Patti Smith interviewed by Tom Snyder

Patti Smith interviewed by Tom Snyder, May 11, 1978.

[@danielcarney4236]

"I'm more materialistic about my soul than I am about objects." Right on Patti.

[@MercurialSilence]

Her outfit and general appearance here is awesome. She was ahead of her time. There were never be another person like her.

[@christinecaronnabeard1369]

Childlike innocence- I’m so glad she didn’t go down a destructive path. I love her.

[@zorkwork3841]

Have you read her books..really good writer..the 2nd one is more sad. Did you know she had a child when she was a very young woman..left home and gave the baby up for adoption..praying the child would be adopted by kind and samrt parents,,I love Patti ..she's smart and very real

[@jenko701]

I over slept and missed the school bus when I stayed up to watch this back in the day , and it was worth it.

[@CannibalWHORE22]

You’ll learn more from her then any school. You did it right

[@jacquelinereynolds1780]

This woman is more god-like than any church hierarchy. ....she leaves one speechless, and in awe. Her logic is flawless. I love Ms. Patti Smith! She is the portal to our generation's SOUL.

[@blackmore4]

Really? I don't get it. Maybe her countenance was shocking or enlightening way back when but now, I find this interview embarrassing. Odd how 'revolution' becomes cringey cliche so fast.

[@shumeister1059]

I don't know what god's like, but Patti Smith is a shear joy, like the Sun shining thru.

[@humblebee1973]

yes !

[@Earnshawfully]

Her beautiful strangeness... her beautiful connection with the ordinary. Her shyness and humiliy... her obvious greatness. Uniqueness. A hand reaching out to connect with us. Thank you, Patti. Love the part where she talks about how the West tried to overtake other cultures through the missions, instead of Jiving with other cultures as an exchange of ideas. I am glad Tom S is so gentle and encouraging with her. He drew her out skilfully.

[@kristinawalla]

i think the reverse is even more true :her gentleness& her generosity in the face of his arrogance is the best💘

[@brainscott8198]

@@kristinawalla He wasn't arrogant. I think he was kinda pressed for time as she wasn't the only guest that night, but he was kind and considerate of her and seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say...she was nervous af because she was on his turf. It was a great give and take, something that is sorely lacking on today's talk shows.

[@joenicholls461]

She has a real rhythmic way of talking, very strange. Fascinating of course

[@Broatch6]

biblical She talks like the fucking Bible

[@russellramsey8132]

When 'Horses' came out in the mid 70's it never left my turntable. Go back and listen to it today and it's pure poetry. "Late afternoon, dreaming hotel We just had the quarrel, that sent you away I was looking for you, are you gone, gone?"

[@shumeister1059]

Probably because she's a writer.

[@ronniechilds2002]

@@russellramsey8132 Redondo Beach is freakin' HAUNTING! When I go around singing it my wife tells me it's giving her the creeps. It's not my singing, it's the damn words.

[@evanwolf6618]

@@russellramsey8132 🤓 how did you play any other records ?

[@rr7firefly]

The transcendence that she understood at a very early age. An extraordinary human being with charm and intelligence that inspires people who care about bigger issues than the consumer culture. Patti Smith is the quintessential American idealist, looking for solutions. I love her and love seeing her being her unaffected self. // Q: Is it possible that Patti was actually 32 years old at the time of this interview? She was born in 1946 and this video was supposedly done in 1978.

[@eurasianthunder]

I think early reading plays a part in this.

[@rr7firefly]

@@eurasianthunder You and I are likely also part of that. Which would explain our fascination with someone's (Patti) unconventional thinking. People who are not introduced to books early in life usually turn to television and that usually means a lot of useless information -- it being formulaic and fairly predictable. Books allow our imaginations to find original pathways.

[@markmiller9579]

Extremely articulate lady. She's poetic in the way she speaks. Eloquent and funny and genuine.

[@danielcronin7077]

Perfect intersection of Snyder being completely fascinated and Smith being a little overwhelmed.

[@blackmore4]

Oh how I long for the time when the word intersection actually meant intersection.

[@gradualuprisintheory]

"I'm more materialistic about my soul than I am about objects. " I can relate Patti

[@mikebowman9844]

Me too

[@yfoog]

I love how real she is

[@sirijohansen8848]

but what´s real mean?

