Big Brother & The Holding Company

The Profile

Big Brother & The Holding Company formed in San Francisco in 1965 and became internationally known after Janis Joplin joined in 1966. Their Monterey Pop Festival appearance (1967) and the chart-topping Cheap Thrills (1968) cemented their legacy in psychedelic/blues rock. The band continued beyond Joplin’s departure and later reformed, remaining an active live presence.

San Francisco-origin psychedelic/blues rock group formed in 1965; Janis Joplin was lead singer 1966–1968. Breakthrough at Monterey Pop (1967). Cheap Thrills (1968) reached No. 1 in the U.S. The group originally disbanded in 1972 and reformed in 1987 to continue touring.

Two reviews spotlight the band’s Janis-era firepower: the raw, gritty punch of Cheap Thrills and the formative spark of the 1967 debut. Vocals steal the show; instrumentals get mixed notes. Monterey 1967 looms large, and classics like Piece Of My Heart, Ball And Chain, and All Is Loneliness are praised.