In November 1975 my ears were assailed (consensually) by the debut album from Patti Smith, Horses.
Quite simply it is my favourite album, a visceral blast of stream of consciousness rock n roll.
It blew down the doors of perception, wrapped in a classic Robert Maplethorpe black and white iconic sleeve and produced by the Velvet Undergrounds legendary John Cale.
Three years later in 1978 I saw her at The Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park, London. Mere human words cannot describe that occasion. It somewhat predictably remains my all-time favourite gig.
So here we are 50 years after the album, to celebrate and cry.
We survived, she survived, and the esteemed Palladium greets her like a returning queen, one who is unbelievably 78 this year.
Jesus died for somebody’s sins…but not mine, the spine-tingling intro into her version of Gloria. Strap in folks, this is special.
Lenny Kaye the original guitarist is with her as is Jay dee Daughty on drums. Special mention must be given to her son Jackson on lead guitar. He’s no slouch, a tremendous guitar player.
Redondo beach and Kimberley follow, she dedicated Elegie to the late Jeff Beck. Birdland was so moving, as the tempo increased, she was reading from her poetry book and the surreal images built up to a wonderful exhilarating climax.
The title track was the rock n roll icing on the cake, lengthy and exciting beyond belief and she somehow morphed the end back into Gloria. A welcome 20-minute break for both the band and audience ensued.
So the band return, minus Patti and treat us all to powerful covers of See no evil, Friction and Marquee moon by Television. Totally didn’t see that one coming.
Then Patti comes on with that lovely cover of Rock n roll star by The Byrds, delicious. Dancing barefoot was beautiful and the woman to my right breaks down in tears as Smith does a blistering version of Because the Night. Two guys on my left who had come from Ohio were whooping and going crazy. In fact, the whole place was on fire especially during People have the Power.
Even the surprise guest from stage right, a dishevelled Johnny Depp didn’t manage to ruin it.
This was more than rock n roll. She radiates such optimism and hope, A living light in the dark and God do we need that more than ever nowadays.
God save the queen of punk
By John Haylock
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