Patti Smith talks Garcia, R.E.M and much more

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer also part of the Bay Area Book Fest

I always turn to the line of Jimi Hendrix — ‘Hooray, I awake fromyesterday.’ I say that tomyself everymorning. Awake from yesterday— I’m here. I have another day toaccomplish somethingor do, read a new book or see howmy kids are doingormaybe look at themoon.

Patti Smith has been an important part of the soundtrack of my life for decades.

So, I was thrilled when the opportunity to interview this Rock and Roll Hall of Famer finally came my way.

We spent the better part of an hour on the phone, chatting about everything fromJerry Garcia and Michael Stipe to mopping the floor and other household chores.

In other words, it was basically everything I had hoped it would be.

We also talked about her upcoming event on Oct. 8 for the Bay Area Book Festival’s Women Lit series. She’ll be reading from her acclaimed book “The Year of the Monkey,” a paperback copy of which is included in the $35 admission to stream the 7 p.m. event. Go to baybookfest.org for more details.

Q

Hi, Patti. I thought you might like to know that you’ve been the answer to a personal trivia question for me this year. And that question is … “What was the last live show I saw before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the concert industry?” I saw you and your band at the Fillmore in San Francisco back in March and then a few days later I was sheltering in place.

A

Yup. That’s my trivia question for me, too — “What’s the last concert you did?” And that was my last concert — March 9 (at the Fillmore). For

PHOTO BY SARAH REINGEWIRTZ, PASADENA STAR-NEWS/SCNG “As a young person, when I started performing, it was a dreamto play the Fillmore — to climb up those same steps that Jerry Garciawould climb. It’s such a wonderful place,” says Patti Smith.

SETH WENIG — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Michael Stipe, of R.E.M., performs with fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith during ceremonies in 2007. “Michael is a wonderful person,” she says.