Patti Smith



Wednesday, 10 February 1971

The first performance by
Patti Smith & Lenny Kaye


"On February 10, 1971, I gave my first poetry reading, opening for Gerard Malanga at St. Mark's Church on the Bowery. In desiring to project a raw energy, I recruited Lenny Kaye. We climaxed the reading with his sonic interpretation of a stock car race with electric guitar while I read Ballad of a Bad Boy. It seemed to have a negative effect. I took that as a positive sign."

Happy Anniversary, Patti & Lenny.




© 2006