The life of Patti Smith is similar to the story from the film, where troubled youth, an early pregnancy, a search for oneself, different facets of creativity, success, a bitter farewell to loved ones and the freedom typical of hippies are inherent. Her fate is woven from a variety of threads that loom in amazing patterns. But what not to take away from the singer, poetess and artist Patti Smith is her philosophy and a positive outlook on life.

She was born in Chicago. My father worked at the factory as a machinist. Mom worked as a waitress, but in the past, she was a jazz singer. It was he her Patti Smith adopted the craving for art. When the girl was three years old, the family moved to Philadelphia.

Patti Smith was the eldest of four children, so she could not boast of an excess of attention and love. In adolescence, relationships with peers were not so hot either. The girl was a closed and noisy friendly company, preferred secluded evenings with the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud, the works of Picasso, Modigliani or a musical evening to the tunes of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones.

Entering college, Patti Smith had to leave him because of early pregnancy. But this allowed the girl to get a job at a printing factory and accumulate enough money to go to live in the city of opportunities - New York.

Career

In the metropolis, which at that time was on the verge of bankruptcy, the provincial girl had to bum and sleep in parks and cemeteries. But this formed a persistent character, the ability to go to your goal. Soon, Patti Smith got into a bookstore. In her free time, she attended literary evenings, participated in theatrical productions and got acquainted with the bohemia of those times: Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Gregory Corso, Jim Carroll and others.

At the age of 24, in 1970, Patti Smith herself began to perform at literary evenings, reading her verses to guitar accompaniment.

After in 1974, the Patti Smith Group was formed, which acts in the CBGB club.

In May 1975, the band signed a contract with Arista Records. And after half a year the first debut album, entitled “Horses”, was released, which received positive reviews from critics and began the development of punk. In 2003, Rolling Stones magazine published the 500 best albums of all time, where “Horses” took 44th place.

It seemed as if the group’s career was going up, but in 1977 during a performance by Patti Smith fell into an orchestra pit and broke two neck vertebrae. Rehabilitation, and with it forced touring, lasted a year. But during this time, the poetess will create a collection of poems “Babel”.

In 1980, Patti Smith announced the breakup of the group, as she planned to devote herself to family life.

Fans were able to hear Patti Smith live singing again after 15 years. In 2005, the artist was awarded the “Order of Arts and Literature”, and two years later her name was entered in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Patti Smith had many novels for life:
gay, Robert Mapplethorpe,
poet and punk musician Jim Carroll,
married playwright Sam Shepard,
Television frontman Tom Verlaine.

But she gave her heart to Fred Smith (MC5 guitarist), for whom she even left a musical career, wanting to devote her future life to the family. The couple lived together for 14 years. But their idyll was interrupted by the death of Dread Smith, which came from heart failure.

The couple has two children, Jackson and Jesse Smith. They, like their parents, chose creative professions, becoming actors. Jackson Smith is also a singer.

Today, Patti Smith is trying to manage his Instagram page, recording videos from rehearsals there, communicating with friends and showing everyday life.

Discography

The first collection of songs by Patti Smith was released back in 1975 under the name “Horses” and gained incredible success. Thanks to this album, the artist is called the “godmother of punk rock”.

Before the collapse of the team, the guys have time to release three more albums:
commercial “Radio Ethiopia”,
the most successful of all Easter albums,
and “Wave”.

In 1988, Patti Smith will release a solo album, “Dream of Life, ” which is ranked 49th in the British music magazine “Sound”.

After the reunion, the group will collect their creations in six more studio albums:
“Gone Again”, which showed off at 13th place of the 1996 Top Albums according to Mojo Magazine;
“Peace and Noise”;
“Gung Ho”;
“Trampin' '”, featured in the 50 best albums of 2004 by Rolling Stones;
“Twelve, ” which is essentially a collection of cover versions of rock music classics;
“Banga”.

Patti Smith also has many bibliographies where you can find collections of poems and memoirs.
Also in 2008, the world saw a biographical film about Patti Smith “Dream of Life”.

The activities of this unique artist influenced the work of such famous groups like R.E.M., Garbage, U2, The Smiths, Sonic Youth.