A Bite of Janis Joplin πͺ
A Bite of Janis Joplin πͺ
The undeniable greatness of rock's first female superstar
Fun facts about artists you know and donβt, readable in 3 minutes or less. By Grace Lilly.
π A top-read post
β’ 3 min read β’
She was magnetic
When Janis performed, everyone paid attention. Her energy was undeniable. βOverpoweringβ and βstaggeringβ are words often used to describe her.
Janis came onto the male-dominated rock scene in the late 60s, breaking new ground for women in the genre. Before her, few women had been able to gain national attention as rockstars. Joplin biographer Holly George-Warren explains,
βShe did not ever see a boundary that she did not try to jump over or kick down.β
Even when she was a teenager, she did things differently. In high school she resisted wearing the trendy girlsβ clothes she was expected to wear and instead opted to dress in menβs shirts.
I love that she wasnβt afraid to stand out.
Years later, Janis played with the big boys β Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, Roger Daltrey, Carlos Santana β and she held her own. She was always bound and determined to reach greatness in her own way, and she did.
Janis Joplin
The basics
π€ American singer and songwriter
π€ b. 1943 (Port Arthur, Texas) - 1970 (Los Angeles, California)
π€ The βQueen of Rock,β named one of the 50 greatest voices of all time
Why you should know her: Often called America's first female rock star, Janis was one of the most iconic performers in music history and remains one of the top-selling vocalists in the U.S.
If you like
β¨ Jimi Hendrix
β¨ Otis Redding
β¨ The Doors
β¨ Grateful Dead
β¨ St. Vincent
β¨ Paramore
β¨ Stevie Nicks
Known for
π Her trademark powerful voice and electric stage presence
π Performing at Monterey Pop Festival (1967) & Woodstock (1969)
π Flamboyant hair styles with colored streaks, scarves, beads and feathers
π Long-lasting popularity even after her death, 18.5Β million albums sold
π Ranked no. 28 on Rolling Stoneβ²s list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, no. 46 on their list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time
π Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 5 singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Bite-sized facts
πͺ Started singing in high school after befriending a group of outcasts who introduced her to blues
πͺ Left Texas at 20, hitchhiked to San Francisco and became the lead singer of psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company
πͺ Close friends with Grateful Dead members (lived less than 2 miles apart), dated Ron βPigpenβ McKernan
πͺ Rose to prominence after performing at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 with Big Brother and the Holding Company (like Otis Redding)
πͺ Performed with Jimi Hendrix and Joni Mitchell at the Wake for Martin Luther King Jr. concert in New York in 1968
πͺ After releasing two albums with the Big Brother band, left to pursue a solo career
πͺ Performed at 1969 Woodstock festival and on the 1970 Festival Express train tour
πͺ Died of an accidental heroin overdose in 1970, at the age of 27
Songs & dates
β« 1967 Sings lead vocals on singles βDown on Me,β βBye Bye Baby,β βCall On Meβ and βCoo Cooβ off Big Brother & the Holding Companyβs debut studio album
β« 1968 βPiece of My Heartβ and βSummertimeβ become popular hits off Big Brotherβs second album Cheap Thrills which reaches No. 1 on the Billboard 200
β« 1969 βKozmic Bluesβ hits No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 off her debut solo album, I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! which becomes certified gold and reaches No. 5 on the Billboard 200
β« 1971 The posthumous Pearl becomes the biggest-selling album of her career, reaches number one on the Billboard 200, and features her biggest hit single, a cover of Kris Kristoffersonβs βMe and Bobby McGeeβ
Songs about Janis
The Mamas & the Papas
π€ Their song βPearlβ (1971) is a tribute to Joplin
Jerry Garcia
π€ His song βBird Songβ (1972) is about Joplin
Leonard Cohen
π€ His song βChelsea Hotel#2β (1974) is about Joplin
Patti Smith
π€ Wrote βLullaby (I Was Working Real Hard)β (1975) for Joplin
She said
β βI'm one of those regular weird people.β
β βDon't compromise yourself. You are all you've got.β
β βGuess what, I might be the first hippie pinup girl.β
We love Janis
The Daily Texan, Janisβ college campus newspaper
π βShe goes barefooted when she feels like it, wears Levi's to class because they're more comfortable, and carries her autoharp with her everywhere she goes so that in case she gets the urge to break into song, it will be handy. Her name is Janis Joplin.β
Pete Townshend of The Who
π βEven Janis on an off-night was incredible."
John Segraves, Washington Evening Star
π βWhatever she does and whatever she sings she'll do it well because her vocal talents are boundless.β
My Janis Joplin Playlist
I gathered my fav Janis songs, from me to you with love. Like & save on Spotify and listen all week π
Where to start
Electric live energy
Performing her song βTell Mamaβ in Calgary, Alberta during The Festival Express tour in 1970
γ°οΈ
Her final interview
Discussing cars, cops, and rock and roll with Dick Cavett on August 3rd, 1970
Down the rabbit hole
If you wanna dive even deeper:
Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015)
A New York Times Critics' Pick, this award-winning biographical documentary explores the meteoric rise and untimely fall of one of the most iconic and influential rock 'n' roll singers of all time through electrifying archival footage, exclusive interviews and rare personal letters. Watch on Amazon.
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Love this πͺπͺπͺ
Sometimes I get a bit tired of Boomer nostalgia for the Woodstock- era icons. But as you say, Joplin is undeniable. She was a force of nature. "Piece of My Heart" is like a hurricane. An incredible white soul singer.