2 - The Album "Horses"is considered one of the greatest Albums of all time. In 2003, the Album was ranked number 44 in The Rolling Stone's magazine list of 500 greatest album of all time.
The cover to "Horses" was taken by legendary photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. The iconic cover was taken by polaroid and in natural day light
3 - Lots of Musicians cites Patti as their inspiration. From Madonna to Morrissey to Sonic Youth to Michael Stipe to The Libertines to Siouxsie and the Banshees
4 - In 2010 published awesome book "Just Kids" A memoir of her relationship with Artist Robert Mapplethorpe. In the same year it won the National Book Award for nonfiction
Here's a quote from the book - just beautiful
“There were days, rainy gray days, when the streets of Brooklyn were worthy of a photograph, every window the lens of a Leica, the view grainy and immoble. We gathered our colored pencils and sheets of paper and drew like wild, feral children into the night, until, exhausted, we fell into bed. We lay in each other's arms, still awkward but happy, exchanging breathless kisses into sleep.”
― Patti Smith, Just Kids
5 - Apart from being a singer, songwriter, poet, visual artist, writer, photographer (wow!) She is also a peace activist, often performing and speaking at peace concerts and rallies. She was the first speaker and singer at the first protest against the Iraq War.
This performance from Old Grey Whistle Test is powerful and mesmerizing!!!
Patti you are pure Punk Rock and we're just a bit in love with you x