Rock ‘n’ roll poet and the godmother of punk, Patti Smith has never strayed from who she is. People have tried to mould her – from her appearance to her style of music – but she has always been unapologetically bloody-minded about being herself.
It’s the reason that her music is still so relevant, why her style is still so widely copied and why she will forever be perennially cool. She does what she wants, regardless of popular opinion or what’s fashionable – whether falling for Rihanna’s latest single or recording the lullaby for Darren Aronofsky’s controversial biblical remake of Noah.
Aside from having changed the face of women in music, Smith is genuinely interested in everything, and not just music, from art to literature to film, and – unlike other musical zeitgeists – is open to and appreciative of what’s happening now. For her, the people have always been her focus; she seems bereft of any rock star ego. She has one of the most cerebral, creative and eclectic friendship groups in history – spanning Johnny Depp, William Burroughs and Bob Dylan.
Warm, wise and a true original, Smith is proof to be interesting you must be interested.
#Godmother of punk#