4, 1970, Joplin died of a heroin
overdose at the Landmark Motor Hotel in
Los Angeles, California. She was only 27
years old at the time of her death.
Joplin remains an icon for female singers
as breaking through in a male dominated blues
scene. She is listed as number 46 on Rolling
Stone's
list of greatest artists as well as
number
28 on their
list of greatest singers.
Since her death, Joplin's albums have gone
gold platinum, and triple-platinum; Joplin was
inducted into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame in 1995.
"You can destroy your now
by worrying about tomorrow."
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