[@oilgorg58]

I stayed up to watch this as well she is a true genius I met her recently at a book signing and spent 20 minutes chatting with her She is so down to earth and the real deal

[@annagokieli1497]

man she is just timeless and incredible

[@warpspeedch1c]

a beautiful, beautiful soul. love her forever.

[@goanyways]

wow her eyes are out of this world

[@shumeister1059]

I'd be great to hang out with Patti Smith, and just listen to her perspective. She brings unique joy to the world.

[@rachelf0x]

such an incredible woman. Just Kids is a fabulous book.

[@jimmyjoejeeter2366]

I have both the book, and the audio CD,s she reads the book!

[@raecoyote]

Can’t express how much I love her and how she soothes my soul 💗🙏🏻

[@djr3000]

Ok.. I just realized I am literally OBSESSED with Patti Smith..

[@jennifer_L7]

“Who me” I’m soft, she’s so darling LIVE FOREVER WOMAN

[@marknorris3769]

it's cool, for some reason she always reminds me of a god-like presence, wonderful human being

[@LaWendeltreppe]

yeah, Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not hers

[@shumeister1059]

@@LaWendeltreppe Hehe, I like what she said about that. I think we ought to be more responsible for our own actions in life. We can't delegate our fuck ups to someone else. Jesus or whoever.

[@georgie23]

I absolutely love her!

[@christianleblanc2842]

So young and sweet.

[@christianleblanc2842]

You are the winner.

[@kaisersoze508]

Fortunata Pacheco you can go walk off earth thanks we don't need you here don't bother hanging up your coat

[@owenreese2216]

It’s funny watching her when she was young, almost like a rebellious teen in a meeting with a guidance counselor.

[@glorialongino9803]

Perfect comment

[@mumi2641]

I am more materialistic about my soul than I am about objects -

[@blackmore4]

Snore.

[@BreadOmelette]

@@blackmore4 lol

[@skitsmaxn]

True to the core and free as a bird!! This was her first time being on TV interview, in those days they did prep you on how to be! She’s young!

[@elizabethdillon4945]

The older Patti is much more genuine

[@dogsquadindia]

About 30

[@jamesnuttall_]

I Interviewed her on Monday... she was just like she is here- totally natural, no pretense... brilliant- long live Patti!

[@jeffdawson2786]

The conviction that flashes across her eyes makes them beautiful.

[@BeliaLastes]

Love Patti she's a Magical Poet and old soul ♥️🌹🐴

[@grungifae2712]

Can't help but laughing at everyone who thinks Patti was a huge drug user. Obviously you didn't do ya research, guy.

[@kalevala29]

girl was around in the time of quaaludes. I'm sure she indulged. best rec drug ever

[@lucrese1]

she doesn't even smoked cigarettes, she tried to smoke Gauloises because it's a french mark and she was young but she told she had too much pain and it made her caught too much :-)! She tried to roll a join once but she didn't like either ( she was still sharing a place with Robert ), people who think she's a drug addict are so very wrong! They should read "Just kids" and "M-Train"! She may be addict to coffee in the morning, about poetry, about arts but not in drugs like we understand it!

[@WolfDaddy420]

I'm 55 years old now and I have loved Patti's music and poetry since I was about 12 years old, but I also love the fact that back in the day it was well known that she always enjoyed smoking large amounts of good green herb and hashish as well. Whether she still does that sort of thing nowadays I have no idea. I know that I most definitely do...✌

[@user-dp3yb6qn5z]

Im sure she was a reefer

[@epipd5712]

I agree c....Patti was just herself, and I think most people just love her for how she is. She has always been very honest, and she has said she did not do drugs. I admire her and love how candid she is.

[@loreleialbert]

What an absolute gem! Thank you for sharing this

[@MrCramps56]

love patti since 1978

[@francoisdelmar3]

she's amazing here and tom snyder was a much better interviewer than i gave him credit for back then

[@cuppacawfee]

I love her so much

[@777sicilia]

Great interview. Thanks! Patti was cool.

[@Oneanddone14]

+Tim Arrigo Still Is Cool!

[@777sicilia]

Yup, and always will be..gotta love her!

[@johnsullivan3628]

+Tim Arrigo she still is.... I heard an interview with her last night with BBC.... STILL so full of life and happiness.. what a cutey!

[@crazygeorge53]

She lights up my life, she gives me hope, to carry on, she lights up my life and she fucking rocks. People have the power!

