Patti Smith’s ‘Horses’ 50th Anniversary Tour: A Celebration of Punk Poetry

Punk Meets Poetry: Patti Smith to Perform ‘Horses’ in Full for 50th Anniversary

There are albums that define an era, and then there are albums that seem to transcend time altogether. Patti Smith’s Horses—that raw, poetic masterpiece born in the gritty crucible of 1975 New York—is one such record. And now, as it approaches its golden jubilee, Smith is bringing this irreverent thoroughbred back to life with a 50th-anniversary tour that promises to be as electrifying as the album itself.

For fans of punk rock and poetry alike, this is no ordinary reunion tour. It’s a pilgrimage—a chance to witness the alchemy of words and music that made Horses not just an album but a cultural touchstone. Produced by Velvet Underground’s John Cale, Horses has long been hailed as a cornerstone of modern music. The Library of Congress enshrined it in the National Recording Registry, and Rolling Stone called it “wonderful in large measure because it recognizes the overwhelming importance of words in her work.” Now, Smith is inviting us all to join her in celebrating what she calls “the final ride” of this iconic record.

The tour kicks off on October 6 at Dublin’s 3Arena, weaving through Europe before galloping into the U.S. in November. Alongside Smith will be her trusted bandmates: guitarist Lenny Kaye and drummer Jay Dee Daugherty, who played on the original recording, along with keyboardist/bassist Tony Shanahan and guitarist Jackson Smith. Together, they’ll breathe new life into tracks like “Gloria,” “Free Money,” and “Land,” reminding audiences why these songs still resonate so deeply.

Here’s where you can catch Patti Smith and her band:

But wait, there’s more. Before the tour begins, Smith will be honored at Carnegie Hall on March 26 during a tribute concert titled People Have the Power: Celebrating the Music of Patti Smith. Curated by Michael Stipe, the event features an all-star lineup including Kim Gordon, Karen O, Sharon Van Etten, Courtney Barnett, Angel Olsen, and many others. If you’ve ever wondered how far-reaching Smith’s influence truly is, this evening will leave no doubt.

What makes Horses so enduring? Perhaps it’s the way Smith dances between meanings, crafting lyrics that feel both deeply personal and universally evocative. As Rolling Stone once noted, “She leaps between meanings of words like an elf across dimensions, deliberately dizzying you with criss-crossings between comfortable perceptions.” This ability to blur boundaries—between genres, emotions, and even identities—is what makes Horses timeless.

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 14, with a pre-sale starting February 12. For those lucky enough to attend, this won’t just be another concert; it’ll be a communion with history, poetry, and rebellion.

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