Patti Smith: Rock's 'Catalyst of the New Plague'

In May 1976, Patti Smith, then 29, was described as New York's latest sensation, poised for her first British concert. She viewed rock as a burgeoning art form, a "fantastic plague" spreading across the universe. Arriving in New York in 1967, Smith was influenced by iconic figures like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, alongside her heroes, The Rolling Stones.

Her album "Horses" was noted for its spontaneous fusion of surreal, improvised poetry and simple rock music. It was likened to a collaboration between a sixties new-wave poet and a band akin to the Velvet Underground or the New York Dolls. Smith herself acknowledged being extremely verbal rather than a polished musician.

However, her highly anticipated London performance in May 1976, while energetic, did not fully capture the drama of her album. Despite a unique stage presence and vocal style, her band was perceived as slow and uninspired. The concert, though possessing a "back-to-the-sixties" energy, ultimately fell short of Smith's promise of an all-or-nothing performance.