Born: 30th December, 1946 (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
Profile: She is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 début album 'Horses', and was called the 'Godmother of Punk', she integrated the beat poetry performance style with three-chord rock. Smith's most widely known song is 'Because the Night', which was co-written with Bruce Springsteen and reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978.
History: As a young girl, she got interested in music in an early stage, and in 1969 she went to Paris with her sister and started busking and doing performance art. When she returned to New York in the early 70's, she spent most of her time painting, writing, and performing.
Smith was briefly considered for the lead singer position in "Blue Öyster Cult". She contributed lyrics to several of the band's songs, including 'Debbie Denise', 'Fire of Unknown Origin' and 'Shooting Shark'. During these years, Smith also wrote rock journalism, some of which was published in Rolling Stone magazine and Creem magazine.
By 1974, Smith was performing rock music herself, initially with guitarist and rock archivist Lenny Kaye, and later with a full band comprising Kaye, Ivan Kral (bass), Jay Dee Daugherty (drums) and Richard Sohl (piano), and named the band as "Patti Smith Group" or "PSG". Financed by Sam Wagstaff, the band recorded a first single, 'Hey Joe/Piss Factory' in 1974.
In 1975, "PSG" was signed by Arista Records, and released their first album 'Horses'. The album fused punk rock and spoken poetry and begins with a cover of Van Morrison's 'Gloria'. As the popularity of punk rock grew, "PSG" toured the US and Europe. The rawer sound of the group's second album, 'Radio Ethiopia', reflected this, and several of its songs from the second album have stood the test of time, and Smith still performs them regularly in concert.
Through most of the 80's, Smith was in semi-retirement from music, but in 1988, she released the album 'Dream of Life', which included the song 'People Have the Power'. In 1994, Smith faced the unexpected death of her brother Todd and "PSG" original keyboard player Richard Sohl. After the impact of these deaths, her friend Michael Stipe (REM) urged her to go back out on the road, and she toured briefly with Bob Dylan in 1995.
In 1996, Smith worked with her long-time colleagues to record 'Gone Again', featuring 'About a Boy', a tribute to Kurt Cobain (Nirvana). Smith was a fan of Cobain, but was more angered than saddened by his death. That same year she collaborated with "Stipe" on 'E-Bow the Letter', and a song on "REM"s 'New Adventures in Hi-Fi', which she has also performed live with the band. After release of 'Gone Again', Smith had recorded two new albums: 'Peace and Noise' in 1997 and Gung Ho in 2000.
In 2005, Smith was named a 'Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres' by the French Ministry of Culture. In addition to her influence on rock music, the Minister also noted Smith's appreciation of Arthur Rimbaud. In 2007, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She dedicated her award to the memory of her late husband, Fred, and gave a performance of "The Rolling Stones" staple 'Gimme Shelter'. As the closing number of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Smith's 'People Have the Power' was used for the big celebrity jam that always ends the program.
Influences: Unknown
Axology: Fender guitars
Signature song(s): Gloria - Patti Smith (Horses, 1975)
Link(s):
http://www.pattismith.net/ (Official website)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3coSfks4rQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cppyn-u3Djw&feature=related
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