[@auburn7697]

I love her smile

[@nolagospeltracts8264]

She always seemed so nice and friendly in interviews. To me anyway.

[@lt.reubenrozeyt5716]

This what I like about musicians like her. *AUTHENTICITY*

[@margekonikiewicz5079]

Fantastic Human Being - Beautiful Soul !

[@seashepherds4959]

Patti would never have to buy groceries or cook- just allow herself to be asked out for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Elevensies...just to be at a table with her for a cracking good conversation! Super sweet.

[@rushmore120]

Tom Snyder was a great interviewer and Patti was very cool here...

[@finvandewall2445]

So adorable

[@brainscott8198]

My first impression of Patti, unfortunately for me, was of Gilda Radner's impersonation of her on SNL in 1975 as punk rocker Candy Slice...the drunken, drug crazed zombie pop singer who flailed about onstage...totally out of it. So I thought Patti was a drug crazed zombie. Only later, around 1979 when I bought the LP "Wave" and first heard "Dancing Barefoot", "Frederick", and her blazing take on "So You Wanna Be A Rock & Roll Star" did i come to appreciate her outstanding vocal delivery and command of a song which draws the listener in to her world...and u wanna stay for more.

[@quakers200]

Seems like the real deal, imaginative, funny, a little squirrelly with a good heart whatever that may mean.

[@Broatch6]

we have a real wonderful country really great if U can find a person on the physical plane to feel that with gosh I'm on television

[@arealOpia1991]

aww man ... they run out of time .... i was not ready to stop listening to this women ! LOve heR X))

[@SuperKare123]

lol i love her shes so amazing

[@211FairyTale]

a very smart chick with great spiritual insight, you go Patti

[@sharonsheehy3128]

Her music is powerful 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶and patti is unique,,,

[@hhjm26]

I LOVE PATTI SMITH!!!!!!!!💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@debbiestegman1376]

Very strong and vulnerable. A paradox.

[@Dorypowa]

I love her words

[@ColdIndian1]

Damn I Love this Woman!

[@brainscott8198]

Snyder..really a good interviewer...he seemed very into all his subjects.

[@PapaToe1]

Oh young'ns....watch as many Tom Snyder interviews as you can.....you will learn that Tom could bring the absolute best out of anyone, as he did here with Patti. He was a skilled interviewer without looking like it. He interviewed every single person of noteriety of the time........John Lennon...Iggy Pop.....the list is endless and he brings out something fresh from every single one he interviews.

[@kayumochi]

Johnny Carson hated Snyder and thought him a terrible interviewer.

[@kirbygene]

Very sweet interview. The real Patti Smith comes through here

[@LaWendeltreppe]

"I'm kind of shy tonight- what's wrong with me?!"-"Nothing!" :)

[@babel1967]

Awesome!! Love you Patti.

[@jylyhughes5085]

Patti ... you are gorgeous.

[@briankorbelik2873]

What a national treasure. Her first album Horses came out when I was 19, she changed my world.

[@Broatch6]

" She's very attractive . in a unique way . She has her own version of the innate androgeny that gave Jagger such great power from the beginning " Paul Williams , Crawdaddy

[@Pimp-Master]

What's weird is that she is "the cheerleader" when I saw her live, and she's the farthest thing from a straight, New Jersey cheerleader type, but still it fits her exactly. So cheerleaders turn me on and so does she.

[@niqulusviii987]

Super attractive

[@carlosdyer5868]

I really enjoyed listening to her talk and I really related to her vision about sharing and exchanging cultures . (Starting at the 8:00 min mark. Very profound.

[@andrewjohnston4076]

I wouldn't have been about 10 month's old when this happened, pure legend of a musician

[@AS1971HRV]

Fantastic... Thanks for the upload, tom51 :) ...

[@charipedrenodevargas6521]

Ella es tan humilde, tiene una increíble inocencia.

[@TheIsay21]

She's so nice and comfortable on that couch. What a cool cat.

[@slobomotion]

Generally, that means intemperate & with self-esteem issues. tom51 passed away in March, 2013. Patti is very nice and would get on the phone, answer fan mail. She contributed to my zine in '76, no problem. Bought her broadsides with Mapplethorpe photos, her books, read articles she wrote, bought her first 45, etc. Great performer. Very good.

[@anitasseo]

PATTI TE QUIERO.

