December 30: Patti Smith was born in 1946 – Happy 70th Birthday!

To be an artist — actually, to be a human being in these times — it’s all difficult. … What matters is to know what you want and pursue it. … [Life] is like a roller coaster. It’s never going to be perfect — it is going to have perfect moments, and then rough spots, but it’s all worth it.
~Patti Smith

“I don’t fuck much with the past but I fuck plenty with the future.”
~Patti Smith

“A writer, or any artist, can’t expect to be embraced by the people [but] you just keep doing your work — because you have to, because it’s your calling.”
~Patti Smith

Punk rock’s poet laureate Patti Smith ranks among the most influential female rock & rollers of all time. Ambitious, unconventional, and challenging, Smith’s music was hailed as the most exciting fusion of rock and poetry since Bob Dylan’s heyday.
~Steve Huey (allmusic.com)

For other Patti Smith quotes check out: Patti Smith Quotes @ 1oohabits.com

Zack De La Rocha inducts Patti Smith Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions 2007:

Wikipedia:

Birth name	Patricia Lee Smith
Born	December 30, 1946 (age 70) Chicago, Illinois, USA
Origin	New York City, New York
Genres	Rock, protopunk, punk rock, art punk, blues rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, poet, artist
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, clarinet
Years active	1971–present
Labels	Arista, Columbia
Associated acts	Tom Verlaine
Website	www.pattismith.net

Patricia Lee “Patti” Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses.

Called the “Godmother of Punk”, her work was a fusion of rock and poetry. Smith’s most widely known song is “Because the Night”, which was co-written with Bruce Springsteen and reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978. In 2005, Patti Smith was named a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, and in 2007, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On November 17, 2010, she won the National Book Award for her memoir Just Kids. She is also a recipient of the 2011 Polar Music Prize.

Here is an interview & a concert from 1976: Stockholm, Sweden – October 3rd 1976:

1. Interview
   –
2. We’re gonna have a good time together
3. Redondo beach
4. Free money
5. Pale blue eyes/Louie Louie
6. Ask the angels
7. Time is on my side
8. Ain’t it strange
9. Radio Ethiopia/Rock ‘n’ roll nigger/Gloria
10. Land

Hallgeir: Patti Smith has been a part of my musical life since 1979. I have followed her since, but i first got to see her in concert last year at Bergenfest, it was great. She was so warm and looked so calm and confident. She gave us a wonderful show with a very good band. She played highlights from her long career including last years album, Banga.

Happy birthday, Patti!

Hallgeir’s top 5 Patti Smith albums:

1. Easter (1978)
2. Horses (1975)
3. Wave (1979)
4. Gone Again (1996)
5. Radio Ethiopia (1976)

 

Album of the day – Easter:

 

 

Other 30 Dec. :

• Robert Michael Nesmith (born December 30, 1942) is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, best known as a member of the musical group The Monkees and star of the TV series of the same name. Nesmith is notable as a songwriter, including “Different Drum” sung by Linda Ronstadt with the Stone Poneys, and as executive producer of the cult film Repo Man. In 1981, Nesmith won the first Grammy Award given for Video of the Year for his hour-long Elephant Parts.

• Del Shannon (December 30, 1934 – February 8, 1990) was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, “Runaway“, in 1961.

• Bo Didley aka Ellas Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), was an American rhythm and blues vocalist,guitarist, songwriter (usually as Ellas McDaniel), and inventor.He was also known as “The Originator” because of his key role in the transition from the blues to rock & roll, influencing a host of acts including Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, The Velvet Underground, The Who, The Clash, The Yardbirds, and Eric Clapton.

 

– Egil & Hallgeir