Diane read Patti Smith’s National Book Award winner, Just Kids. The story of life in New York City in the Sixties and Seventies fascinated Diane. Patti Smith interacts with Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Arthur C. Clarke, and dozens of writers and artists. But, her deepest artistic relationship is with Robert Mapplethorpe. Together, Smith and Mapplethorpe master their talent and find success. Patti Smith has a hit with “Because the Night” and Mapplethorpe finds a patron who supports his artistic quest.
Patti Smith was part of the JUST BUFFALO Babel series of speakers. Over a 1000 fans showed up for Smith’s event. She read from Just Kds, had a Q&A and sang some songs with Lenny Kaye providing guitar backup (he’s been with Patti Smith from the beginning of her career). One thing we learned from the Q&A was that Patti is a huge fan of The Killing and her enthusiastic letters to the producer earned her a small part in one of the Netflix episodes (so I’ll have to watch those soon!). If Patti Smith shows up in your neighborhood, she’s worth seeing.
Probably just me but I never understood the appeal.
Bob, Patti Smith is very quirky. That’s part of her appeal.
Love Patti’s music and her book. She lived in the area for awhile when she was married to MC5 guitarist Fred Smith.
Steve, I plan to read JUST KIDS this Summer. Patti Smith said she’s working on a sequel to JUST KIDS.
Would have loved to have seen her sing. This book has gotten so much attention. I did not find it quite as alluring as most seemed to. Never quite connected with her, I guess.
Patti, Diane enjoyed the complex stories of living in New York City at that time.
I skimmed through the book and found it moderately interesting (especially the New York-New Jersey stuff) but not enough to read the whole thing, though I did find her quite an interesting person. I’ve never been a huge fan of her music but we saw her open for Neil Young a couple of years ago and really enjoyed the performance.
Jeff, Patti Smith left Buffalo after this event to head for Cleveland. She’s part of the induction of Lou Reed into THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME.
I go back and forth on how I feel about her. I loved “Horses” when it first came out and I think her version of “Because the Night” is better than Springsteen’s or 10,000 Maniacs’, but some of her stuff leaves me cold and I always want to tell her to comb her hair!
Deb, Patti Smith said that when the producer of THE KILLING invited her to play a part in a Netflix episode, she thought they’d ask her to play a “homeless” person. Instead, they cast Patti Smith as a neurosurgeon. Talk about casting against type! That wild hair of her’s!
Meh.
Rick, I had low expectations for this Patti Smith event but came away delighted. Patti Smith sure is a character!
According to Wikipedia: Smith is currently working on a crime novel set in London. “I’ve been working on a detective story that starts at the St Giles in the Fields church in London for the last two years,” she told NME adding that she “loved detective stories” having been a fan of Sherlock Holmes and US crime author Mickey Spillane as a girl.[44] Part of the book will be set in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Gotta look out for that one!
Jeff, I was surprised at the range of interests Patti Smith has. She’s a writer, an artist, a photographer, a singer, etc.
George – I would have loved this event. I read and enjoyed JUST KIDS and have been to two of her shows (1978 and 2014). Still an incredible performer and poet.
Scott, we had a terrific evening with Patti Smith. She’s a wonderful performer and has a lot to say about Art and Life.