Janis Joplin

As a musician, band leader and disruptive fashion icon, Janis Joplin paved the way for a new way of thinking about femininity. She was a true trailblazer—an earth-shattering tidal wave of talent, vision and emotion—inspiring future artists like Stevie Nicks, Patti Smith, Alicia Keys, Joan Jett, Madonna and Beyonce to follow in her wake. With her wild gypsy style and free-flowing hair she helped pioneer the contemporary idea of “big-tent beauty.” One in which everyone was welcome, and everyone was attractive as long as they were honest and natural. But despite her hippie bravado, she was exceedingly sensitive, vulnerable and, yes, insecure. It was the genuine ache and emotion in her phenomenal jagged bluesy singing voice that ultimately made her relatable and her artistry universal. But it was also her sensitivity that lead to her tragic early death at the age of 27. As the 50th anniversary of her passing comes this fall, we celebrate Joplin’s complex and fascinating life by telling her important story the best we can. We hope it’s a reminder of how ahead of the cultural curve she was as an individual and how fantastic she was as a musician and singer. Her legacy is as long-lasting as her music and we bring fans inside to read an inspiring story whose songs and message are with us today as much as they were when they were first written.