Many consider Patti Smith the godmother of punk. That label,
however, is inaccurate. Although she possessed the energy and
irreverence that would later mark the punk generation, she was
inspired by the beatniks and by Jim Morrison, Bob Dylan, The
Rolling Stones, and many other figures whom the punk rockers were
reacting against. Yet, she acted as a bridge between the two
generations, finding common ground with both. The experimental and
rebellious nature of her work made Smith and her band integral to
the mid-'70s New York art rock scene, centered around the club CBGB
on the Lower East Side. Smith's 1975 album, Horses, was the first
album released from the scene and established Smith as a major
artist. The androgynous appearance of Smith on the cover—shot by
Robert Mapplethorpe—has become one of the most famous shots in
rock history. Musically, the album was groundbreaking for its mix
of improvisational music and Dionysian lyrics. As both an artist
and a woman, she broke new ground. Smith released three more albums
before abruptly walking away from her fame in 1980. She reemerged
in the mid-'90s to reshape her image and astound fans with her
dynamic performances. Smith's impact on rock music—her rebellion
against gender roles, her charismatic performances, her merging of
poetry and music, and the way she's aged as a rock star—has been
vast. She has redefined what it means for women to be rock
performers and blazed trails for many other popular female
musicians to follow after her. Individual chapters examine
individual albums and account for parallel developments in Smith's
life. Tarr concludes his work with an examination of the influence
Smith has had on pop culture and on rock 'n' roll in general. Patti
Smith is a guarded and private person, and little has been written
about her. In this searching analysis of Smith's life and work,
author Joe Tarr has filled a huge gap and provided an essential
guide to the iconic artist's career.
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