Biography

Was good friends with Janis Joplin.

The character Frankie Hart in American Pop (1981) was based partially on her and partially on her good friend Janis Joplin.

Is an accomplished artist (painting, drawing, sketching, sculpting and scratch board etching).

Her distinctive vocal style and striking stage presence exerted influence on other female performers including Stevie Nicks and Patti Smith.

Her favorite books are "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass".

[August 16, 1969, upon walking out on stage at Woodstock] Alright friends, you have seen the heavy groups, now you will see morning maniac music. Believe me, yeah. It's a new dawn. Good morning, people!

Prancing around on stage is not the entire purpose of my life.

[late 1960s] We are the people that our parents warned us about.

I don't miss anything about the 1960s, not really. I did it. It's like asking, "Do you miss the fourth grade?". I loved the fourth grade when I was in it, but I don't want to do it again.

You can do jazz, classical, blues, opera, country until you're 50, but rap and rock-and-roll are really a way for young people to get that anger out. It's silly to perform a song that has no relevance to the present to express feelings that you no longer have.