Flashback: Patti Smith

At Crystal Ballroom, Aug. 5, 2001.

Patti Smith plays Crystal Ballroom on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
By WW MUSIC STAFF

Her performance of “Spell” that night, during which this photo was taken, appeared on the 2002 compilation Land. Photographer Jeff Bizzell recalls what happened after the show:

"[Patti Smith] came back to town, it wasn't too long after, and I tried to get a print of the photo to her. I gave it to her road manager and asked him to give it to her. And he took it, but I had the feeling, you know, that he wasn't going to do it. So, the next time after that she came back to town, she did a poetry reading at Music Millennium, and [owner] Terry Currier wanted me to photograph it. Afterward, he introduced me to her, and I gave her a print of the picture. She said, 'I wish I knew this existed. This is from the version we put on the album. We would have used it.' I told her how I'd given it to her road manager, and she said, 'Oh, that ass—that's one more thing he didn't do for me!' So, I came close to having a bit of recognition there. It would have been nice.” 

(As told to Jeff Rosenberg.)

SEE IT: Patti Smith plays Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., with Saint Maybe, on Tuesday, Feb. 26. 8 pm. $32.50 advance, $35 day of show. All ages.

WWeek 2015

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