Influenced by Bessie Smith, Janis Joplin became a rock star in San Francisco's Big Brother & the Holding Company, and enjoyed a meteoric solo career before her untimely death from a drug overdose in Los Angeles. She was the most compelling female blues singer of the 1960s with a thrilling, emotional depth and a fiery stage presence that dominated albums such as Big Brother's Cheap Thrills (1968) and the posthumous, chart-topping Pearl (1971). She became the voice of a generation with her weary, cynical tone, one that still resonates with the curious and wistful youth of today who are faced with a music scene saturated by rap. This new illustrated book is a timely introduction for the 50th anniversary of Joplin's death in October 2020. It covers her life, recordings, live performances and offers a gallery of powerful images. 60 illustrations