Patti Smith Quotes

I always wrote like rock 'n' roll. And I always listen to rock 'n' roll as poetry.

Jimi Hendrix played loud and free, Sergeant Pepper was real to me.

I was very friendly with Jimi Hendrix because my boyfriend at the time, Tommy Weber, was making a film about him, so I would go to all of his shows.

But people are now realising why I was playing bass with Hendrix.

I didn't love Jim Morrison 'cause he was self-destructive. I loved him because of his work. Because of the way he merged poetry and rock-and-roll. Because he did something new.

I liked the Beatles because there was so much melody. Jimi Hendrix is still one of my heroes.

I met Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin when I hung out with Michael Lang just before the Woodstock Festival. They were as charismatic in person as they were on stage.

For just being a black artist in rock n' roll and be able to step outside and create, and make great music. And just be different. Just a different breed. And that's what I love about Jimi Hendrix's music - the way he plays the guitar is so different. He's just an icon all around.

Jimi Hendrix is one of the main influences on why I wanted to play guitar. He really shook me. I think it was his whole style - the look and what he did with the guitar.

When I was 14 years old, I had the opportunity to meet Buddy Holly. I asked him how he got that big, powerful sound out of his guitar amp. He said, 'I blew a speaker and decided not to get it fixed.'

I loved Hendrix. I mean, really, really loved him. As if he were one of the great classical composers. And he was. That's how I saw him.

Pete Townshend used to crash chords and let the guitar feed back. He's overrated.

Excuse me while I kiss the sky.

We were into Hendrix and Cream, who were like the heaviest bands around at that time. We just wanted to be heavier than everybody else!

I was listening to Jimi Hendrix; I just admire his artistry and creativity as an artist.

I would love to play Jimi Hendrix.

I am a cross between Carl Perkins and Led Zeppelin.

Hendrix was big in England. We all became good friends and I am still in touch with Noel Redding.

Jimi Hendrix's music was escapism.

I want to do rock operas.

I wanted to be Jimi Hendrix's drummer when I was in high school, but I graduated in 1970, the year he died.

In the '90s, guitar solos were dead.

I heard the Beatles and the Stones, and Mom bought me an electric guitar. I played lead for four years and then switched to bass. One day someone suggested that I should sing, so I sheepishly stepped up to the microphone and the rest is rock history.

I thought Jimi Hendrix... was just phenomenal.

Rock and roll has probably given more than it's taken.