Patti Smith Talks with Malcolm Gladwell About Her Life as an Artist

Freeculture mars 26, 2022

Broken Record–the podcast hosted by Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, and Bruce Headlam–has released its latest episode featuring an in-depth interview with Patti Smith. Here, Gladwell talks with Smith “about her writing in the studio Jimi Hendrix built, Electric Lady,” where “she met Hendrix in 1970—just weeks before he passed away. Patti also talks about hanging out with and writing lyrics for Janis Joplin, and she recalls the fun she had during a failed attempt to cover Adele in concert.” The conversation also naturally covers her time with Robert Mapplethorpe in the Chelsea Hotel (see vintage footage here); her relationship with William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg; and the challenges she faced writing Just Kids.

Stream the interview above, or find their podcast on Apple, Spotify and Stitcher. Also be sure to check out Patti Smith’s daily musings on Substack.

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