Janis Joplin changed her will two days before she died and left $2,500 for her friends to throw a party

Janis Joplin was 27. Her road manager, John Byrne Cooke, found her in her hotel room after she missed a recording session. County coroner Thomas Noguchi ruled her death an accidental overdose of heroin compounded by alcohol. She had amended her will on 2 October 1970^†. Most of the estate went to her parents, with smaller shares to her siblings, Laura and Michael^†. The will set aside $2,500 for a party for her friends, described as "a final gesture of appreciation and farewell." She had enjoyed the wake of a Hells Angels member, "Chocolate George" Hendricks, and wanted the same. On 7 October her family scattered her ashes from a plane over the Pacific. Some sources give 13 October^†. The party was held on Monday, 26 October 1970, the club's night off, at the Lion's Share in San Anselmo, California. Invitations read "Drinks are on Pearl," her nickname. About 200 to 300 guests came, including members of the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver and Big Brother, Hells Angels, and her sister Laura. Her roommate, Lyndall Erb, gave her furniture, jewelry and clothing to friends. Her album Pearl came out in 1971, after her death.