Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll

Janis Joplin
A Woman Who Rocked

Jan. 19, 1943- Oct. 4, 1970

Janis Joplin brought her strong bluesy voice to the psychedelic rock scene, where she became a rock and roll icon of her generation. Janis was an influence of her time because women normally did not play music with such intensity and soul. They "scratched the surface" of the music instead of really getting into it. She didn't care if she seemed unlady-like. She did her own thing and was admired by many because of it.  

Quick Facts about Janis

Janice grew up in Texas and was known as a misfit in highschool where she began singing blues in a local choir. Many years later, she left Texas to join the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco where she joined Big Brother and the Holding Company.

Janis Joplin and band Big Brother and the Holding Company, had their break-through performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. I will share a video of the band performing Big Mama Thorton’s “Ball and Chain”, at the Festival. Near the end of the video you will notice Cass Elliot (from the Mama’s and the Papa’s), mouth the words “Wow! That was heavy!”. Below is a video clip of the performance and it shows the affect she had on her audience.                   

                            Janis Joplin performing "Ball and Chain" at the Monterey Pop Festival

Shortly after the performance, their debut album was released by Columbia Records.

 Below is a video clip of her second appearance on the Cavett Show. The clip shows her passion for performing. Cavett discusses the fact that Janis is unlike other women in the music scene and she explains her opinion on the issue.


                                               Interview with Dave Cavett

Getting too Caught up in Rock 'n Roll

Janis left Big Brother and the Holding Company in 1968 and formed backup group, Kozmic Blues Band.

Janis struggled with addictions to speed, and heroine during her career. The band performed at Woodstock Festival '69; however, it was not included in the documentary film
"Woodstock", because Janis was noticeably drunk and high. The 25^th anniversary Director’s cut of the film finally included her. 

Janis Joplin and Kozmic Blues Band broke up at the end of the year, and Janis Joplin and Full Tilt and Boogie Band was formed (consisting of mainly Canadian musicians). Their last performance together was August 12, 1970 at Havard Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts. In September 1970, the band began recording a new album. During a recording session in Oct., Janis didn’t show up to the studio. Janis' road manager drove up the her hotel to find her dead on the floor due to a heroin overdose.

“Mercedes Benz” was her last recording. It was only a first take and was not accompanied by music because Janis was supposed to work on it the day she was found.

"Mercedes Benz"

Although she died at a young age, her unique style made a huge impact in the music industry. In my opinion, there still aren`t many woman innovators of rock music. Janis was truely one of a kind. She is a rock legend and her legacy will live on. 

Thanks for reading.

Love: Danielle

Forever 27

Jimi Hendrix
The Medium is the Message: Comparing Death Announcements

Real Name: James Marshall Hendrix (Born Johnny Allen Hendrix)

Born: Nov. 27, 1942

Died: Sept.18, 1970

Jimi Hendrix is an icon. He is an influential musician of his era and has also been considered the greatest electric guitarist of all time. He is a self-taught musician, well-known for his ununsual guitar sounds and his bold fashion sense. He also is one of the many musicians whose life was cut short at a young age. Jimi Hendrix death at 27, includes him in the 27 Club (or Forever 27 Club), along with Brian Jones (Rolling Stones founder and guitarist), Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain. 

I have included a video of a news reporter announcing the death of Jimi Hendrix in order to give you a sense of how a death was handled in 1970.          

                           
                                                The Death of Jimi Hendrix
                                                         Sept. 18, 1970

It is interesting to watch a video from this era and to compare it to how we are beginning to receive our news now. If an pop icon died today, we would probably turn to the internet, facebook or twitter for information because it is more immediate than a newspaper or television report.

A great example is an article discussing how facebook handled the death of Michael Jackson. I first found out about MJ's death through facebook and I know I'm not alone on this one. The article discusses that the immediacy of facebook and how it was problematic following Michael Jackson's death. Instead of a reporter unveiling the news, people on facebook were writing disrespectful messages immediately following Michael Jackson's death.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-hollywood-ham/michael-jackson-dead-face_b_221170.html

Let me know if you have any opinions (positive or negative), on how facebook is changing the way we receive our news.

Thanks,

Love: Danielle 

Yesterday...

The Beatles
Music and Nostalgia

The Beatles are a huge influence in my life and will always be one of my favourite bands. I started listening to them when I was young because my dad's band used to continuously play their songs. When I listen to The Beatles, I remember certain days when I was young; I find it amazing that music can trigger your memory like that.

I read an article on why a particular song can trigger a memory. A link for the article is below (if you would like to read it), but I thought this quote explained an sense of nostalgia.  

“Most people have this idea that music can be a powerful memory cue,” Harris said. “You hear a song on the radio and it brings up memories of senior prom or graduation That’s why oldies stations are so popular — not because the music is good but because it reminds us of specific times in our lives,” he said.

http://www.impactlab.net/2009/01/22/why-do-songs-trigger-memories-specific-memories/

Music has always been a huge part of my life. My parents love music and I grew up listening to A LOT it. Also, as I mentioned before, my father and uncle also played in a band together and they covered many by The Beatles. When I listen to certain songs by them, it always reminds me of listening to them play when I was young. I LOVED going to my uncle John's because it meant my dad and their band mates were going to jam. My love for and appeciation for The Beatles started at a young age because I heard their songs so many times.

One song that brings me back to them playing together is "Here Comes the Sun". Every time I hear it, I remember great memories.

                                                         The Beatles: "Here Comes the Sun"

Let me know what particular song brings you back to a time in your life.

Love: Danielle 

It's Better to Burn out than to Fade Away...

Neil Young

A Canadian boy from Toronto, Ontario, has been widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation.

Neil Young is one of my favourite artists because I grew up listening to him. My dad and uncles used to play in a band together, and Neil Young was one of their favourites to play. I inherited the love of playing guitar after forcing my Uncle John play Neil Young songs whenever he had his guitar handy. He bought me a guitar for my sixteenth birthday and also took me to a Neil Young concert at the Air Canada Centre; what a guy! I will now give you a bit of background information on Neil Young and I will share some of my favourite music by him.

Neil began performing in Canada in 1960 before he moved to his ranch in California, where he still resides. In his early days, he co-founded the band Buffalo Springfield, later joined the group Crosby Stills and Nash, and also played heavier rock music with his band Crazy Horse.

He is best known for his deep lyrics and his unique guitar work. His music is described to have "dream-like" lyrics that include subjects of drugs, interpersonal relationships, environmental concerns and anti-racism.

Later on in his career, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young broke up and Crazy Horse got their own record deal, leaving Neil to begin his solo career in 1971. Little did he know his solo career would be a HUGE success; a time when "Heart of Gold" became his #1 hit single.

                       "Heart of Gold"

"Needle and the Damage Done", is a GREAT song inspired by the death of fellow band mate, Danny Whitten (from Crazy Horse), who died of a heroin addiction. "A lot of great art goes down the drain"...    

"Needle and the Damage Done"

"Old Man" is one of my favourite Neil Songs that he wrote about an old man who worked on his ranch.            

"Old Man"

"Hey Hey, My My", is a song comparing the public's view on Johnny Rotten (lead singer of the Sex Pistols), with Elvis Presley who had recently died when the song was composed.

"Hey Hey, My My"

Neil Young is a great artist and creates music that I love. The songs I have shared with you are ones I have listened to a silly amount of times. Each song personally means something to me and I hope you are able to take a few minutes of your time to appreciate them. I hope you have learned something from my post and I strongly encourage people to add anything they want to share.

"Keep on Rocking in the Free World",

Love: Danielle