I had gone to Paris to immerse myself in painting and I came back wholly involved in words and rhythms.
Patti SmithI wrote every day. I don't think I could have written Just Kids had I not spent all of the 80s developing my craft as a writer.
Patti SmithThe idea of redemption is always good news, even if it means sacrifice or some difficult times.
Patti SmithI was so used to doing art that my fingers were like albino spiders. So it was just natural for me to go to a typewriter and write poetry.
Patti SmithWell, I'm not one of those people who needs the limelight. If I'm performing, that's what I'm doing. If I'm not, I don't long for it. I don't need the approval of an audience, or applause.
Patti SmithAs an artist, I never wanted to be fettered by gender nor recognized or defined as a female poet, musician or singer. They don't do that with men - nobody says Picasso, the male artist. Curators call me up and say, "We want your work to be in a show about women artists," and I'm like, why? For Christ's sake, do we have to attach a gender onto everything?
Patti Smith