Loved this read. I've always loved Janis and felt weirdly protective of her though I couldn't say why until I read Holly George Warren's bio. She was so misunderstood and deeply underestimated. Not ironic at all that it was women who could always see what she was trying to do/be and it's women who continue to reclaim and reconstruct her legacy. Thanks!
Thank you for this insightful commentary. Without African American musicians, there would be no rock and roll, and certainly no Rolling Stone. Without women artists there would be no culture. Jann Wenner deserves to crawl back in his privileged cave, think hard about his transgressions and how he really could contribute to our society, or be ignored forever.
She shines in Monterey Pop. And a brilliant piece of editing in that film is the cut to Mama Cass in the audience, tears in her eyes, enraptured by Janis’s performance.
Superb writing. Janis was my introduction to blues courtesy of my father who loved her. I remember borrowing 18 Essential Songs on cassette tape from him and listening obsessively. I was young enough to ask why she was being referred to as the white queen of the blues. My dad explained in such simple, non-judgmental terms. I was mesmerised by her image on the album cover, and as soon as I heard her voice, I needed to hear more. That raw passion, her authenticity, her delivery. Kozmic Blues still sends shivers down my spine. Janis in many ways represents everything that was (is) right in this world, through my lens, precisely by breaking conventions.
She was one of the greatest singers in rock and roll history, regardless of sexual background or orientation. I never fail to get arrested by her sound, especially when she asks us all to take another little piece of her heart....
It is macho - basically. I think that to say all men in the music industry are categorically haters of women misses a lot of the nuance and politics around performing in general.
This is one of the best articles I’ve read about Janis and the price she paid to be a working front woman in rock and roll. Restacking and linking in my newsletter. Thank you for the writing. 🙏🏻🎶🤘🏻
A great read, and important to keep talking about. (In my music journo role I still hear way too many men go out of their way to dismiss Joplin's talent.)
What a powerful piece of writing. It still astonishes me that anyone could come out in 2023 and make a statement like Wenner's in all seriousness, and expect no blowback from it. I'm glad he caught hell for it, even if he doesn't seem to care. And as someone who was bullied as a kid, my heart goes out to Janis.
Passionate and enlightening! Thanks, Jami!
Loved this read. I've always loved Janis and felt weirdly protective of her though I couldn't say why until I read Holly George Warren's bio. She was so misunderstood and deeply underestimated. Not ironic at all that it was women who could always see what she was trying to do/be and it's women who continue to reclaim and reconstruct her legacy. Thanks!
Excellent essay - really well done!
Fantastic read-and wake up call!
Thank you for this insightful commentary. Without African American musicians, there would be no rock and roll, and certainly no Rolling Stone. Without women artists there would be no culture. Jann Wenner deserves to crawl back in his privileged cave, think hard about his transgressions and how he really could contribute to our society, or be ignored forever.
A little bit of humility would not go amiss I completely agree.
She shines in Monterey Pop. And a brilliant piece of editing in that film is the cut to Mama Cass in the audience, tears in her eyes, enraptured by Janis’s performance.
Superb writing. Janis was my introduction to blues courtesy of my father who loved her. I remember borrowing 18 Essential Songs on cassette tape from him and listening obsessively. I was young enough to ask why she was being referred to as the white queen of the blues. My dad explained in such simple, non-judgmental terms. I was mesmerised by her image on the album cover, and as soon as I heard her voice, I needed to hear more. That raw passion, her authenticity, her delivery. Kozmic Blues still sends shivers down my spine. Janis in many ways represents everything that was (is) right in this world, through my lens, precisely by breaking conventions.
Janis took my husband through the door at Eagles in Seattle. I saw her at a later concert, stood ten feet away. She was majestic, raw, amazing!
Shared this in my last post. Thx for shining a light on the ups and downs for women in rock. 🤘🏻🎶🤘🏻
Thank you so much Thea! I truly appreciate that.
She was one of the greatest singers in rock and roll history, regardless of sexual background or orientation. I never fail to get arrested by her sound, especially when she asks us all to take another little piece of her heart....
Wonderful piece. That review quote about her nipple is beyond infuriating.
I had no idea that Mick Jagger pulling off Tina's skirt wasn't planned! Sick.
The news about Pitchfork is monstrous. The world gets sadder by the minute.
Thank you Heather. Everything is a dumpster fire right now but at least this Substack community is a salve.
It is macho - basically. I think that to say all men in the music industry are categorically haters of women misses a lot of the nuance and politics around performing in general.
This is one of the best articles I’ve read about Janis and the price she paid to be a working front woman in rock and roll. Restacking and linking in my newsletter. Thank you for the writing. 🙏🏻🎶🤘🏻
This is a brilliant analysis, fantastically written. Thank you.
A great read, and important to keep talking about. (In my music journo role I still hear way too many men go out of their way to dismiss Joplin's talent.)
It happens all of the time with (insert woman or gender expansive artist here.) Thank you for reading as someone who can relate!
What a powerful piece of writing. It still astonishes me that anyone could come out in 2023 and make a statement like Wenner's in all seriousness, and expect no blowback from it. I'm glad he caught hell for it, even if he doesn't seem to care. And as someone who was bullied as a kid, my heart goes out to Janis.