Patti Smith Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorTo those who know, Patti Smith, pioneering punk poetess and rock star without peer or precedent, requires no introduction. But times change, generations succeed generations, and sometimes the world needs to be reminded of things like “Why Patti Smith Matters,” which is exactly the book that veteran music journalist Caryn Rose published yesterday via University of Texas Press. Rose, whose work has appeared in Pitchfork, Salon, the Village Voice, Vulture, Backstreets, the Guardian and Variety, explains, “I was eager to take on the formidable task of chronicling Patti Smith’s career because aside from Smith’s own work, the existing scholarship didn’t possess the kind of informed, careful perspective of her life and art that it deserves.” The book combines original research and primary sources — one of whom is Bruce Springsteen, who gave Rose an exclusive interview on the making of their 1978 hit song, “Because the Night.” A section of the book focusing on the song appears below.

Grace Jones-curated Meltdown festival 2022 is just around the corner, and NME has tickets to select gigs to be won. See below for your chance to win.With a line-up hand-picked by the iconic Grace Jones, this year’s bill features the likes of John Grant, Sky Ferreira, Peaches, Hot Chip, Greentea Peng, Blancmange, Skunk Anansie, Nova Twins, Honey Dijon and many more – as well as two performances from Jones herself.Jones follows in the footsteps of the likes of David Bowie, The Cure’s Robert Smith, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, David Byrne, John Peel and Ray Davies in being asked to curate Meltdown at London’s Southbank Centre.“In the face of adversity, there is no pandemic in the world that will stop me from curating the Meltdown festival,” said Jones of the upcoming run of shows.

Skunk Anansie frontwoman Skin has told NME about the “honour” of being asked to play the Grace Jones-curated Meltdown festival 2022, and revealed the memorable request letter that the icon sent her.Having been handpicked by Jones to perform at this June’s Meltdown festival in London alongside the likes of John Grant, Sky Ferreira, Peaches, Hot Chip and Greentea Peng, Skin described the invitation as “an honour”.“I was aghast because we were the first band she asked,” Skin told NME. “She wrote us a letter saying: ‘If you don’t do it, I’m going to break your neck!’ Something like that! It was a typical Grace Jones letter and it cracked me up.”In the ‘90s, Skin resented constant comparisons to Jones, considering it reductive to equate the two trailblazers because they are both outspoken black female performers.

CELINE by Hedi Slimane dress, complete with hair carefully shaped into a structural fringe adorned with floating pearls, actor Devon Ross looked every bit the consummate Hollywood superstar as she floated up the Cannes red carpet and into the premiere for mini-series Irma Vep, in which she stars. To watch her on this momentous occasion, you'd never know she'd not done this a thousand times before and that this was not just first proper premiere, but also her inauguration into the acting world. While you won't have seen her on the big screen yet, you'll likely still recognise her face.

Elvis Costello, Patti Smith and Mavis Staples will be among the dignitaries expected in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this weekend for the opening of the Bob Dylan Center, the museum and archive celebrating the Nobel laureate's work. Dylan himself won't be among them, unless he surprises everyone. The center's subject and namesake has an open invitation to come anytime, although his absence seems perfectly in character, said Steven Jenkins, the center's director.

Bob Dylan‘s classic song ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ has been released to celebrate his 60 years as a recording artist – you can watch the clip below.The arrival of the video today (May 6) is accompanied by the launch of a new Dylan60 microsite, which is housing the clip along with an interactive Augmented Reality (AR) lens filter.‘Subterranean Homesick Blues 2022’ pays homage to Dylan’s iconic video for his 1965 track, which formed the opening sequence of D.A. Pennebaker’s Don’t Look Back documentary.Inspired by the handwritten cue cards that Dylan reels off in the original clip, a host of famous names and creative figures have now contributed a set of new visuals for this updated remake, which you can watch below.The likes of Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Noel Fielding, Jim Jarmusch, John Squire, Bobby Gillespie, Julian House, Zep, Cey Adams, Francis Cabrel, Wim Wenders, Anthony Burrill, Naoki Urasawa, Michael Joo and Azazel Jacobs have all visually reinterpreted or redesigned a cue card for ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues 2022’.Dylan fans can also experience the aforementioned AR lens filter on Instagram and Snapchat, allowing users to try on a virtual pair of Dylan’s Ray-Ban sunglasses while a select 10-second loop, ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues 2022’, plays in the lenses.You can visit the newly launched Dylan60 site by heading here.

