A lot of action going on as of late with former Detroiter — well, former St. Clair Shoresian, actually — Ms. Patti Smith.
Sebring and Smith met during a 1995 photo SPIN magazine shoot, shortly after the death of her husband, former MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith. They began putting the project together shortly after, with the director filming Smith over the course of 11 years — including quiet moments at home and wild moments performing onstage. During the course of the film, she discusses various people she has loved in her life, including William S. Burroughs, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and, of course, her late husband. The film reportedly draws a vivid line connecting her role as “the poet laureate of punk rock” (as the L.A. Times once described her) with the Beat poets and writers of yore (a group which, of course, included Burroughs).
No word yet as to when the film will be hitting the theatrical circuit
but based on the reaction she and it got at Sundance, it shouldn’t be long.
In related news. Smith is also scheduled to perform as part of the American Songbook (take that, Rod Stewart!) at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, on March 1st. Her special “Songbook” show will be a tribute to the women who inspired her, including her late mother as well as singers Chris Connor and June Christie. She’ll be joined by Luis Resto on keyboards, acoustic bassist Paul Nowinski and son Jackson Smith on guitar.
The set list will reportedly include Patti's version of "Don't Smoke In Bed," the video of which can be viewed here.
The song on the video at that link was recorded and mixed here in D-town, btw, with Freddie Brooks producing and Steve “Doc Ching” King mixing.
