Woodstock Day 12: Janis

At 2 am on Sunday, August 17th, Janis Joplin and the Kozmic Blues took the stage. Having made her name at the Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967 with her previous band Big Brother & The Holding Company, Joplin went solo in 1968. So obviously Joplin was up onstage at Woodstock with a full ensemble at her disposal. With the performance being so late, the set lacked Joplin's usual power and improv from her back-up band. Even with this, Joplin's performance was still a highlight of Woodstock.

Joplin's psychedelic Porsche.

The set consisted mostly of material from Joplin's first album I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! (1969), the most popular of which is "Kosmic Blues." Of the set, her last two songs were the highlights: "Piece of My Heart" and "Ball and Chain." "Piece of My Heart" was a regular of Big Brother and The Holding Company and "Ball and Chain" was a Big Mama Thorton cover. "Can't Turn You Loose" was the only song that Joplin's ensemble sang.

Her set was included on At Woodstock (1993) and in the film Woodstock (1970) as they were recorded straight from the soundboard. Due to Joplin's insistence, her friend and ensemble member Peggy Caserta's vocals were not included in either recording due to an argument (Joplin blamed Caserta for allowing Joplin to shoot heroin before her set).

Joplin at Woodstock.

On October 4, 1970, Joplin died of a heroin overdose at the age of 27. Another member of the "27 Club"? We may never know. But Joplin made a huge impact on the music scene in the late 60s and her possible contributions could have continued to change the music world.