Banga - 2012
Patti Smith
The American rock singer and poet Patti Smith (°1946) has something to do with literature. Smith became renowned in 1975 with her first album Horses, which she recorded under the care of John Cale. Her biggest hit was undoubtedly Because The Night from 1978, a song which Bruce Springsteen had written for her.
Already from the beginning of her career, Smith proclaims her love for literature, and more specifically for the French poet Arthur Rimbaud. But she's also much impressed by The Master and Margarita.
Elsewhere on this website you can listen to the interview she had on March 11, 2010 with Michael Silver, host of Bookworm, a nationally broadcast radio show about books and literature provided by the public radio station KCRW in Santa Monica, California. In this interview, Smith explains how The Master and Margarita made her go to Moscow.
Patti Smith - Banga
Patti Smith
Technical details
Album
Banga
Musicians
Patti Smith - vocals and guitar
Lenny Kaye - guitar
Tony Shanahan - bass and keyboards
Jay Dee Daugherty - drums
Tom Verlaine - vocals and guitar
Label
Columbia
Sony Music Entertainment
Video
Click on the arrow below to watch an unplugged version of Banga by Patti Smith, accompanied by guitar player Lanny Kaye.
On April 1, 2012, Patti Smith was the guest in the TV programme CBS Sunday Morning. In an interview with host Anthony Mason, she announced the release of her new album Banga. The title of the CD was inspired by Pontius Pilate's dog in The Master and Margarita. You can watch the interview by clicking on the arrow below.