Patti Smith in Paris
I’ve had this article sitting minimized in my dock for a day now, and I just got around to reading it. Turns out Paris has both Patti Smith and David Lynch. We need to get them back. If there was a better reason to try to restore America’s reputation on the world stage, I can’t think of it.
The lights are turned up and the empty bar suddenly becomes busy. ‘Let’s see where we can go,’ says Smith. She suggests her ‘small and messy’ hotel room and we head for the lift. From behind a pillar someone tries to get her attention. ‘Hey, Patti! It’s David!’ And there’s the American film director David Lynch, with a smart black suit and a magnificent silver quiff, beaming. ‘How you doing, Patti?’ She smiles. ‘I’ve got a hell of a headache. It’s nice to see you. You look terrific.’ He is excited about the series of concerts she will be giving, starting the following night at one of the oldest churches in Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Prés. ‘It’s cool. I’ll see you there, Patti. Rock on.’
I think the first part of this tape is Patti Smith’s audition for the Velvet Underground lookalike contest. Also, awesome prop guitar.
