Patti Smith has shared her experiences of performing a duet with Bob Dylan.
The punk-poet is also an acclaimed prose author, with her 2010 book Just Kids recognized as a contemporary classic. The 2015 follow-up, M Train, also received critical acclaim, and Patti is now set to release her upcoming book, Bread Of Angels.
Her new work is divided into various periods of her life, with an early chapter detailing her deep involvement in pop culture, highlighting ‘Another Side of Bob Dylan’ as a significant text during her rebellion against the constraints of her religious upbringing.
“I was told that there was no role for art in Christ’s Kingdom,” she reflects, “and I was advised to think about what I truly believed. Yet, I was aware of my beliefs.”
The Guardian published an excerpt from its review written by Will Hermes, whose own book, Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever, is also highly recommended.
Patti Smith stepped away from music in the late 1970s but returned after the passing of her husband, Fred Smith.
R.E.M. reached out to her, and she featured on their song ‘E-Bow The Letter,’ an atypical hit single in the UK.
Bob Dylan has been a long-time admirer of her work – the book reveals that he invited Patti to join the legendary Rolling Thunder Revue, but she was removed from the lineup on the opening night.
In a blog post from 2013, Patti disclosed that she performed a spontaneous spoken word piece in New York as part of the revue, although it was not included in Martin Scorsese’s later film.
“I was too raw and irreverent, yet it was an incredible experience. Bob Dylan treated me kindly, and I felt proud that he recognized something in me, which I saw as a secret advantage through the challenging times ahead.”
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Upon re-entering the music scene, Bob Dylan invited Patti Smith to tour with him in 1995, and they performed ‘Dark Eyes’ together.
In her book, Patti provides a vivid description of singing alongside her childhood idol. “I felt a bit anxious as Bob called me to the stage. I began the verse, and we sang the chorus together on the same microphone, our faces almost touching.”
“I noticed tiny beads of sweat on his forehead and saw the intensity in his eyes. I clutched my dress and stared down at my bare feet, and for that brief moment, I was just a widow, while the passionate young poet who once captivated my teenage years was just a man.”
You can revisit the duet below.
Related: Clash Meets Patti Smith
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Patti Smith has shared her experiences of singing a duet with Bob Dylan. The punk poet is also recognized for her prose writing, including her book released in 2010.