Patti Smith: Rockpalast (1979)

Some of the fascinating reactions from MRML readers to our multiple choice Patti post:

fuzzpsych said...

I was about 12 years old, and babysitting my cousin's kids. Saturday Night Live was on, and Patti and the band were the musical guests. I was riveted--I couldn't figure out if she was a guy or a girl, it rocked, and the drummer jumped over the kit at the end of the song! Took me years to find out who she was, but I never forgot it.

Mona said...
I do remember watching her on the Old Grey Whistle Test in the UK in what 77 and being knocked out while my Dad thought it was the biggest load of bollox of all time...that is how I knew it was great!

Nazz Nomad said...
i remember that candy slyce skit- i can say that I first heard of patti smith with r nr r nggr.

one thing that has always pleased me about patti is how truly humble and warm of a person she is on stage and how absolutely thankful she seems.

Anonymous said...
good songs-political imbecile

Kaggsy said...
Thanks for this! Came across Patti when Horses made its debut in 1975 - she's a one-off and has always been an inspiration - great post!

TSI-NA-PAH said...
Thanks a lot, i've been with Patti a month ago,only for few minutes,but i remember this like a dream.

whitestuff said...
I was a member of her fan club in the late 70s. I believe her sister ran it if I'm not mistaken. As much as I worship Horses Radio Ethiopia is still my favorite.

Anonymous said...
i loved patti smith the first time i heard her, which was when 'horses' was released and i heard that unforgettable wail coming from a college radio show i enjoyed, but my introduction to her was years before. in 1973, she wrote an absolutely brilliant review of todd rundgren's "a wizard, a true star;" do a search, you can find it. i was already a todd fan, and i knew i would be buying the record when i was able, but reading patti's hallucinatory evaluation would have forced me to find it if i hadn't already been so inclined. when i did get the album months later, i was amazed to find, tucked inside the sleeve, a folded piece of paper, 3" x 7" maybe, a printed blow-up of a band-aid with a patti smith poem called "star fever" superimposed over the image. i treasure that album, not to mention everything that patti has touched since. and i saw gilda's candy slice the first it aired; she was and always will be one of snl's greatest gifts to the world.

The PopCulturist said...
I was already into Patti but seeing her open three shows for Dylan in Philadelphia in 1995, upon her return to live performance, was -- well, words are failing me right now. Short version is, if you have a chance to see her live, DO NOT MISS IT. Her shows start off at an energy level most shows never reach at all and go up from there. She keeps every promise rock 'n' roll ever made: musical, physical, emotional, sexual, spiritual. I've been blessed to see her five more times since. She's the closest thing our culture has to a high priestess.

On my blog, http://therarestuff.blogspot.com/, those interested can find a collection of Patti rarities, a powerful 2005 concert, and a great interview.

Biopunk said...
E. None of the Above

Or: Every rock journalist (...or rock journalist wannabe), who was (...or ever wanted to be), from NYC and writing back in the 80's...

And I'll take Patty Smyth over her any day.

Joe Stumble said...
Gilda Radner for me. Then, A. Then B.

pinkpressthreat said...
What a fantastic post-you made my (birth)day yesterday with that...Cheers!!

Here's a live FM broadcast from Germany's legendary Rockpalast. The whole show was filmed (see clip below) but this is the audio version.

Rockpalast '79 link is in the comments

Speaking of comments, your reactions to the first Patti post inspired this one, so if you have more to say now is not the the time to shut up!