In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, there's a wild and woolly building (a big house with add-ons) and an enclosed back yard designated the "Xi chapter of St Anthony Hall, a national co-ed literary and artistic society with roots in the fraternity system." There are several St. Anthony "halls" around the USA, all attached to colleges or universities and most, but not all of them, co-ed. One of the claims to local fame for the Chapel Hill version is "Janis Joplin slept here." If this is true, I wonder if anyone ever wrote about her stay, or took a photo, or maybe "retrieved" some of her belongings?
This much is true: on February 28, 1969, Janis had a show in Chapel Hill with her Kozmic Blues Band (on the University of North Carolina campus) and next, on March 1, she played at nearby Duke University in Durham. So that would be the likely timeframe, and it makes sense -- St. Anthony's has an eccentric, boho reputation, and creative people like to (or have to because they're so bombed) stay there.
It was about a decade after Janis died when I first went to one of many parties and music gigs at St. Anthony's and that's when I first heard the Janis claim.
I almost always had a blast and saw a bunch of good bands play at St. A's; there were invariably some interesting people hanging about, too.
I remember one night in the early 80s when the place was packed wall-to-wall; The Flat Duo Jets were playing a frenzied set in the back yard, with Dexter Romweber screaming up a storm while beating at his guitar and Sara Romweber (they were brother-sister, and I had a little crush on her) whacking away at her drumkit. People were flailing and going beserk. I went inside to the ground floor for another drink. From the improvised bar, I could see dust and weird little particles dropping from the ceiling above, the whole thing groaning from the weight of too many people upstairs. I secured my drink and got out of there fast. And I still don't know if Janis Joplin ever slept there.
Today's Rune: Wholeness.
7 comments:
I love Janis Joplin--she's another one that went too soon.
You'd think that if she'd slept there they'd have at least SOME evidence. That's sounds like many of the rickety houses and apartments in Albuquerque's "student ghetto" by UNM.
Janis Joplin was really talented. The really talented always seem to die far to soon. I like the song Me and Bobby McGee
Had a read through your blog. Very nice, unfortunately I didnt know Janis Joplin... I know OF her though. Sounds like she was a great woman. But it is true that the talented ones always go too soon.
If I hadn't smoked, I'd have lasted a lot longer.
Loved Festival Express!
Thanks all for the comments -- and yeah man on Festival Express and Janis!
p.s. I don't think it's how long you last. What you do with what you've got while you've got it -- that's the existential point.
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