Patti Smith on talk show promoting her book Babel

[milascave2]

It was a 70's punk thing to not give straight answers to interviews with the mainstream media. Especialy when asked "what does it mean."

She dosn't act at all like that now.

[ZeppelinMcKenna]

shes probably uncomfortable and high,... her genius isnt in giving interview to smug, conservative dipshits.. its in here music... listen to her album horses a few times and maybe youll agree

[nikkiejanee1972]

why is she so creepy and weird?

i guess i'm not smart enough to see the genius....just the weird...oh well

[ZeppelinMcKenna]

@nikkiejanee1972 ^that was directed at you

[variationofbirds]

Why can't you mention the host or show?

[postingoldtapes]

@variationofbirds Because I'm trying to keep things from being removed. Given the age of this clip, and how long I've had this one up here, I'd say the approach has been successful, so I'd like to stick with it.

[mutualpea]

I wish I had been more open-minded about Punk music -- especially Patti -- back then. She's a national treasure. (p.s.: I had an opportunity to see Bob Marley and The Wailers live in the 70's too, and I turned it down. A few years later I wanted to kick myself for missing that chance!)

[Ellexorip]

omgggg...she used to have such a nice voice and a cute accent. 70's patti smith FTW ^.^

[ChrissieBana]

Monkey Island. 

[ccipollini1984]

Strange Outfits? That's not saying much in the 70's. Ahead of her time then and now.

[Pmitsou123]

Fuck that interviewer!

Patti's so sweet...

[mutualpea]

@Pmitsou123 - Could you repost that in some way without mentioning the host's name? You made a good point, but the person who uploaded this requested that we not mention his name.

[costernocht]

@mutualpea Never read the caption. My sincere apologies.

[evilthesaurus]

what stiff turds sitting with such a cool cucumber. hope they realize how lucky they are.

[ichigohime]

shes amazing

[kingoftomatoes]

dignity means keeping your ego in check, not coming across as affected every bloody minute of your life and thinking before you speak, making balanced statements.

[kingoftomatoes]

i used to idolize her,, now i see she's just a clown, no wonder people laugh at her, it's not because she's different, it's because she has no dignity, and never had

[redkennedy]

@kingoftomatoes What does dignity mean to you? I'm just wondering what you think it is to be dignified?

[ccipollini1984]

@kingoftomatoes

sorry she can't be a saint like you. If only all of us could be the greatness that is kingoftomatoes

LOL

[ladypeinforte]

Not that Patti couldn't be pissy and apparently pissed on camera back then...but this interview is asking for it. Not a word about her book and all about her clothes...she handles it pretty well.

[Huckxxx]

'NEXT: WHAT ARE TEENS THINKING ABOUT'

LOL

[Dilliboy63]

live uncut tv is so awesome

[juanitat10]

she is the definition of cool, if you look up cool in the dictionary you'll see a picture of Patti :D

[kingoftomatoes]

@juanitat10 yeah, she's a regular Lauren Bacall

[ccipollini1984]

@kingoftomatoes

then don't watch her, you arrogant ass. Take your own advice.

[tehpando]

oh and yeah, detroit is totally full of commie flu.

[aGlowingTeapot]

This guy is kind of a dick. I'd react the same way.

Everyone's so damn stiff.

He asked me one more time about torn clothing, I'd tear his.

[desasterz]

Patti Smith's totaly wrong about Babel!

[cavale40]

I have never seen this before. Despite my bad experiences with her in person, I still think she is one of the most beautiful and charismatic women on this planet. She's sooo like an old friend of mine. This clip has all the magic of the seventies on it writ large.... x

[ccipollini1984]

@cavale40

bad experiances ? how so?

[BattiManZel]

She's adorable!!

[jshouis]

What Patti always fails to mention is a 1972 reading at Middle Earth book store in Philadelphia where she was blown away by then nineteen year old Philadelphia performance poetry pioneer Marty Watt, who opened for her. When Marty finished his set, she could only utter "I'm from the old school, where we read our poems." After that encounter, everything changes for Patti-she acquires a guitarist and begins to "perform". Marty goes on to an extraordinary fifteen-year career performing his poetry.

[neonatalpenguin]

Years ago, I remember reading an interview with Jeff Buckley where he talked about watching this interview as a kid, and realising what a unique character Patti was. It's interesting to see how far ahead of her time she was then, not just ahead of this puff pastry host and his confederacy of dunces, but ahead of the naivety of the punks. Torn clothing? Great interview technique, buddy.

[gymnastix]

@neonatalpenguin Mike was playing devil's advocate, being the mouthpiece for "Mr. & Mrs. Average American TV Viewer," in mentioning the popular notion of "torn clothing" (and safety pins inserted through the epidermal layers) in relation to "punk" rock music.. He was merely introducing topics about which an average viewer would be curious, in relation to an out-of-the-norm (then) guest, which is a perfectly acceptable and legitimate interview technique.

[neonatalpenguin]

@gymnastix Assuming Douglas understood Patti (and understood American punk in general), why draw attention to the torn clothing (the most stereotypical, superficial aspect of her persona)? Why not ask her something that would have helped Joe Soap in Arkansas figure out who the hell this complex woman on his TV screen was, rather than just portray her as a kooky punk stereotype?

