Patti Smith's performances were never simply about standing at a microphone and delivering a song, and at one of her live shows, that became life-threatening.

Now known as the "godmother of punk," Patti Smith's emotional and raw lyricism blended with classic rock 'n' roll, establishing a blueprint for the genre that still resonates with audiences today.

Nearly 40 years after its release, Patti Smith's 1978 hit, "Because the Night," has remained one of the most enduring love songs from the rock genre. In 2025, Billboard ranked the song, off Smith's ...

Patricia Lee Smith was born in Chicago in 1946, raised in New Jersey, and in 1967 moved to New York City, where she would become a legend of the ’70s punk scene and influence generations of ...