 Joplin became very happy with her new group, which eventually received mostly positive feedback from both her fans and the critics.According to Joplin's biographer Ellis Amburn, Big Brother with its lead singer Nick Gravenites was the opening act at the party that was attended by 2,300 people.The Hells Angels, who had known Joplin since 1966, paid her a fee of 240 dollars to perform.