Patti Smith, best known as a singer-songwriter (whose lyrics have occasionally been collected into books of poetry) has won the National Book Award in Nonfiction for Just Kids, her memoir of the years she spent living with the late artist Robert Mapplethorpe.
posted by aught on Nov 18, 2010 - 54 comments

"I told her I only wear one sock." - Iggy Pop
Patti Smith + Lenny Kaye pondering poetry enroute to gig from airport.
Ramones CBGBs
All us musicians were broke and dreamed of getting a record deal. '75 New Year party, CBGBs
Iggy Pop on a playground turtle.
Plenty more backstage and party footage from Patti Smith group member and Iggy Pop bandmate (not to mention filmmaker and songwriter) Ivan Král in his Vault.
big thumbs up to Mr. Dante Fontana
posted by carsonb on Apr 1, 2010 - 8 comments

On the occasion of her induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, punk poet and musician Patti Smith (no, not this Patti Smith) offers eloquent reflections on the benediction she received from her late husband Fred "Sonic" Smith of MC5, the future of rebellion, and her own question: " Am I a worthy recipient?." Yes, Patti, you are. Some sound and video...
posted by twsf on Mar 12, 2007 - 51 comments

"Window in the Sky" is a YouTube style video synch mash-up done on a professional budget with the magic of copyright clearances. "It's a triumph of postmodern reconstruction" says the Washington Post.
posted by stbalbach on Jan 29, 2007 - 160 comments

Is It Better To Look Marvellous Than To Sound Marvellous? Like The Velvet Underground, Iggy Pop and (controversially) David Bowie, Patti Smith, specially when photographed by Robert Mapplethorpe, looked way cooler than she sounded, imho. What other rock legends were more beautiful than the music they made? And, conversely, which artists' music was better than the image they projected?
posted by MiguelCardoso on Dec 30, 2002 - 88 comments