This is FRESH AIR. I'm David Bianculli. Patti Smith is now considered one of the wise women of rock 'n' roll, an eloquent chronicler of her life in music and in a series of acclaimed memoirs. But 50 ...

Fifty years ago, Patti Smith harnessed the wild spirit of rock ‘n’ roll for her debut album Horses. I’ve listened to the record many times over the years, and it hasn’t lost anything. It’s outsider ...

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The power of rock ‘n’ roll was on full display. It made us want to sing and it made us want to scream. It made want to call old friends as well as make new ones. It made us believe, ...

Has there ever been a gutsier opening salvo in rock n’ roll? That’s how Patti Smith began her show Monday night at the Chicago Theatre, the line coming out slow and sinewy, and it’s how she started ...

In 1975, she transformed poetry into punk. Neither would ever be the same. More than 20 artists who made and admired the album share their memories. By Jon Pareles November 7th, 2025 Sex. Death.

The power of rock ‘n’ roll was on full display. It made us want to sing and it made us want to scream. It made us want to call old friends as well as make new ones. It made us believe, hope and dream.