In this excerpt from Janis Joplin: Little Girl Blue, Janis’ letter home reveals a glimpse of the troubles she had with her band, Big Brother and the Holding Company.
Even though Janis and the band were widely popular and successful in producing a Gold certified album, Cheap Thrills, which is still considered one of the best albums from the band, Janis’ stardom soon overshadowed the band. She left within a year to form her own backup group, Kozmic Blues Band, and launched a solo career.
JANIS: 'Dear family, lots of trouble in the band.
Most of them revolving around the fact that I think I'm hot [bleep] as I'm told by everyone from Albert down, and the band is sloppy.'
ANDREW: When she came into the band, Peter was the leader of the band, the bass player.
And James was the mythic, iconic, you know, beautiful figure.
He represented the band.
And then here comes Janis.
And when she joined the band, she became both of those things.
They had a very complicated reaction to her fame.
