“With all the strife in the world, this explainable incident does not merit so much attention,” the 78-year-old said after incident at Brazil concert
Patti Smith doesn’t want everyone fussing over her following an incident in Brazil on Wednesday during which she collapsed on stage. The 78-year-old musician cut her Sao Paulo concert short after a migraine-related bout of dizziness caused her to sprawl out on the floor.
“I was checked out by an excellent doctor and was absolutely fine,” Smith wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “Please do not accept any other story. With all the strife in the world, this explainable incident does not merit so much attention. Thank you everyone for your concern. Trust me I am fine.”
Smith shared a selfie alongside the lengthy caption that began: “This is letting everyone know that I am fine. A grossly exaggerated account is being spread by the press and social media. I had some post migraine dizziness. Had a small incident, left the stage, and returned 10 minutes later and talked to the people, told them I was fine and sang them Wing and Because the Night.”
For the past week, Smith has been on a brief South American tour with Soundwalk Collective to present Correspondences, a project spanning years of collaboration. The group describes it as “an ever-evolving project between Soundwalk Collective and Patti Smith. Spanning over 10 years, it traverses a wealth of geographies and their natural environments, where the artists have uncovered sonic steps left by poets, filmmakers, revolutionaries and impact of climate change.”
Before Wednesday’s show, Soundwalk Collective shared an Instagram Story noting that Smith “still wanted to be there for all of us and you and perform” despite having recently experienced an intense migraine.
“Unfortunately, I got sick, and the doctor said I can’t finish,” Smith told the crowd when she returned. “So we will have to figure something out. And I feel very badly.”
