Bruce Springsteen Adds His Name to All-Star Lineup for Patti Smith Tribute Concert

Since the 1960s, Patti Smith explored a career in the music industry and helped shine a light on the punk rock scene in New York City. Embracing her love for music, songwriting and singing, Smith eventually landed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was also considered one of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time by Rolling Stone. Wanting to celebrate the ongoing legacy of Smith, the legendary Bruce Springsteen added his name to a stellar lineup of singers and celebrities honoring the author. 

Videos by American Songwriter

Already sold out, Springsteen will take the stage to not only celebrate the legacy of Smith but also his friend on March 26th. During the 1970s, Springsteen joined forces with Smith to write the song “Because the Night.” The song dominated radio stations around the country and even reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

As for the lineup of stars attending the tribute concert, the list included Director Jim Jarmusch, Scarlett Johansson, Kronos Quartet, Ben Harper, Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karon O, former Sonic Youth singer/guitarist and solo performer Kim Gordon, Sean Penn, Angel Olsen, Courtney Barnett, Interpol’s Paul Banks, Maggie Rogers, Chrissie Hynde, Sharon Van Etten, and many more. 

[RELATED: 4 of the Best Female Covers of Bruce Springsteen Classics]

Patti Smith & Bruce Springsteen Remember “Because The Night”

Although Smith produced several hit songs over her career, she never forgot her work with Springsteen and how he handed her “Because of Night.” Speaking with Billboard in 2018, she admitted, “ I could have never written a song like that. I’d never write a chorus like that. All I’m saying is he gave us a gift … I would’ve loved (to have) written a song that captured the imagination of the people or the pulse of the people or the beat of the people — but one isn’t good in everything. I have my gifts. That’s a special gift.” She added, “Sometimes people think that because I don’t write them that I’m snobby about it. It’s not that. If I knew how, I would. I haven’t written one. But we did write that.”

As for Springsteen, he insisted that if he released the song, it wouldn’t have been a hit. “Patti took it and turned it into the hit it became, writing a beautiful love song for her husband, Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith. Now it wouldn’t have been a hit if I had finished it and released it. It needed a woman’s voice, it needed Patti’s voice and her vision. She turned it into something that I alone could never have created. And for that, I forever thank my lovely, lovely friend.”

(Photo by Harold Feng/Getty Images)