Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the psychedelic music scene that also produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service and the Jefferson Airplane.
The original members of the band were Sam Andrew (lead guitar) and James Gurley on guitars, Peter Albin on bass and Chuck Jones (no relation to the animator) on drums, who was replaced by Dave Getz in 1966.
The group increased in popularity with the addition in April 1966 of lead singer Janis Joplin. She was recruited by the band's manager of the time, Chet Helms, who had previously lived in Joplin's college stomping grounds of Austin, Texas, and the group also benefited greatly from the fact that Helms had recently founded the renowned San Francisco concert promotions company Family Dog Productions.
The band's historic performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967 attracted national and international attention. In November 1967 they parted with Helms and signed with Albert Grossman, manager of Bob Dylan. Their second album, Cheap Thrills, reached the top of the charts in 1968; this album produced Joplin's breakthrough hit, "Piece of My Heart".
Near the end of 1968, Janis left the band with Sam Andrew and formed a new backing group, the Kozmic Blues Band, with whom she recorded I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! in 1969. Albin and Getz became members of Country Joe and the Fish.
The band reformed in 1969 around the same line-up (except Joplin) —- Albin, Andrew, Getz and Gurley were joined by Nick Gravenites (vocals), Dave Schallock (guitar) and Kathi McDonald (vocals), plus many others on occasion. This lineup lasted until 1972, after which the band performed together only once in 15 years. , Lisa Mills, Andra Mitrovich, Kacee Clanton, Sophia Ramos, Mary Bridget Davies, Chloe Lowery and Cathy Richardson.