Big Brother and the Holding Company From San Francisco, California.  Original name was The Blue Yard Hill. Big Brother and the Holding Company I (1965 - 1966) Peter Albin - bass/vocals - b. June 6, 1944, San Francisco, California - formerly with The Wildwood Boys / The Hart Valley Drifters (with Jerry Garcia). Sam Andrew - guitar/vocals - b. December 18, 1941, Taft, California. James Gurley - guitar/vocals - b. December 22, 1939, Detroit, Michigan. Chuck Jones - drums Big Brother and the Holding Company II (Spring 1966 - June 1966) Peter Albin - bass/guitar/vocals Sam Andrew - guitar/piano/sax/vocals James Gurley - guitar David Getz - drums/piano/vocals - b. January 24, 1940, Brooklyn, New York. Big Brother and the Holding Company III (June 1966 - 1968) Peter Albin - bass/guitar/vocals Sam Andrew - guitar/piano/sax/vocals James Gurley - guitar David Getz - drums/piano/vocals Janis Joplin - vocals - b. Janis Lyn Joplin, January 19, 1943, Port Arthur, Texas; d. October 4, 1970, Hollywood, California. Albums: "Big Brother and the Holding Company" (1967) "Cheap Thrills" (1968) - Single: "Piece of My Heart" "Cheaper Thrills" (live) (1984) "Big Brother and the Holding Company Live" (1985) - recorded July 28, 1966. "Live at Winterland '68" (1998) Janis Joplin goes solo.  Sam Andrew joins Janis Joplin.  Peter Albin and David Getz join Country Joe and The Fish. Big Brother and the Holding Company IV (Fall 1969 - 1970) Peter Albin - bass/guitar/vocals James Gurley - guitar David Getz - drums/piano/vocals David Shallock - bass Nick Gravenites - vocals - b. Chicago, Illinois - formerly with The Electric Flag. Album: "Be a Brother" (1970) Big Brother and the Holding Company V (1970 - 1972) Peter Albin - bass/guitar/vocals Sam Andrew - guitar/piano/sax/vocals David Getz - drums/piano/vocals Michael Pendergrass - guitar Kathi McDonald - vocals Mike Finnigan - keyboards Album: "How Hard It Is" (1971) "Can't Go Home Again" (1997) Group disbands. Big Brother and the Holding Company VI (August 1987 - ? ) (reformed) Peter Albin - bass/guitar/vocals Sam Andrew - guitar/piano/sax/vocals James Gurley - guitar David Getz - drums/piano/vocals Michel Bastian - vocals Album: "Joseph's Coat" (1986) Big Brother and the Holding Company VII ( ? - ? ) Peter Albin - bass/guitar/vocals Sam Andrew - guitar/piano/sax/vocals James Gurley - guitar David Getz - drums/piano/vocals Lisa Battle - vocals Big Brother and the Holding Company VIII (1997 - Present) Peter Albin - bass/vocals Sam Andrew - guitar/vocals David Getz - drums Tom Finch - guitar Album: "Do What You Love" (1999) Compilations: "Farewell Song" (1982) Links: Big Brother and the Holding Company Homepage Take me back to the Index of Classic Rock Bands Last Revised:  March 8, 2000