Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso This is Patti Smith
Jan 18, 2026
Patti Smith, the Godmother of Punk and celebrated poet, shares her journey from South Jersey to New York's artistic scene. She reflects on discovering Bob Dylan and how her factory job inspired the poem 'Piss Factory.' Patti discusses her life with Robert Mapplethorpe and the whirlwind of making her debut album, 'Horses.' She also delves into her recent memoir, 'Bread of Angels,' emphasizing voice for the silenced, and shares her thoughts on political outrage and the lessons of aging. Her candid stories weave a rich tapestry of creativity and resilience.
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Factory Humiliation That Sparked A Vow
- Patti Smith described her factory job where coworkers dunked her head in a toilet and stole her French book, inspiring the poem "Piss Factory."
- The incident crystallized her resolve to leave for New York and become an artist.
Mapplethorpe's Quiet Confidence
- Patti recounts moving into the Chelsea Hotel with Robert Mapplethorpe and spending long days working, drawing, and planning.
- Robert's unwavering belief in her work gave her confidence to pursue poetry and art seriously.
Improvisation At Rolling Thunder
- Patti improvises a poem at a Rolling Thunder Revue event, struggles, then invents a new path mid-performance.
- Martin Scorsese later used that spontaneous clip to show immediate creation in his film.
