Big Brother and the Holding Company

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Big Brother and the Holding Company is a rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the psychedelic music scene that also produced the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. The original members of the band are Sam Andrew and James Gurley on guitars, Peter Albin on bass and Chuck Jones on drums, who was replaced by Dave Getz in 1966. The group increased in popularity with the addition of lead singer Janis Joplin in 1966. Their performance at the Monterey Pop Festival the following year attracted national attention. Their second album, Cheap Thrills, reached the top of the charts in 1968; this album produced Joplin's breakthrough hit, "Piece of My Heart", whose chorus would form the basis for Alive N Kickin''s later one-hit wonder "Tighter, Tighter".

Near the end of 1968, Janis left the band with Sam Andrew to form her new band, the Kozmic Blues Band. Albin and Getz became members of Country Joe and the Fish.

The band reformed in 1969 with the same line-up (except Joplin) but broke up again in 1972. The latest incarnation started up again in 1987 and has been touring part-time ever since with most of its original members, including Sam Andrew, Peter Albin and Dave Getz. Various female lead singers who have worked with the band include Kathi McDonald and Sophia Ramos.

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