Pat Saperstein Deputy EditorMemoirs seem to be the perfect genre for spending time listening to audiobooks. Even more than transporting fiction or informative non-fiction, there’s something about listening to highly personal confessions in the privacy of your car or on a long walk that makes you feel like you have an intimate relationship with the author.Celebrity memoirs can be a wild ride through a performer’s ups and downs, but just as compelling are books from people who have had extraordinary lives like “The Glass Castle’s” Jeanette Walls — or are just extraordinarily entertaining at recounting their everyday lives, like David Sedaris.Many of the best memoirs hinge on the breakthrough moment — the turning point when a nobody starts to become a somebody for the first time.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticWith its grand opening less than two weeks away, the Bob Dylan Center has announced Steven Jenkins as its director. He’s moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to oversee the museum’s exhibitions, public programs and daily operations, following more than three decades of work with nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay areaThe hiring announcement comes as the BDC prepares for an opening weekend May 5-8 that will include a gala invitational dinner and celebratory concerts by Elvis Costello, Mavis Staples and Patti Smith.Said Jenkins in a statement, “As an avid listener and fascinated follower of Dylan’s every surprising and illuminating turn, his work has brought me a lifetime of aesthetic pleasures, confounding challenges and profound joy.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThere is exactly one person on earth who could be serenaded on his 90th birthday by (in order) Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Dionne Warwick, Kenny G, Art Garfunkel, Earth Wind & Fire, Bruce Springsteen and Alicia Keys — and have the whole evening capped off by a brilliant Mark Ronson-helmed “megamix” of great songs from across that birthday boy’s 60-plus-year career. The answer is so obvious we’re not even going to bother.Yes, Clive Davis’ 90th birthday party, held Wednesday night at the memorably named Cipriani South Street at Casa Cipriani in Lower Manhattan, was truly one for the ages.

Patti Smith has said she has plans to release “one more album”, with the 75-year-old punk poet laureate revealing she’s been working on new material toward a 12th studio effort.In an interview with The Guardian published today (April 1), the esteemed singer said, “I do have plans” when asked if there would be a follow-up to her latest album, 2012’s ‘Banga’.“I’ve written a lot of songs,” Smith said. “I’d like to do one more album and my record company, Columbia, has very generously left the door open.”With four albums to her name, including 1975’s historic ‘Horses’, Smith went into semi-retirement back in 1980 to focus on raising her children.

Manori Ravindran International EditorMagnolia Pictures has snapped up the North American rights to a Martin Scorsese executive-produced documentary about New York’s historic Chelsea Hotel.Amélie van Elmbt and Maya Duverdier’s “Dreaming Walls,” about the Manhattan institution and its controversial renovation, world premiered in the Panorama section of the Berlinale in February. Magnolia plans to release the film in theaters and on-demand this summer.The Chelsea Hotel, an icon of 1960s counterculture, was a haven for famous artists and intellectuals including Patti Smith, Janis Joplin and the superstars of Warhol’s Factory.

Keanu Reeves‘ films have reportedly been pulled from several streaming services in China.The Los Angeles Times reports that Reeves’ films have been removed from major streaming services in the country such as iQiyi, Tencent Video, Bilibili, and Xigua Video.Deleted films on iQiyi include The Matrix trilogy, Speed, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Something’s Gotta Give and The Lake House.The Los Angeles Times report that at least 19 films were removed from Tencent Video while Youku and Migu Video now house only Toy Story 4, in which Reeves voices a character.NME has reached out to representatives of Reeves for comment.It comes after Reeves attended at the 35th annual Tibet House Benefit Concert on March 3. The actor participated in the virtual concert alongside Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper, and Iggy Pop.The event once again featured artistic direction from composer Philip Glass, who was celebrating his 85th birthday at the event. All proceeds from the benefit went to Tibet House US.In the past, China has blacklisted many high profile figures who have supported Tibet or the Dalai Lama, its former head of state.

Zack Sharf Movies starring Keanu Reeves have reportedly been scrubbed from China streaming platforms such as Tencent Video, Youku and Migu Video following the actor’s public support for Tibet earlier this year. Reeves was announced in January as a performer for the 35th annual Tibet House Benefit Concert alongside Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper and Iggy Pop. Philip Glass serves as the benefit’s artistic director.

