Patti Smith: "I wanted to understand the full human experience"

Patti Smith looks back over her whole career, and reveals the inspiration behind her new album Banga, in an unprecedentedly frank interview in the new issue of Uncut, out on Tuesday (May 22).

In the 13-page feature, Smith and her bandmates tell her whole story, from the Chelsea Hotel – via CBGB’s, streams of consciousness, spinal injury, love, retreat, loss and the good advice of Bob Dylan – to the creative rebirth of her new album.

Throughout the piece, the venerated songwriter and poet references an eclectic variety of figures that have influenced her work, such as Amy Winehouse, Christopher Columbus, Patty Hearst, The Byrds and controversial psychiatrist Wilhelm Reich.

Read about her remarkable 40-year quest in the new July issue of Uncut, out on Tuesday (May 22).