Born on December 30: Patti Smith, the godmother of punk, free to be whoever she wants

Patricia Lee Smith was born in New Jersey in 1946 to an Irish family.

Her father, a former tap dancer, works in a factory while her mother, previously a jazz singer, is now a waitress in a restaurant as she takes care of the four children of the family. If parent's artistic dreams were shattered on the altar of responsibilities and bills to pay, young Patti nevertheless grew up in a very artistic atmosphere: she painted, wrote, sang…

With her high school diploma in her pocket, the young artist decided to try her luck in the city that never sleeps. New York called her and she quickly met Robert Marplethorpe (a great American photographer). Broke, they carried their meager bundle from shabby hotels to squats and finally arrived at the Chelsea Hotel, where the owner accepted artists' paintings in exchange for a room. Patti was gifted, the owner was seduced by her painting and the two youngsters settled in the hotel where they met meet many underground artists. Patti and Robert evolved in this exhilarating sphere, and the young woman read and published her poetry, painted with a frenzy, wrote columns in some magazines (notably for "Rolling Stone") and even a play...

She founded the "Patti Smith Group" with whom she released a first album which seduced critics and the public but which also caused a scandal. On the cover there was indeed a photo, taken by Robert Marpplethorne with the singer posing as half-man, half-woman and who proudly sported a downy hair above the upper lip. 

Their second album was meet with less success and was marked by the convalescence of the feminist artist, heavily falling from the stage during a concert. Two other albums were born from this period of withdrawal, including "Easter" which included her biggest hit, written with Bruce Springsteen (another child from New Jersey still unknown at the time): "Because The Night". 

Patti then decided to focus on her family, founded with former MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith. For fifteen years, she released only one album, before reforming her group in 1988 and offering a new opus, in collaboration with her husband. A few years later, after Fred's death, the singer tried to relaunch her career, notably by collaborating with R.E.M. She also asserted her positions, campaigning among other things against the invasion of Tibet. The committed artist also didn't forget her first loves and also organized painting exhibitions, as well as poetry readings.

In 2010, the novel "Just Kids" tells her story with Robert Marpplethorne, with whom she remained very close until his death in 1989; a real success that still fascinates readers, curious about the punk era of which Patti is said to be the godmother. "For me, punk rock is the freedom to create, the freedom to succeed, the freedom not to succeed, the freedom to be who you are. It's freedom, quite simply." She published the sequel in 2015: "M Train".

In the summer of 2024, her fans were able to see her on stage, still as committed and free, now accompanied by her son on guitar...

Still on the road, she celebrated the 50th anniversary of her album "Horses" (1975) by reuniting with guitarist Lenny Kaye for a series of memorable performances. She then set off again, traveling extensively, first for readings from her book "Book of Angels," and then, in 2026, as a quartet for festivals.

Upcoming concerts:
July 8: Tivoli Vredenburg - Utrecht (Netherlands)
July 9: Gent Jazz (Belgium) - Info and tickets: gentjazz.be

(Céline Massart - Tr.: MH - Photo: © Music Belgium Photos)
Photo: Patti Smuth on stage at the Cirque Royal in Brussels (Belgium) to celebrate the 50 years of the album "Horses"