[MrTulip65]

@neonatalpenguin Well put though...I mean..."Still taking that modelling course, huh?"...I'm getting annoyed all over again haha; without the Vodka this time ;))xx

[gymnastix]

@neonatalpenguin And, for the record, I was a fan of "The Mike Douglas Show" from about 1964, and of Patti Smith from 1976 onward, bought her "Horses" LP that year, first saw (and heard) Smith perform at the Paradise Theater in Boston in 1977, met and interviewed her for my college newspaper in 1979.

[gymnastix]

@neonatalpenguin  Mike Douglas had John Lennon and Yoko Ono as his co-hosts an entire week, also Sonny & Cher; was one of the first TV hosts to book The Rolling Stones, as well.

As with Ed Sullivan, in my book, that counts for something. Douglas was at least open-minded enough to give these musicians a shot, in the main was very congenial with them, as with all his guests.

[neonatalpenguin]

@gymnastix I didn’t know Mike Douglas had his finger on the pulse of the 60s & 70s. I’m British and was born in the 80s, so maybe that excuses me for not really recognising him (though I did recognise his name). I was judging him solely on this interview. And I have to say, he’s pretty condescending here.

[MrTulip65]

I could fucking KILL that stupid SHIT...Patti Smith...Patti FUCKING SMITH!! Letting this arsehole talk to her that way...and the other guests... WOMEN knocking other women - it just makes me wanna PUKE!! History, thank god, has shown Patti to be a vastly superior human being in EVERY WAY to these pathetic pond-scum. I mean what kind of an interview is THAT?? Ask the woman a question, just one even semi-intelligent question about her art...her music? Her poetry?? FUCKING HELL FIRE!!! CRETINS ALL

[gymnastix]

@MrTulip65 The fact you are repulsed or shocked by Mike Douglas' and his guests' approach shows you were not born or old enough to recall television and TV talk shows of this era.

[MrTulip65]

@gymnastix I'm 45..I'm English..what the fuck difference does it make? Looking back at what I said there, though...I think the Vodka I had may have contributed to my sense of "outrage"!!! So, I take your point..and the others here too. I remember feeling a little frustrated too when some of my heroes here in Britain failed to set the world alight with their wit and insight, when they'd done just that and more on record or live on stage...Patti was wonderful back then and she's wonderful today

[gymnastix]

@MrTulip65 This was before the days of David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Howard Stern and their ilk. But, frankly, the guests were more interesting too, not just a majority of non-talented "reality" TV show personalities, but actual entertainers, authors and musicians who could, more often than not, carry on an interesting conversation.

One of the guests here appears to be Ann Meara, of the comedy team of Stiller & Meara, also mother of actor Ben Stiller, hardly an idiot.

[ZeppelinMcKenna]

@gymnastix i thought the guy on the far left might be gerry stiller

[gymnastix]

@MrTulip65 But Patti Smith was an unconventional guest by this era's standards, not a Jack Benny, Lucille Ball or even a Sonny & Cher. And, to be fair, Douglas, whose show aired daytmes in most markets, had to keep the show clean for the mostly middle-aged housewives,, senior citizens, and children who comprised his audience in that pre-cable, pre-Internet era. Would you expose young childen or senior citzens to a drug-taking, incoherent musician?

[gymnastix]

@MrTulip65 Patti is certainly not the Burroughs and Genet-reading 'artiste' she's led her cult of fans to think she is, at least not in this video of this TV appearance. She's entertaining on one level, but rather a mess on another, would be much more acceptable as a guest today, because she's sufficiently cleaned up her act.

[gymnastix]

@MrTulip65 Even the more urbane and intelligent Dick Cavett doubtless would have found Smith an odd duck. Patti was also addicted to drugs in this period, her behavior erratic, a dangerous element for mainstream television.

Janis Joplin could be "colorful" too. But, on Cavett's program, which aired late-nights most of its run, Joplin was coherent and well-spoken, showing the intelligent person she was at the core.

And I'm saying all this as a fan of Patti Smith--see my other comments.

[Jojoseahorse]

@gymnastix I believe the only drugs Patti was addicted to were painkillers she was taking following her accident the previous year. She has mentioned numerous times that they messed with her mind, but she used the experience as fuel for her creativity. I love watching her being interviewed; she is always entertaining, and she is sooooo pretty, no matter how dishevelled she appears, it can't disguise her natural gorgeousness :)

[yyy333]

this is difficult to watch, patti is so nervous. it's disgusting how these nobodies treat her like she's subhuman.

[gymnastix]

@yyy333 Mike Douglas was hardly a "nobody," as with Merv Griffin, was a host of his own television program for 25+ years, a welcome guest in millions of American homes on daytime television (which was far greater in that pre-cable pre-Internet era)..

Put yourself in the context of the times, and in this venue--Patti Smith was a strange character, not the typical guest on a talk program of this type. Also, please give Douglas and his producer some credit for being daring enough to book her

[yyy333]

@gymnastix "daring"? they put her on there to exploit her, plain and simple. if this chump is such a legend, why are his interviewing skills so sub-par and offensive?

[rince1wind]

It's a little embarrassing watching him keep returning to her clothes. The way he talks down to her is really irritating.

[blesington1]

so ahead of her time, remaining confident in the face of aseholes - true lady

[desasterz]

Awww "Hi Detroyte" that's the sweetest bit.

[vlynkysr]

Great material! I love the way how it's not at all about her book, she's adorable, loved her then, love her now!

[ccipollini1984]

Check out the death stare she gave that guest when she compared her to Zsa Zsa Gabor!

[terridevi]

She is a trip!

[Land748]

I agree, she's my hero

[ccipollini1984]

Firt commant! Patti is GOD!