In 1965, four young men formed a pedestrian blues band called "Big Brother and the Holding Company." The following year they were joined (almost accidentally) by a little-known, but phenomenal, singer from Texas, and were suddenly catapulted into the top-tier of the San Francisco Rock & Roll scene. A couple of years later, the now-famous Janis Joplin moved on, leaving them to plummet back into mediocrity.
This well-crafted documentary chronicles their ride, and the result is a fascinating story of ego, ambition, failed cooperation and self-delusion. It's been criticized by others for not being a concert film or a documentary about heroic figures, and it is certainly neither of these. As a compelling narrative, though, it ranks with the best "Rockumentaries."
December 5, 2008This DVD is a sample of how great Janis Joplin was and what she means in music as well. If you are a rock lover yhis a must!!!Nine Hundred Nights - Big Brother and the Holding Co. with Janis Joplin
September 18, 2007This DVD is a gem! Any new information or lost footage of one of the most important women in music history is a must for any hardcore or casual fan of the late, great Miss Janis Joplin (and of course, the band that first made her name known to the world).
April 1, 2007I have to agree with some of the other reviewers; Janis, of course, is awesome. The documentary part is interesting, but I wanted to vomit when I heard some of the interviews with the rest of the members of Big Brother. All it seemed like they were doing was complaining that Janis left and became more famous than them. Some of them I considered to be actually disrespectful seeing as Janis is no longer alive and cannot even defend herself. One member even said that he thought they would have been better off with Janis never having joined the group... WHAT????!!!!
January 3, 2007 |  | The most underrated band in the World |  |
I and my wife saw this band live yesterday. The band members are highly accomplished musicians and were downright huge listening too. Sam Andrew was incredible on his Summertime (he made the guitar arrangements in the famous song). I have seldom seen such an underrated band in my life. Big Brother and the Holding company was Janis Joplin's original band from - 66 to - 68. Before they became "Janis Joplin and Big Brother" the original members Sam Andrew and Peter Albin met in a Victorian mansion in San Francisco in 1962. They were a very active part of the creation of the hippie movement. In this DVD they recreate these out of the ordinary days. The DVD mix old material such as vivid recordings of concerts in 1967 with new and interesting interviews with the original band members. This DVD should be seen by everyone who are interested in the San Francisco sound and the hippie movement of the - 60's. The DVD is both carefully created and quite long running. The original band member's tour alot today. They don't seem to have let the years wear them down. Sam Andrew even took the time for a little chat after the concert yesterday. He was a very charming and friendly human being (far from the rock star image). I don't think they were "just a band of Janis Joplin". Sam Andrew and James Gurley did a lot in the sound and songs in many of the most famous Janis Joplin songs. They are in their own right worth listen too. Fascinating and brilliant individuals. In the 60's as well as today the band has at times been claimed of being unprofessional and lame. To me this is bull. This is not only unfair but also shows a lack of understanding for this specific type of music. Listen to Sam's guitar in Summertime or Gurleys guitar and singing in Coo Coo. Perhaps you will find as I that they were braver more experimental freewheeling than most bands of the time.
September 9, 2006More reviews at Amazon.com ...
Daily Birthdays
(16 reviews)
