On This Day: Janis Joplin's Iconic Woodstock Performance

16 Aug 2023

On Sunday, August 17th 1969, in the midst of the three-day Woodstock Music and Art Fair in New York, Janis Joplin arrived at 2am to the stage and began to perform what is now seen as one of the most historic shows of her career.
 
Reflecting on her performance in Janis Joplin: Days & Summers, Scrapbook 1966-68, here is what our contributors had to say about this iconic moment in time:
 
'When I wrote out my hitlist for Woodstock, Janis was certainly near the top of it. She was a big star at that point and very much part of the counterculture... Janis was in good voice and her set had some magical moments, but she seemed to be overwhelmed by the audience and the event and everything else, like most people were.' - Michael Lang
 
'It was at night and she was bathed in light. She was wearing a tie-dye outfit and she was walking around the stage filling the microphone with her essence.' - Henry Diltz
 
'There was something revealing about how Janis announced herself. Just about every performer kicked off their performance with some version of, 'This is phenomenal,' 'Aren't we amazing?' or, 'What a blast!' But Janis's opening words expressed her compassion and concern for the audience. She asked if everyone was OK, had water, a place to sleep. It showed a sweet and tender side that is rarely mentioned.' - Ellen Sander
 
In her handmade scrapbook, Janis Joplin created a personal record of her meteoric rise to fame and the flowering of the Sixties counterculture in which she was to play a lead role. More than 50 years later, Janis's scrapbook is revealed for the first time. Featured alongside are previously unpublished items from her personal archive and contributions by the people who really knew her. Secure your copy today at JanisJoplinBook.com