Patti Smith on the night that changed her life

In 1976, the bicentennial year marking the Revolution, we toured with the album Horses, moving boldly into the future. It was a time of freedom and creativity, spending time with William Burroughs in his Bowery bunker, watching the band Television at CBGB, and planning an unpredictable future with my brother Todd while traveling across America with a rock’n’roll band.

Our country faced great challenges—Vietnam’s shame, racial injustice, and gender discrimination—but we celebrated America’s rich cultural legacy. Rock’n’roll, jazz, activism, abstract expressionism, and the Beats inspired us. During this period, I felt empowered and confident in our mission.

The West Coast tour and companions

While touring the West Coast, the band consisted of Lenny Kaye (guitar), Jay Dee Daugherty (drums), Ivan Král (bass), and Richard Sohl (keyboards). We were joined by Paul Getty and French actress Maria Schneider.

Maria, admired for her roles in The Passenger and Last Tango in Paris, had striking black eyes and wild dark hair. She wore a white shirt with a black tie, resembling a living mirror. Paul Getty, heir to one of the world’s wealthiest oil families and famously kidnapped in Italy, was introduced to me by William Burroughs, who saw me as a young follower passing through his circle of saints.

"I was quite fond of Paul with his wild red hair, freckled skin, and eyes like mine, slightly cast."

Reflections on an era

That moment captured a unique blend of cultural rebellion and personal transformation, intertwining art, music, and activism against a backdrop of national turmoil and hope.

Author's summary: Patti Smith reflects on the transformative 1976 tour of Horses, a time of cultural vibrancy and personal empowerment amidst America's complex social landscape.

The Observer — 2025-11-02