Today, it is Janis Joplin’s birthday – she would have been 70 years old. Janis made no secret of her appreciation of Tina Turner. During a 1969 interview on the Dick Cavett Show, she was asked who she goes to see when she wants to see a good concert. Her answer was: “Tina Turner. Fantastic singer, fantastic dancer, fantastic show.” On November 27, 1969, she joined Tina on stage at Madison Square Garden for an impromptu duet (Ike & Tina were opening for the Rolling Stones). Less than a year later, on October 4, 1970, Janis passed away at the age of 27.
When Janis first entered the music scene in the mid 1960’s, Tina had already been performing and recording for more than five years, although still very unknown in the United States. Still, Janis knew about Tina and was highly influenced by her power and singing style. Janis would often go to watch Ike & Tina’s shows. Music film director Michael Wadleigh mentions in an interview that he was there when Tina and Janis first met each other.
“I was with Tina Turner when she first saw Janis Joplin, and she said to Janis, ‘Honey, you can’t continue to sing like that or you’ll have no voice […]”
On July 18, 1969, Janis appeared on the Dick Cavett TV-show. Asked who she goes to see when she wants to see a really good concert, she answers: “Tina Turner – she’s the best chick ever!” (See the video above, courtesy of ‘stargirlpower’.) Cavett replies that he doesn’t know who Tina is, another example to illustrate the obscurity of Ike & Tina at that time. They did finally appear on his show in 1972.
The moment that Janis had been waiting for finally came on November 27, 1969 (the day after Tina’s 30th birthday), when Janis joined Ike & Tina on stage at Madison Square Garden. Ike & Tina were one of the opening acts for the Rolling Stones, Janis was watching them from the wings. The duet apparently wasn’t planned – during Land Of 1,000 Dances, Janis simply couldn’t contain herself anymore, and jumped on stage (maybe also influenced by the ‘treats’ that the Stones had for their guests backstage).
While many photos of that appearance exist, no recording has surfaced as of yet. This is very strange, since these shows were taped by the Stones. Some footage of the show appears for example in the 1970 Rolling Stones documentary ‘Gimme Shelter’. These shows were also released as the live album ‘Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out’ in 1970. In 2009, this album was re-released WITH the opening sets of Ike & Tina and BB King, but the duet of Tina and Janis was not featured! Here’s hoping that a recording will still surface sometime.
The above photo by photographer Amelie R. Rothschild captures the spirit of these two ladies in an amazing way. Interesting detail is that this photo actually hangs on the wall of the music room in The White House!
“In July 2000 her photograph of Tina Turner and Janis Joplin singing together was given as a gift to President Clinton and displayed in the Music Room at the White House. It is also in the private collection of Lenny Kravitz, John Sykes, Dr. Jonathan Samet and many others.” (Website Amelie R. Rothschild)
In a 2000 Canadian radio interview on channel CHUM FM, Tina however didn’t seem to recall their duet. When asked if she ever performed with Janis, she answered:
“No, but Janis came and spent the last week with me before she passed.”
In the interview above, Tina mentions that Janis spent the last week of her life watching the revue’s shows at ‘The Hungry i’ in San Francisco. Apparently, Janis would come to see the show several times during the week. We are not sure of the dates of Ike & Tina’s stand at The Hungry i, but on October 4, 1970, Janis passed away in Los Angeles, aged just 27.
Tina Turner Blog 
Thanks guys – wouldn’t it be fun to have a video of them together 🙂
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Indeed, maybe one day Laurel 😉
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I read once that is lezbijką.A sea tina Tina and Janis were a couple?
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In the small interview extract we posted, Tina said she hardly known Janis…So no Tina never had a lesbian relationship with Janis Joplin (nor Oprah)…
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did tina say “nein” and then no…..?????thanks for sharing
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Ja! That’s what she said 😉
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Interesting stuff in here. Great job! 🙂 think Tina said Nay? I guess Tina speaks German too. Well, she should since Erwin is. 🙂 Thank You again!
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Yes yes Marie, she said “Nein”, this probably comes from Erwin…as well as when she screams “JAWOHL” during concerts 😉
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Interesting that I can hear Tina singing Joplin’s catalogue of songs and vice versa easily. I think the duet may have a nice energy and melody, considering from the photos existing. They represent the music from the 60’s quite well. Joplin could also sing songs from the Ike & Tina Review also. They blend well. Thanks for the article.
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Thanks for your comment and your support Cergio!
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Catalog? I thought Janis released just one complete solo studio album.
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You Know Anna & Edwin,
Wishing You All the Best…..
I will probably never ever met You In My Life Time.,
but, I feel Like I have, and/or did., just by Being & Reading,
Attending Your Concerts, News articles, & Books and movies ect
I want You To Know;
What else is there but, Love……
You My Dear Woman, YOU have given of Yourself,
so many times, to millions of people.
To Be Whom You are Today and Always….
That You and Your Family will Always Be in My Heart & Soul,
of this Life Time……
May God Bless You and Yours,
xoxooxox
Sincerely,
Betty Poyer
37 Calicobush Road
Levittown, Pa. 19057
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Great blog story…..love the Tina / Janis pictures and story of Janis backstage. I’ve always wondered too why we haven’t heard the impromptu duet? I think it might be that it wasn’t very good as Janis was really loaded that night and maybe wasn’t singing well. I don’t think I’ve ever read Tina mention that night with her either. Also I’ve never seen the Ike and Tina performance on Cavett and wonder what that was all about, besides the obvious!
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It was BETTER THAN FANTASTIC!!! We were there to see the Stones, but Tina’s opening act was great and MSG went wild when Janis jumped on the stage. It the most electric moment we’d ever seen at a concert! True, Janis was stoned; but being onstage with Tina made her give everything she had. Only way it could’ve gotten better was if Mick had come out and joined them.
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Oh it’s out there somewhere. Since the stones were the headliner of the show and the show was definitely filmed. Bits and pieces of the shows filming and other photos besides these are on 2 or 3 of the Rolling Stones Albums as well.. This was the beginning of rock documentaries.Woodstock and Monteray Pop festival. The Stones did Give me Shelter Concert At Madison Square Garden. The album get Your Ya Yas Out was the concert live on an album and A revised version came out in the 2000’s. So hopefully whoever did the actual filming? Kept ALL the edits and the cuts didn’t end up on the floor and if they did someone was smart enough to pick them up! Or there’s an old 8mm movie camera out there A fan or movie maker famous or not. Has it and forgot or knows and doesn’t realize it’s rare and needs to be seen. . Positive vibes for it to be found!
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ABSOLUTELY!! There’s film out there somewhere!!🎼🎹🎶🎤
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Oh, I love them both! Thanks!
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Hi! Is there any way of hearing the whole Chum FM interview? Does anyone have a link?
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