Patti Smith performs with Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Depp and Michael Stipe at tribute concert
At a benefit concert on March 26th, Patti Smith was joined by a stellar ensemble of famous faces to perform and celebrate her music and poetry in aid of the charity, Music Of.
The People Have The Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith concert, which took place at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall, saw guests such as Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Depp, and REM’s Michael Stipe perform. All proceeds from the concert went towards music education for children from underprivileged backgrounds.
The house band, led by long-term Patti Smith Group member Tony Shanahan and featuring Flea and Rolling Stones’ touring drummer Steve Jordan, was accompanied by a long list of performers who all came to perform at least one song from her catalogue.
Smith would take to the stage for the final two numbers of the set, performing ‘Peaceable Kingdom’ by herself and then inviting all of her guests back on stage for a performance of ‘People Have the Power’.
Among the other notable performances were The National’s Matt Berninger opening the night with ‘Piss Factory’, Courtney Barnett performing ‘Redondo Beach’, Karen O’s take on ‘Gloria’, and Bruce Springsteen’s rendition of ‘Because the Night’; a song that he famously co-wrote with Smith.
Several actors such as Scarlett Johansson, Michael Shannon and Sean Penn also appeared for recital’s of Smith’s poetry throughout the evening.
Last year’s Music Of concert paid tribute to Crosby, Stills & Nash’s music, featuring performances from over 20 artists, including Todd Rundgren, Steve Earle, and Real Estate.
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