Tom Grennan has cancelled his upcoming shows in Russia and Ukraine over the ongoing conflict in the region.Posting on Twitter, Grennan made the announcement with a statement, while sharing the hashtag #StandWithUkraine. He was due to play Moscow’s Izvestia Hall on July 4 and Kyiv’s Atlas Festival on July 6.He wrote: “In light of current events, I will be cancelling my shows in Russia and Ukraine which were due to take place in Summer 2022.“My thoughts are with the brave people of Ukraine, and all those who oppose this devastating violence and seek peace.”Grennan follows a number of artists who have cancelled shows in the region in recent weeks.

Patti Smith, Gogol Bordello, The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn, Suzanne Vega and more in attendance.Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hutz, who was born in Ukraine, co-hosted the benefit at NYC’s City Winery, to raise funds for financial and humanitarian relief in the country. In total, $130,000 was raised, with proceeds going to Come Back Alive, a foundation that provides support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and Care.org.Among the funds raised, there was a $50,000 donation by Yoko Ono and Sean Ono Lennon to Doctors Without Borders.

The Masked Singer, welcomes back four judges along with new guest appearances. The Masked Singer judgesHosted by Nick Cannon, the show’s new season premiered on 9 March at 8pm ET on Fox, returning with its regular panel of judges.

Chris Willman Music WriterAs bombs continue to pummel Ukraine, musicians gathered in New York Thursday night to protest Russia’s war against the nation and raise funds for its defense. The Benefit for Ukraine at New York’s City Winery assembled a lineup of mostly local rock legends who “stand with Ukraine in the battle for its democracy and freedom.”The show was put together by headliner Gogol Bordello, New York’s beloved Slavic punk rock band, fronted by charismatic singer/guitarist Eugene Hütz.

Patti Smith will headline a new one-day festival in London.Higher Ground Festival will take place on the slopes of Alexandra Palace on July 24. It will be headlined by Smith, with Nadine Shah, Connie Constance, Spelling, Nabihah Iqbal and Joviale also confirmed to be performing.Higher Ground Festival will also host DJ sets, workshops, talks and readings.

A.D. Amorosi When Patti Smith joined Substack — the now-five-year-old online platform that publishes and pays writers on a subscription model — the poet, author and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had been stuck at home in New York City after having canceled a world tour due to COVID.Starting with her tagline (“The reader is my notebook”), and moving into her serialized, on-line novel (“The Melting,” currently 44 chapters long), Smith’s “journal of my private pandemic” promised “an inter-connective body of work for a responsive community,” filled with “ruminations, shards of poetry, music, and musings on whatever subject finds its way from thought to pen, news of the mind, pieces of this world.” Rather than maintain a diary’s staid setting, the communally driven Smith engages her subscriber base with freshly penned songs and poetry readings of her her heroes’ work and her own.

Peaky Blinders director Anthony Byrne has revealed that Radiohead‘s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood have contributed some new and original music to the upcoming sixth and final season of the show.The Birmingham period crime-noir drama will premiere its final season this weekend (Sunday February 27), and, as usual, fans are eager to hear what music will feature in the show.Alongside Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds‘ theme tune of ‘Red Right Hand’, the show has famously featured music by the likes of Arctic Monkeys, David Bowie, PJ Harvey, Iggy Pop, Royal Blood, Laura Marling, IDLES, Savages and Foals – as well as an original score by Anna Calvi on the last season.With Radiohead’s music having previously featured in key scenes, it has now been revealed that bandmates Yorke and Greenwood have penned new pieces for the upcoming series.“Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood contributed some original stuff,” director Anthony Bryne told NME. “I’m over the moon about all of that.

Manori Ravindran International EditorAmélie van Elmbt and Maya Duverdier’s documentary “Dreaming Walls,” about the legendary Chelsea Hotel in New York and its controversial renovation, has unveiled a trailer.The film world premieres in the Panorama section of the Berlinale on Saturday.The Chelsea Hotel, an icon of 1960s counterculture, was a haven for famous artists and intellectuals including Patti Smith, Janis Joplin and the superstars of Warhol’s Factory. However, the building’s lengthy renovation into a luxury hotel, which has spanned more than 10 years, has been a source of ongoing frustration for its tenants, as dozens of them, many in their later years, still live amid scaffolding and constant construction.

