talkin’ sh*t in tampa
Guitarist Johnny G. Lyon found this and passed it on to us here in the Sticks.
The Smoking Gun unearthed another round of “vintage” mug shots. Along with mug shots of James Brown in 1988, Jimi Hendrix in 1969, David Bowie in 1976, and Johnny Cash in 1965, is this nugget of Janis Joplin posing for Tampa Police in November of 1969. She 
was arrested for using “vulgar and indecent language” onstage at the Curtis Hixon Hall.
We looked for some of this vulgar and indecent language they speak of. From the book “Anti-rock: The Opposition to Rock ‘n’ Roll” By Linda Martin and Kerry Segrave, Janis Joplin
had been busted for onstage profanity at a 1969 concert in Tampa, Florida when police tried to get the audience, which was dancing in the aisles, to sit down. Infuriated by the police meddling, Janis screamed: ” If we don’t hurt nothin,’ they can’t say shit.” For using this word, she was indicted for “vulgar and indecent language.” Joplin had to pay a fine and the publicity hurt her bookings. The FBI also started a file on her.
The Janis Joplin biography page at IMDB says she
Was arrested for using “vulgar and indecent language” while performing at Curtis Hixon Hall in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday, November 16, 1969. Unlike Jim Morrison, who was arrested onstage in the middle of his Florida performance earlier in 1969, Joplin was allowed to finish her concert and then got handcuffed by police backstage. Was released on a $50 bond after spending approximately an hour behind bars. During the two days she remained in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area awaiting a preliminary hearing, she went fishing. At the hearing she was advised by a local lawyer she hired, Herbert Goldburg, that jail time was unlikely. A photographer for United Press International captured the two of them leaving police headquarters after the proceedings. The image shows Joplin, clad in a fur coat, grinning
and flashing a “V” sign with her fingers. Goldburg looks displeased. Joplin made a point of telling the UPI that her sign stood for “victory, not peace.” The following March she was fined $200 in absentia and the case was closed without her ever returning to Tampa.
The great folks at JanisJoplin.net have the newspaper clipping and the caption underneath:
(TP2) TAMPA, Fla. Nov. 20 — V FOR VICTORY_ Rock star Janis Joplin and her attorney, Herbert Goldburg, leave police headquarters after a preliminary hearing on obscenity charges lodged against the 26 - year - old singer when she allegedly cursed police who interrupted her performance Sunday. Miss Joplin said the V sign stood for victory, “not peace.” (ST. PTERS*BURG OUT) (AP Wirephoto) (ets 51506rf) 1969
Where’d she go fishing?
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May 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Tommy,
Just finished reading Legs McNeil’s book, “Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk” (great read, btw) and there are many Tampa Bay area moments, including the New York Dolls trying - and failing - to score dope locally, and Patti Smith falling off the stage at the old Curtis Hixon Convention Center.
Bob
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
She got arrested for using the S word? what the hell backwoods town is this?! I mean, damn, even Morrison had to expose himself (allegedly!) to get arrested in Miami.
And the Stones didn’t get arrested for the riot that started at Jack Russell stadium when they played there.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
By “fishing,” did they mean “Pearl” was looking for some fella to shack up with? Too bad the N.Y. Dolls aren’t around now, they could score all the dope they want at Redner’s park on Main Street. Dealers there don’t even wait for sundown anymore. TPD couldn’t catch a cold.
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:01 am
A sure sign the economy’s in the toilet is the number of brazen pushers visible on corners throughout our fair city. Funny how many of these guys wait for the bus all day long(HARTLINE isn’t THAT bad).