Big Brother and the Holding Company are an influential American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965, emerging from the same psychedelic scene as the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. The band gained fame with their classic lineup featuring vocalist Janis Joplin, guitarists Sam Andrew and James Gurley, bassist Peter Albin, and drummer Dave Getz. Their 1968 album Cheap Thrills reached number one on the Billboard charts and is widely recognized as a defining work of San Francisco's psychedelic rock, earning spots on several greatest albums lists. After Joplin left the band for a solo career in 1968, Big Brother continued with new members, releasing two more albums before disbanding in 1972. The group reunited in 1987 and has performed with various lead singers since, including Michel Bastian, who fronted the band for nine years and helped revive its international reputation. Despite the loss of original members over the years, Big Brother and the Holding Company remains a celebrated name in rock history.