Sonic Editions

Coming into New York City's scene in the 70s, the˜Godmother of Punk" Patti Smith turned the tides for women, becoming one of the most influential rock 'n' rollers of all time. Her distinctive musical fusion was not a statement; simply a product of following her own artistical muse whichever direction it took her. 

"Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine" writes a rebellious Smith, casting off the shackles of her religious upbringing. Visceral from a young age, Smith began writing and performing very early. Untrained yet nevertheless expressive, she unintentionally created a rock band by speaking her poetry over Lenny Kayes guitar, later adding a pianist and bassist to the mix. In 1975, under The Patti Smith Group, her first album Horses combined punk-rock and spoken word. Blessed with a compelling stage presence, Smith enchanted audiences with impassioned melodies - yet music was not her primary vocation. It was about making art - whether this came in the form of putting pen to paper, painting, making music or posing for life long friend Robert Mapplethorpe's photography - it was about expression of the self. Smith dropped off the music scene in the 90s after settling down husband Fred˜Sonic" Smith. After his passing however, she continued to tour and perform her work with a fearsome intensity. Her commitment social activism has never waned. Throughout her career she has used her prolific status and musical flair to advocate against a number of issues such as the Iraq War and the West's dispassionate attitude to AIDs. These pictures serve to remind us of her everlasting passion and mythic imagination.