There’s a reason why Patti Smith is known as the Godmother of Punk. It’s not because she uses her guitar as a frilly little wand, blessing every punk rocker from 1975 to present. It’s not even because every time “Because the Night” comes on the radio everyone listening to that particular station suddenly transforms into a gothic punk-ish crooner, wailing out “take me noooooow” while simultaneously trying not to close their eyes while driving.
No, it’s much deeper, more meaningful, and long-lasting than that.
Patti Smith simply has influence. No matter how many artists she might cite who’ve provided her with some inspiration along the way, there will always be up-and-coming artists who look to the great Punk Godmother for their creative stimulus.
For starters, there’s…
Michael Stripe of R.E.M. A friend of Smith’s, he actually listened to her debut album Horses when he was only fifteen. Because of that album, Michael said that he decided to start his own band. So could we say that without Patti Smith, there would be no R.E.M.? Maybe…
KT Tunstall realized what she wanted to do with her life when she saw Smith in a magazine–and later dedicated a single to her in tribute.
Actress Ellen Page of Juno fame cites Smith as one of her biggest influences, something that made filmmakers include Smith songs in two of her movies.
And who knows how many more there will be? One thing’s for sure: with a sound like Patti Smith’s, you can bet that artists will never stop visiting her well to fill their buckets.