"This has been my first computer experience. It was fun and I'll be back again," posted punk poetry goddess Patti Smith at the end of her first online chat, which was hosted by Rocktropolis on Thursday (Nov 20, 1997). She enjoyed interacting on the Web so much, in fact, that she's in the midst of buying a computer so she can respond to all the unanswered questions on the chat.
Here's a bit of a wrap-up of some of the questions she did get to: Smith said that after her forthcoming East Coast shows -- from Dec. 2-21 -- she'll hit the West Coast, probably in the last two weeks of January. She also has a few books on deck for release next year. One is what she describes as a "major project" with Doubleday, which will feature all her lyrics, annotations, journal entries, and photographs from 1971 through 1998, for release later next year. The other project is the poetry book Wild Leaves and some novels she wrote while living in Detroit.
"Wild Leaves will eventually be published by Norton," said Smith. "The title comes from a poem I wrote for Robert Mapplethorpe on his 40th birthday. The novels will probably come out by the year 2000." Norton will also be releasing The Eternal Cafe by Janet Hamill and Smith.
As far as working with R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe again (Smith sang on R.E.M.'s "E-Bow the Letter" last year, and Stipe returned the favor by appearing on "Last Call" on Smith's latest album peace and noise), Smith said, "There are no plans like that, but I'm certain that Michael and I will continue to collaborate in the future."
Patti Smith dates:
Dec. 2, Providence, Rhode Island, Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
Dec. 3, Boston, Avalon
Dec. 4, Philadelphia, Trocadero
Dec. 6, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Bardavon Opera House
Dec. 16, Washington, D.C., 9:30 Club
Dec. 17, Carrboro, N.C., Cat's Cradle
Dec. 19, Nashville, Performance Hall
Dec. 20, Atlanta, Variety Playhouse
Dec. 21, Asheville, N.C., Be Here Now
The West Coat dates will be announced in the next few weeks.
Copyright © N2K Inc. 1997