Patti SmithOf all the musical acts which I have photographed in the past 26 years- which is in excess of 4,000-the one whose file is the biggest in my archives is Patti Smith. Not because of the assignments that were given out, but because I was into her music the most. It was pure New York downtown music. When Patti played in town I would always go even if I was not on an actual assignment. There was the time when I was hired by the label to shoot Patti in performance at an outdoor venue in Central Park. I was on stage shooting her when at the end of one song she motioned for me to toss her the plastic tarp that was lying near my feet off the edge of the stage. I gave her a bewildered look and pointed to the tarp. She gave me a quick nod. In a moment, I realized why she needed it. Patti is one of the most intense performers I've ever photographed and when she's on stage, nothing can distract her. And I do mean nothing. I tossed her the tarp, and she promptly relieved herself after finishing a song. She then tossed the rolled up tarp to the side of the stage and returned to begin her next number. (And, no, I didn't take any pictures during her impromptu act.) At the private party after the show, I got to the door and some of the members of her group saw me and told security to let me in. Patti was sitting at a table, exhausted from the performance. The lighting was especially good for a club, and I asked if I could snap a few frames. She smiled as she put her head on her hand, and I got the shot with my last frame. Over the years, when I was shooting Patti, she would always give me a "hi" sign when we met, nothing up close but afar. We had an unspoken knowledge that she was doing her thing and I was doing mine without having to say the introductory hello's. |
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