Patti Smith on the Night That Changed Her Life
It was 1976, the bicentennial year marking the celebration of the American Revolution. We were touring the album Horses, charging straight into the future. Those days were free-spirited, spent with William Burroughs in his Bowery bunker, watching Television perform at CBGB, dreaming up chaos with my brother Todd, and crossing the country with a rock ’n’ roll band.
Our nation carried its deep flaws—Vietnam's disgrace, racial inequality, and sexism—but we celebrated America’s cultural achievements: rock ’n’ roll, jazz, activism, abstract expressionism, and the Beats. It was a moment when I felt empowered and embraced our mission.
Touring the West Coast with Horses
On the west coast tour, the band included Lenny Kaye on guitar, Jay Dee Daugherty on drums, Ivan Král on bass, and Richard Sohl on keyboards. We were joined by Paul Getty and French actor Maria Schneider. Maria, famed for her roles in The Passenger and Last Tango in Paris, with her intense black eyes and a wild mop of dark hair, often wore a white shirt and black tie, reflecting a striking image.
Paul Getty was the grandson of a wealthy oil magnate and a survivor of a notoriously failed kidnapping in Italy. William Burroughs introduced me to Paul, a pale acolyte, the youngest to pass through his portal of saints.
I was fond of Paul, with his untamed red hair, freckled skin, and eyes like mine—slightly cast.
"We were plotting a chaotic future with my brother Todd, crossing America with a rock ’n’ roll band."
That unique time shaped much of my belief in the power of art and activism amid a troubled nation.
Author's summary: Patti Smith recalls 1976 touring with her band and cultural icons, embracing America’s creative spirit despite its deep social struggles.
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