Janis Joplin’s will stipulated that $2500 go to throwing a hard-partying funeral for her. The funeral was held in a popular rock venue she used to have shows at and many of her musician friends performed. The 300 attendees got drunk and partied hard.

Going Out With a Bang: Janis Joplin’s Hard-Partying Wake

When Janis Joplin died of a heroin overdose on October 4, 1970, she left behind a will that included an offbeat, albeit totally in-character, stipulation: $2500 of her estate should be dedicated to funding a hard-partying wake in her memory.

Joplin’s loved ones threw the bash three weeks later, on October 26, 1970. The “wake” was held at the Lion’s Share, a popular rock venue in San Anselmo, California, which had hosted many of Joplin’s gigs as well as acts such as Van Morrison, Country Joe and the Fish, and even Randy Newman (who performed his very first concert at the Lion’s Share).

The invitations to the event read: “Drinks are on Pearl”—a reference to Joplin’s nickname—and an estimated 300 guests were in attendance. How did the … Continue Reading (2 minute read)