Rip It Up And Start Again documentary has been released.The forthcoming film is based on Simon Reynolds’ 2005 book of the same name, which offered the reader “a big-picture view of the entire post-punk period” between 1978-1984.The doc was directed by Nikolaos Katranis and Russell Craig Richardson and features new interviews with the likes of Jah Wobble (PiL), Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Ana da Silva (Raincoats) and Mark Stewart (The Pop Group). Rip It Up… will also include rare live performance footage.

Placebo, Patti Smith and The Flaming Lips topping the bill. Tickets are available here.Today (February 10) organisers have announced the final wave of new additions to this year’s line-up including Porridge Radio, The Now, The Skints, and they’ve unveiled its Convoy Cabaret line-up.“It’s finally here! Your stage splits so far, don’t say we don’t treat you,” the festival tweeted.

Iggy Pop has been announced as the recipient of this year’s Polar Music Prize.The former Stooges frontman and solo icon will pick up the award at a ceremony in Stockholm in Sweden on May 24.In an official video announcing the winner, the Polar Music Prize hailed Pop as a “one-of-a-kind” artist. “And with his poetic lyrics and provocative stage presence, he is considered the godfather of punk music,” a voiceover added.Pop said: “I was aware of the very fine range of people that have gotten the Polar Music Prize.

K.J. Yossman Iggy Pop and Paris-based contemporary music troupe Ensemble intercontemporain have been named the 2022 recipients of the Polar Music Prize.The Polar Music Prize, which was founded in 1989 by Swedish musician Stig ”Stikkan” Anderson, is one of the world’s most prestigious music awards.

Vivienne Chow Chinese nationalists are threatening to boycott the recently-released sci-fi blockbuster “The Matrix: Resurrections” as news about its star Keanu Reeves joining the Tibet House U.S. Benefit Concert in March spread across mainland China social media.The backlash from angry Chinese patriots known as “little pinks,” the term for an informal army of young nationalists who often make “wolf warrior” style of pro-Beijing, anti-foreign comments, could finish off the box office run of the fourth instalment of “The Matrix” series.Its performance has already been mediocre and it will likely be sidelined from Tuesday next week when eight major Chinese titles open in time for Lunar New Year holidays. Figures from Endata show that the film has grossed RMB78 million ($12.3 million) after a 14-day release.

Keanu Reeves, Patti Smith, Laurie Anderson and more.Once again featuring artistic direction from composer Philip Glass, who is celebrating his 85th birthday with the event, the benefit will stream on March 3 via Mandolin – tickets are available here, with all proceeds going to Tibet House US.Elsewhere on the bill are the likes of Laurie Anderson, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Margo Price, Phish‘s Trey Anastasio, Punch Brothers and more, with greetings by Iggy Pop and Bernard Sumner.A post shared by Tibet House US (@tibethouse.us)It’s unclear what shape Reeves’ performance for the virtual event will take, but it wouldn’t be so outlandish for the Matrix star’s appearance to be musical in nature.From 1991 to 2002, Reeves played bass in the alternative rock band Dogstar, with the group releasing two albums in their time together – 1996’s ‘Our Little Visionary’ and ‘Happy Ending’ in 2000.

Patti Smith is set to appear as a guest on Questlove‘s web series Quest For Craft – you can check out the trailer below.The legendary singer-songwriter will speak to Questlove on the third episode of the show, which is created in partnership with whiskey company The Balvenie. It’s due to air next Thursday (November 25).Filmed at Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village, New York City, the forthcoming instalment sees Smith reflect on her appreciation for life.

Patti Smith has spoken about climate change in a new interview.Ahead of her headline performance at Cop26 (the United Nations Climate Change Conference) in Glasgow tomorrow (October 31), Smith spoke to The Guardian about her continuing fears for the environment.Smith recalled meeting the Dalai Lama when the late Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys asked the spiritual leader: “What’s the number-one thing that young people can do to make a better world?”Smith recalled how the Dalai Lama replied: “Look

Duran Duran have recalled how their style and musical focus shifted after punk “got a bit dull” for them.Speaking in a new interview, frontman Simon Le Bon discussed how the band once found the rebellious genre exciting but after a while it became boring to them.“Punk affected our musical style, our way of dressing; it affected me lyrically massively – the single biggest lyrical influence on me was Patti Smith.