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.

Big Brother 1969-1972

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 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. In 1967, the band released their self titled debut album Big Brother and the Holding Company which was moderately successful on the charts.

with Janis Joplin
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 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, Dave Getz, and James Gurley, who was replaced on guitar in 1997 by Tom Finch. This incarnation played on May 10th, 1997, the opening day of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's exhibit I Want to Take You Higher: The Psychedelic Era 1965-1969 (commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Summer of Love), MC'd by their former manager Chet Helms, with Donovan, Country Joe McDonald, and featuring Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. Other singers who have worked with the band are Michel Bastian, Lisa Battle, Halley DeVestern[2] , Lisa Mills, Andra Mitrovich, Kacee Clanton, Sophia Ramos, Mary Bridget Davies, Chloe Lowery and Cathy Richardson.
In 2000 the original band members participated in the filming of the documentary Nine Hundred Nights, in which they detailed the history of Big Brother-- before, during, and after Janis.


~@~@~@~

Kathi Mc Donald - 1974 - Insane Asylum

Side One
1 Bogart To Bowie
2 To Love Somebody - (R.Gibb-B.Gibb)
3 (Love is Like A) Heat Wave - (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
4 Threw My Love Away
5 Freak Lover - (Mark Unobski)
6 Down To The Wire - (Neil Young)

Side Two
1 Heartbreak Hotel - (Axton-Durden-Presley)
2. If You Need Me - (Pickett-Bateman-Sanders)
3 Somethin' Else - (E.Cochran-S.Sheeley)
4 All I Want To Be - (Peter Frampton)
5 Insane Asylum - (Willie Dixon)

Personnel :
Kathi McDonald : vocals
John Cipollina : guitar
Papa John Creach : violin
Greg Douglas : guitar
Aynsley Dunbar : drums
Bobbye Hall : percussion
Stuart Houston : horn
Nils Lofgren : guitar
Jim McPherson : bass
Ronnie Montrose : guitar
Gary Philippet : guitar
The Pointer Sisters : vocals
Neal Schon : guitar
Pete Sears : bass, guitar, keyboards
Sylvester Stewart : vocals
Tower of Power : horns
Mark Unobski : guitar

Bio :
Kathi McDonald's voice is so riveting, people take notice even when she isn't the main attraction. In fact, the strength of her voice is what landed the vocalist her first big professional gig when she was attending a concert and joined in as part of the audience. McDonald's powerful voice drew Ike Turner's notice in a club called the ~Winterland, and he invited the aspiring singer to his and Tina Turner's next rehearsal. McDonald had snagged a spot in the Ikettes, the Turners' backing group, without even trying. It was a heady and magical beginning for someone who never had any formal lessons. Born in Washington state in 1948, McDonald performed professionally for the first time around Seattle when she was 12 years old. At the age of 19 she set off for San Francisco and its burgeoning musical climate, where she met the Turners and, through her association with them, took the first step on a career path that would span more than three decades. Not long after the evening at ~Winterland, her talent caught the attention of Big Brother the Holding Company's Sam Andrew. McDonald threw her lot in with the band in 1969, leading to appearances on the albums Can't Go Home Again, How Hard It Is, and Be a Brother. She went on to sing with Mad Dogs Englishmen for Joe Cocker, and later sang with Leon Russell's Shelter People. Her session work included recordings for such artists as the Rolling Stones, Nils Lofgren, Rita Coolidge, Delaney Bonnie, and Dave Mason. Her work for other musical artists totals up to appearances on almost 150 albums, more than six dozen of which achieved gold status. In addition, McDonald also launched a solo career in 1974 with the release of the album Insane Asylum. The recording was arranged by Pete Sears, whose formal band associations include Hot Tuna and Jefferson Starship. Insane Asylum featured performances by Tower of Power, the Pointer Sisters, Aynsley Dunbar, John Cippolina, Neil Schon, and Ronnie Montrose. Sales were disappointing, however, and the singer did not release another solo effort for 20 years, when Save Your Breath appeared. Above and Beyond followed in 1999, featuring contributions from Lee Oskar on harmonica and Brian Auger on keyboards. McDonald devoted more than two decades to recording and performing in collaboration with Long John Baldry, and the duo scored with their version of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" when it was released in Canada. In later years, she also contributed to the Seattle Women in Rhythm and Blues project. She reunited with Big Brother the Holding Company in California for a concert on New Years Eve, 1997. She was inducted into the Washington Blues Society's Hall of Fame two years later. McDonald, who resides in the Pacific Northwest, is furthering her education in pursuit of a Master Chef's degree.
~Linda Seida, All Music Guide