Patti Smith Fun Facts, Quotes and Tweets
30th October 2015
Fact: Irish rockers U2 added another celebrity guest to their London residency by performing with veteran musician Patti Smith during their show at the city's O2 Arena on Thursday night (29Oct15). They performed with former Oasis star Noel Gallagher earlier in the week.
29th May 2015
Fact: Rocker Patti Smith paid tribute to Joan Baez at a ceremony in Berlin, Germany last week (21May15) as the folk icon was presented with the 2015 Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award. Artist Ai Weiwei was also feted with the same top prize from the human rights organisation, in recognition of their leadership in the fight for human rights.
29th October 2013
Quote: "Lou was a very special poet... One thing I got from Lou, that never went away, was the process of performing live over a beat, improvising poetry, how he moved over three chords for 14 minutes. That was a revelation to me." Patti Smith adds her tribute to fellow punk icon Lou Reed, who passed away on Sunday (27Oct13).
7th June 2013
Quote: "These girls have been such an inspiration. They are our daughters, our sisters. I think of them every day. There is not a time when I don't go onstage and I don't think about them, or feel the freedom to speak out and say the things that upset or anger me about my own country." Punk poet Patti Smith admits the incarcerated members of Russian punk group Pussy Riot inspire her daily.
9th February 2013
Fact: Punk poet Patti Smith has been awarded the 2013 Katharine Hepburn Medal during a ceremony at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Bryn Mawr College. The medal named after Hepburn, a Bryn Mawr student, honours women who embody the intelligence and independence of the actress.
30th May 2012
Quote: "I was very close to my brother, Todd, and he died at 42, and having Johnny in my life is like having a new brother." Punk icon Patti Smith on her friendship with Johnny Depp. The odd couple teamed up to write and record Banga, the title track on Smith's new album.
30th May 2012
Fact: Patti Smith's new album Banga features tribute tracks to French actress Maria Schneider (Maria) and Amy Winehouse (This is the Girl) who both died last year (11).
23rd May 2012
Quote: "I'm not afraid of terrorism. I'm not afraid of the bomb. What I'm afraid of is an ecological apocalypse, our punishment for destroying the earth. The death of the bumble bee is more important to me than homeland security." Patti Smith fears for the planet's wildlife.
13th June 2011
Quote: "I really felt that life was more beautiful after I read it, and I felt more hopeful." Harry Potter star Emma Watson found Patti Smith's memoirs Just Kids to be a life-changing read.
26th January 2011
Fact: Punk icon Patti Smith is working on her latest literary work, a detective novel based in London. The singer's credentials as an author were given a big boost last year (10) when she was honoured at the U.S. National Book Awards for her memoir, Just Kids.
16th November 2010
Fact: Punk icon Patti Smith has recruited her daughter JESSE and TELEVISION frontman Tom Verlaine for her new album. The Because The Night hitmaker is recording her 11th studio album in Italy, France, and at New York's fabled Electric Lady Studio, and she has revealed her daughter is the pianist on the project, while Verlaine provides guitar on many tracks.
4th November 2010
Fact: R.E.M.'s new album Collapse Into Now will feature guest spots from punk icon Patti Smith and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder. Smith has contributed vocals to the track Blue while Vedder duets with Michael Stipe on It Happens Today.
13th March 2009
Quote: "Michael Stipe bought me up when I was down and I aint never been down since." Punk icon and poet Patti Smith pays tribute to the R.E.M. frontman.
22nd August 2008
Quote: "OBAMA's the candidate and we need to support him. I'm interested to see how he does. He's young, he's intelligent, and he's modern. I'm none of those things." Punk icon Patti Smith endorses U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
21st August 2008
Quote: "People say the media is feeding the public's hunger for celebrity news, but that's the drug pusher's mentality. I don't think anybody would be pining for news about Angelina Jolie's babies if it weren't being given to them in the first place." Punk icon Patti Smith.
27th February 2008
Fact: Marilyn Manson dedicated his rendition of Patti Smith's ROCK `N' ROLL NIGGER to Oasis star Liam Gallagher at his Wiltern Theater concert in Los Angeles on Saturday (23Feb08). Gallagher and brother Noel were in the audience for the show.
7th February 2008
Fact: Rocker Patti Smith will perform poetry extracts at the Welsh literary festival the Laugharne Weekend in Laugharne in March (08).
10th January 2008
Fact: JUNO actress ELLEN PAGE dog is called Patti Smith, in honour of her favourite singer.
29th December 2007
Fact: Punk icon Patti Smith will ring in the New Year by performing at New York's fabled Bowery Ballroom.
7th February 2007
Fact: Punk icon Patti Smith's new covers album will include her version of Stevie Wonder'S PASTIME PARADISE and Tears For Fears' EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD.
5th February 2007
Quote: "It's just two sisters playing dress up with someone else's money... (It'll be) DICkensian London mixed with some Patti Smith." Actress Sienna Miller on Twenty8Twelve, the new clothing line she has created with her sister SAVANNAH.
8th August 2006
Fact: Punk icon Patti Smith dedicated her track WING to late LOVE leader ARTHUR LEE at the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, Illinois at the weekend. Lee lost his battle with leukaemia last Thursday (03AUG06). He was 61.
23rd November 2005
Fact: <p>Punk icon Patti Smith joined U2 frontman Bono for a version of John Lennon's INSTANT KARMA as part of the encore of the Irish rock group's seventh show of 2005 at New York's Madison Square on Monday night (21NOV05). Smith also supported the group at the show. </p>
Patti Smith