[@Aquaria]

I stayed up late and sneaked into the family room to watch this when it aired. I think Manson was on once, and I can see from the side bars that my memory was correct that Lennon and Iggy Pop were also on the show. I couldn't remember where I'd seen those interviews. Tom Snyder used to smoke while he did some of his interviews. You'd see a swirl of smoke wrapping around him and then the guests. That was one of the last shows to have open smoking.

[@anthonythompson9741]

Morton Downey Jr. was still smoking up a storm almost a decade later.

[@jeaniechowdury576]

Love her!!

[@johnstorton]

I couldn't spend so much as an hour with her! - Not without falling in love with her.

[@jocksilver7]

This woman, side by side with Siouxsie Sioux, were kind of heroines in the late 70s. Musically and poetically they commanded awesome respect and sheer admiration. I just regret that some of (t)he(i)r fans are dimwitted by the kind of emotional fascism her cult status imposes. I was once banned from a PS fanpage or sth, just because I was less politically correct about some bimbo's opinion on PS's masculine image ( just an example for you) Was Patti ever pc, ffs ?!...

[@crimsondynamoo]

I want to be an illuminated apprentice, too! Happy birthday, Patti.

[@slobomotion]

RIP, tom51. I miss you so, so much.

[@rebeccapayne5933]

Love her

[@jocksilver7]

That is, I was defending Smith's glorious display of in-your-face-all-around- TALENT and poetic skills, yet sustaining that her image was just that of an unpretentious RnR musician,singer and writer ( whom I deeply admire in the first place) and there came the "negative as*h*le" accusation. I think this GREAT video post here just proves my point and so I rest my case ( but many other instances could be pointed out). Long live Patti Smith!

[@exeuroweenie]

She's so likeable.

[@ilovethetampabaylightning92]

@3:37 What a great laugh. Lord have mercy. I love the casual way he's sitting in his chair. Legs crossed, leaning to the side.... ***Sigh*** What a man.

[@AnaKosta]

She's a beauty. Capricorn Sun and Sagittarius rising. Sometimes she looks like Jane Birkin (who has Aquarius rising by the way, but has Sagittarius Sun!).

[@kawaiigaythug]

imagine eating at dennys with her

[@Spice99857]

sounds interesting

[@mintyulip]

a dream come true

[@myothernic09]

id love to see her scarf down a super bird

[@MercurialSilence]

Watching her wolf down a Grand Slam and some good conversation.

[@Persnikity-yv3nh]

Even stoned off her ass, she's wise as fuck.

[@kaisersoze508]

The Jenna Pearl why do you assume that she's stoned lol it really doesn't matter at the end of the day anyways

[@Persnikity-yv3nh]

lol look at her. You can tell she's stoned.

[@jlouis4407]

She’s def been smoking 😉 She’s so cute, though

[@askl23]

Philadelphia; the city of brotherly love a.k.a. "Obliteration City."

[@DoctorHyde]

love the patti...............

[@dorothygarland1483]

Patti reminds me of Howard Stern here. Like they could be brother& sister-lol .

[@ilovethetampabaylightning92]

@ 2:01 wouldn't be paranoid but I'd be pretty shy and bashful. Tom Snyder was a such handsome, funny and captivating man with an incredible voice and a very sexy smile. I just can't get enough of him. RIP, Mr. Snyder. I'll fire up a colortini,for you (once I know what a colortini is).

[@skitsmaxn]

Loooovvveee Patti 2020!!!

[@dogsquadindia]

She goes back n forth from the tough guy act to the little girl bashful at the drop of a hat

[@jamesvv]

LOVE You PATTI!!

[@Broatch6]

suspended in mid air betcha even God Fell for this chick

[@anthonythompson9741]

This was the interview that caused my first serious girlfriend to break up with me. My girlfriend (Jan Rolfer) was a great admirer of Smith. We watched this interview separately and when I told her later that Smith behaved like a caged animal, she was majorly pissed! haha.

[@BarbaraNoteboom]

tom was great

[@mawiegail]

She is a goddess divine.

[@perriyaniv]

dying for this accent.

[@ThePatatonga]

Love Patti

[@brainscott8198]

She's gotta have an IQ of over 200...amazing intellect and quick witted.

[@Nigelxman]

Tom Snyder actually thought he was gonna bang Patti Smith. hahaha This is truly priceless!!! Thanks so much

[@staceymarie6895]

Patti Smith, a goddess.

[@thebacklogwithelliotswain]

my god she was beautiful