Patti Smith
Chicago rock poet and punk godmother whose debut Horses fused poetry with electric rock energy and helped launch the CBGB scene that changed American music.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest Rock Artists of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank Patti Smith significantly differently across lists.
The Cultural Record
Discography
Chicago rock poet and punk godmother whose debut Horses fused poetry with electric rock energy and helped launch the CBGB scene that changed American music
Awards & Recognition
No Grammy data on record.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2007)
named first laureate for poetry by the Paris City Council
The Case For Patti Smith
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for Patti Smith.
Often Compared To
Paul McCartney
#2Rock — Liverpool, England · 1960–present
Liverpool singer-songwriter and co-founder of The Beatles whose post-Beatles career with Wings and as a solo artist cemented his status as one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed musicians of all time.
Pearl Jam
#3Rock — Seattle, Washington · 1990–present
Seattle grunge quintet who chose long-term artistic integrity over commercial maximalism and became one of the most beloved and enduring rock bands of their generation.