Few artists deserve the title of legend as much as Patti Smith, but the American musician, songwriter, author and poet remains a vital force who has inspired generations of artists. She continues to write and publish books and poetry, while using her art and public voice to engage with the political and social issues of our time.
Her 1975 debut album Horses stands as a milestone in rock history. With its raw fusion of rock and poetry, the album helped pave the way for punk and has led many to hail Patti Smith as one of the genre’s pioneers. Yet she is far more than that. Throughout her long career, she has woven punk, folk, rock and visionary poetry into a deeply personal expression. That mixture has paved the way for masterpieces such as Easter and Gone Again and made her an embodiment of rock’s revolutionary spirit.
On stage, she is known for a rare and authentic presence that draws the audience into a moving and cathartic rock ’n’ roll mass. When she appeared at Roskilde Festival in 2010, Danish newspaper Politiken put it simply: “It must now be official: Patti Smith is the coolest woman on the planet.” And at almost 80, she remains every bit as cool.
For many years, she performed with the legendary Patti Smith Group, but more recently she has stripped the sound back with her Patti Smith Quartet, who will join her at Roskilde Festival this summer. The classic material is given new life by a deeply attuned group featuring masterful drummer Seb Rochford (Sons of Kemet, David Byrne and others), bassist and keyboardist Tony Shanahan, who has worked with artists including Robert Plant and Suzanne Vega and played with Patti Smith for more than 20 years, and Smith’s own son Jackson Smith on guitar.
It is a tremendous honour to welcome Patti Smith back to Roskilde Festival, where she has given us several unforgettable concerts over the years. With a career spanning more than 50 years, she is ready to once again bring her moving and poetic rock universe to the festival.