By Lookout Staff
September 3, 2009 -- The Twilight Dance Series should end its 25th anniversary with a bang when Rock legend Patti Smith takes the stage Thursday night on the Santa Monica Pier.
Although Smith has had limited commercial success, she is considered one of the most influential artists in rock history: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, Smith was ranked by Rolling Stone magazine at number 47 in its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
A poet, artist, writer and musician Smith has long been heralded as the pioneer of punk since her debut album “Horses” was released in 1979. The landmark album is widely regarded as having laid the foundation for the movement.
Produced by John Cale of the Velvet Underground, the album fused rock, and “proto-punk” with the spoken word and kicked off with a cover of Van Morrison's "Gloria."
Smith’s opening words -- "Jesus died for somebody's sins ... but not mine." -- became one of the most famous rallying cries in rock, and the cover photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe is one of pop music’s best-known images.
Known for mingling the traditional and new in her music and being a vocal political activist, Smith has released ten studio and three live albums.
Her band is considered one of the great rock bands of our time, with Lenny Kaye on guitar; Tony Shanahan, bass and keyboards, and Jay Dee Daugherty, drums and percussion. Her new album, “Twelve,” is a collection of Smith’s favorite songs and traces the history of rock and pop music.
Urged her friends Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and poet Allen Ginsberg, Smith began touring again after the deaths of her husband and brother, appearing with Bob Dylan in 1995.
An active supporter of Ralph Nader's 2000 presidential campaign, she toured with the candidate in late 2004 and early 2005 to hold rallies to end the war in Iraq war and impeach President Bush.
The Santa Monica Pier is located at the intersection of Colorado Avenue and Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. The Pier strongly recommends walking, biking and using mass transit to get to the concert.
The concert will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the pier parking lot (on the pier) and is free. No alcohol is allowed. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash.
Guests are more than welcomed to bring their own seating but seats will be available for rental.
