Bruce Springsteen, Michael Stipe, Maggie Rogers, The National‘s Matt Berninger, and more led a star-studded tribute show in NYC celebrating Patti Smith. Check out footage, photos and more from what went down at the show below.
Last night (March 26), New York’s famed Carnegie Hall hosted the People Have the Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith tribute concert, which was in honour of Smith’s 1975 seminal debut album ‘Horses’ and marked the 20th anniversary Michael Dorf’s Music Of series which has raised more than $2 million for music education nonprofits. All of the concert’s net proceeds will be donated to music education for underserved youth.
Footage of the night has been going viral, with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea sharing NME’s coverage and hailing the night as “fun as fuck”.
Well that was fun as fuk! https://t.co/MJGaXd0MkN
— Flea (@flea333) March 27, 2025
Kicking off the night, The National’s Matt Berninger was joined by the night’s house band – led by longtime Smith collaborator Tony Shanaha, Flea on bass and trumpet, Rolling Stones live drummer Steve Jordan, Benmont Tench on keys and guitarist Charlie Sexton. Together they performed an electrifying rendition of Smiths’ ‘Piss Generation’.
The National’s Matt Berninger performing ‘Piss Factory’ in nyc at Patti smith tribute show pic.twitter.com/ejCrqt1rjZ
— Anagricel (@itsanagricel) March 27, 2025
Jesse Malin standing up to perform ‘Free Money’ at Patti Smith’s tribute show in NYC pic.twitter.com/BpL5VMAfBC
— Anagricel (@itsanagricel) March 27, 2025
The next performance came from Jesse Malin, who was introduced as Smith’s “Fellow poet, fellow New Yorker and badass”. Appearing in his wheelchair, he approached the microphone and stood up to sing ‘Free Money’ – an emotional after suffering a spinal stroke in 2023 that left him partially paralysed.
Other acts included Courtney Barnett with a bright rendition of ‘Redondo Beach’, Sharon Van Etten performing ‘Pissing in the River’ with the power of Smith in her prime, Kronos Quartet with a string rendition of ‘Élégie’ and more.
Courtney Barnett performing ‘Redondo Beach’ at the Patti smith tribute show in NYC pic.twitter.com/GVOvtDXlow
— Anagricel (@itsanagricel) March 27, 2025
Michael Stipe performing at the Patti smith tribute show in NYC pic.twitter.com/szXFKDEcRx
— Anagricel (@itsanagricel) March 27, 2025
The Kills’ Alison Mosshart performing at Patti Smith’s tribute show in NYC pic.twitter.com/L5TTZceKKN
— Anagricel (@itsanagricel) March 27, 2025
Interpol’s Paul banks and Juliet Banks performing at Patti Smith’s tribute show in NYC pic.twitter.com/HO1eYoNA3L
— Anagricel (@itsanagricel) March 27, 2025
Maggie Rogers performing at Patti Smith’s NYC tribute show pic.twitter.com/WwPlXxJmyI
— Anagricel (@itsanagricel) March 27, 2025
A-listers such as Scarlett Johansson, Michael Shannon, and Sean Penn also made appearances to read Patti’s poetry, with Jim Jarmusch taking a moment to read Arthur Rimbaud’s Departure from Les Illuminations. “I think Rimbaud actually wrote this for Patti, but the timelines got crossed and, in fact, he texted me the English translation. So this is for Patti from Arthur Rimbaud, for whom he wrote it, I’m sure,” Jarmusch said before reading the poem.
The biggest surprise of the night was Johnny Depp’s appearance to perform ‘Dancing Barefoot’ with The Kills‘ Alison Mosshart, who took to the stage earlier in the bill for a rendition of ‘Ask the Angels’. Depp previously joined Smith and Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder back in 2010 to play the song together as part of the Voices for Justice Rally Little Rock gig.
Following on, Karen O delivered an energetic performance of ‘Gloria’, with the crowd in on their feet from the line: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine”.
As a surprise final addition to the stacked bill – which saw Chrissie Hynde have to pull out last minute due to a canceled flight impacted by the London Heathrow fire – Bruce Springsteen strolled on stage with his iconic Fender Telecaster guitar to a cheering crowd.
“We love you Patti! Patti gave me this big hit right here. I’m about to sing, and if I had sung this song, it would not have been a hit. It needed her voice and her incredible lyrics so Patti, I have to thank you so dearly for our one big hit together. Thank you darling,” Springsteen said before jumping into ‘Because The Night’.
Johnny Depp made an unannounced appearance to perform ‘Dancing Barefoot’ with Alison Mosshart of The Kills and Flea pic.twitter.com/1yhJ2Gf3ga
— NME (@NME) March 27, 2025
To wrap up the night, Smith herself came out to perform ‘Peaceable Kingdom’. She thanked everyone for turning out and contributing to a great cause. She played ‘People Have The Power’ as an encore and made sure to shout out her late husband and MC5 guitarist Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith who co-wrote the song.
After inviting all of the night’s performers to join her for the song, with Depp and Springsteen on the guitar and Flea on trumpet, she made sure to say “Don’t forget to use your voice”, in reference to the song’s politically charged lyrics.
Here’s what was performed at People Have The Power: A Celebration Of Patti Smith:
‘Piss Factory’ (Matt Berninger)
‘Free Money’ (Jesse Malin)
‘Redondo Beach’ (Courtney Barnett)
‘Pissing In A River’ (Sharon Van Etten)
‘Cowboy Truths’ (Michael Shannon)
‘Elegie’ (Kronos Quartet)
‘My Blakean Year’ (Jesse Paris Smith, Tony Shanahan, Andy LeMaster)
‘The Hour Of Noon’ (Jim Jarmusch)
‘A Songwriter’s Song’ (Jim Jarmusch)
‘Departure’ (Jim Jarmusch)
‘Ghost Dance’ (Ben Harper)
‘Ask The Angels’ (Alison Mosshart)
‘Kimberly’ (Susanna Hoffs)
‘Mother Rose’ (Paul and Julie Banks)
‘Wind’ (Body/Head)
‘Final Letter To Mapplethorpe’ (Scarlett Johansson)
‘Reflecting Robert’ (Scarlett Johansson)
‘Paths That Cross’ (Music Will Academy – Lower Manhattan Public Middle School)
‘Easter’ (Angel Olsen)
‘The Golden Cockerel’ (Sean Penn)
‘Beneath The Southern Cross’ (Glen Hansard)
‘Frederick’ (Maggie Rogers)
‘Dancing Barefoot’ (Johnny Depp and Alison Mosshart)
‘Gloria’ (Karen O)
‘Because The Night’ (Bruce Springsteen)
‘Peaceable Kingdom’ (Patti Smith)
‘People Have The Power’ (Patti Smith and friends)
In other news, Patti Smith has announced a run of special gigs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ‘Horses’ across Europe, the UK and the US later this year.
The special ‘Horses’ gigs have been scheduled for seven European cities: London, Dublin, Madrid, Bergamo, Brussels, Oslo and Paris. The live dates in the capital are due to take place at the London Palladium on October 12 and 13. See the full list of dates and get any remaining tickets here
