Patti Smith arrived in New York City at the end of the Age of Aquarius in search of work and purpose. What she foundwhat she fosteredwas a cultural revolution. Through her poetry, her songs, her unapologetic vocal power, and her very presence as a woman fronting a rock band, she kicked open a door that countless others walked through. No other musician has better embodied the nothing-to-hide rawness of punk, nor has any other done more to nurture a place in society for misfits of every stripe.

Why Patti Smith Matters is the first book about the iconic artist written by a woman. The veteran music journalist Caryn Rose contextualizes Smiths creative work, her influence, and her wide-ranging and still-evolving impact on rock and roll, visual art, and the written word. Rose goes deep into Smiths oeuvre, from her first album, Horses, to acclaimed memoirs operating at a surprising remove from her music. The portrait of a ceaseless inventor, Why Patti Smith Matters rescues punks poet laureate from strong woman clichs. Of course Smith is strong. She is also a nuanced thinker. A maker of beautiful and challenging things. A transformative artist who has not simply entertained but also empowered millions.

Author: Caryn Rose
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Pages: 248pp
Size: 5 x 7
Notes: paperback
Release Date: May 31, 2022
ISBN: 978-1477320112