Looking Back At Janis Joplin

It was 45 years ago today, on October 4, 1970, that renowned vocalist Janis Joplin died tragically at the age of 27. Born in Port Arthur, Texas on January 19, 1943, Janis became a fixture in the late 1960s Bay Area music scene, sharing bills with the likes of the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and others. Her career was just starting to fully blossom when Joplin sadly became a member of the 27 Club, leaving behind an abbreviated, but nonetheless powerful and influential legacy.

Joplin’s fiery stage presence and intense delivery made her live shows the stuff of legend. In honor of one of the greatest voices the world has ever known, below are videos of Joplin in concert leaving everything she had on stage.

First up is a clip from from the documentary film Festival Express about the 1970 concert tour across Canada featuring a lineup that included the Joplin, the Dead, The Band, Buddy Guy, Sha Na Na and Delaney & Bonnie & Friends. Watch Janis perform “Tell Mama”:

One of her most famous performances came in 1967 at the Monterey International Pop Music Festival at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. Backed by Big Brother and The Holding Company and with Mama Cass Elliot watching in awe from audience, the clip below shows Janis on June 18, 1967 delivering a signature performance of “Ball & Chain,” watch:

Two years later Joplin appeared at another historically significant music festival, this time bringing the Kozmic Blues Band to back her at Woodstock. The video below includes footage of the 1969 performance of “Work Me, Lord,” watch:

Months before her unfortunate death, Joplin appeared on The Dick Cavett Show in June 1970. The clip below shows her performing “Get It While You Can” on the talk show, watch:

Finally, the last video once again showcases Janis and Big Brother and The Holding Company in 1968 playing perhaps her most well-known song, “Piece Of My Heart.” Watch footage from New York City’s Generation Club in April 1968:

RIP Janis.