Dancing Barefoot: The Patti Smith Story

by Dave Thompson

Dancing Barefoot is the full and true story of Patti Smith, widely acknowledged as one of the most significant American artists of the rock ’n’ roll era, a performer whose audience and appeal reach far beyond the parameters of rock.

An acclaimed poet, a respected artist, and a figurehead for many liberal political causes, Patti Smith soared from an ugly-duckling childhood in postwar New Jersey to become queen of the New York arts scene in the 1970s. This book traces the brilliant trajectory of her career, including the fifteen reclusive years she spent in Detroit in the 1980s and ’90s, as well as her triumphant return to New York. But it is primarily the story of a performer growing up in New York City in the early and mid-1970s.

Dancing Barefoot is a measured, accurate, and enthusiastic account of Smith’s career. Guided by interviews with those who have known her—including Ivan Kral, Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd, John Cale, and Jim Carroll—it relies most of all on Patti’s own words. This is Patti’s story, told as she might have seen it, had she been on the outside looking in.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, New York, Poetry, Cultural

294 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

English author Dave Thompson has spent his entire working life writing biographies of other people, but is notoriously reluctant to write one for himself. Unlike the subjects of some of his best known books, he was neither raised by ferrets nor stolen from gypsies. He has never appeared on reality TV (although he did reach the semi finals of a UK pop quiz when he was sixteen), plays no musical instruments and he can’t dance, either.

However, he has written well over one hundred books in a career that is almost as old as U2’s… whom he saw in a club when they first moved to London, and memorably described as “okay, but they’ll never get any place.” Similar pronouncements published on the future prospects of Simply Red, Pearl Jam and Wang Chung (oh, and Curiosity Killed The Cat as well) probably explain why he has never been anointed a Pop Culture Nostradamus. Although the fact that he was around to pronounce gloomily on them in the first place might determine why he was recently described as “a veteran music journalist.”

Raised on rock, powered by punk, and still convinced that “American Pie” was written by Fanny Farmer and is best played with Meatloaf, Thompson lists his five favorite artists as old and obscure; his favorite album is whispered quietly and he would like to see Richard and Linda Thompson’s “I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight” installed as the go-to song for the sad, sappy ending for every medical drama on TV.

Kurt Cobain, Phil Collins, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett, David Bowie, John Travolta, Eric Clapton, Jackson Browne, Bob Marley, Roger Waters and the guy who sang that song in the jelly commercial are numbered among the myriad artists about whom Thompson has written books; he has contributed to the magazines Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Mojo and Melody Maker; and he makes regular guest appearances on WXPN’s Highs in the Seventies show.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a biography as much as it is a discography. Stories behind and of her songs, poems, concerts, and readings. Connections to fellow musicians, her muses, her toss offs. There is some personal entertainment, but her art is the premise and the goal.

I’ve learned a few new things, remembered several others, chose to ignore a couple more. Patti was determined. Not to be famous, not to be rich, but to be heard. Impetuous and heroic.

One thing you will assuredly take away from this is that Patti remained honest. She did not chameleon through music to appease. She did not morph. She did not glam. She was no one’s (save her husband, Fred) and held firm her own dogma.

Bravo Patti. Bravo!

Much appreciated the Appendix of her vast array of recordings, publications, articles, compilations, bootlegs and then her bibliography before ending with a very in-depth index. Nicely done, Thompson!

[Ad · Rating 2 out of 5]

i was disappointed with this biography i found that it was factual and statistical just kind`ve wooden and hollow i noticed also there was a lot of rehashing quotes taken from previous biographies about her. i guess after reading `just kids` in patti smiths own write you get to know her soul more than any other time. `However because i`ve read so much on her this book was going over the same ground without any new insights. Therefore for anyone who doesn`t know much about her i suggest them starting here then read just kids then the others. finally the one saving grace of this book is it is one of the most current so it explains her new stance well and place in music today but the real juice lies in her 70s scene which is most fascinating.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Okay Bio

The problem of course with biographing Patti is that she has written about herself, directly, indirectly, her entire life, and done a better job than anyone else ever will.

[Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned many new facts but also developed a less positive opinion of Patti Smith as a result of this book. He used source materials of interview and articles to present in « her own words » the story of her life, but it was confusing as the dates were not linear and sometimes an article would be from 2000 when she was reminiscing about events in 1976 which seemed ridiculous.
It was an entertaining read but just barely.
The photos were very nice inclusions.

[Matthew Stolte · Rating 4 out of 5]

not too in depth but a good overview until TWELVE was out

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to Patti Smith as an adolescent listening to the Gone Again album. I absolutely fell in love with her, but I never truly understood her...especially her early work. I read Just Kids last year and started to see a little of what I had missed. Dave Thompson has done an excellent job of laying out the facts while not excluding the emotion of her career. She is an absolute inspiration and now my lists of "to read" "to watch" and "to listen" are overflowing.

I realize that for those who followed her career as it happened this book probably read like a boring textbook. But for me, it was enthralling and enriching...mostly inspiring. Once I was a little like Patti and I hope to find that spirit again someday. To be free.

[Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Patti Smith is a very interesting woman to read about. That being said, this book read like a textbook. Factual and statistical mainly. The author would also mention something, but never finish the thought. He also solicited his unnecessary opinions in less than necessary places. Your opinion of President Bush plays little to no part of this narrative.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice look into the career of a fascinating artist. What I liked most about this biography was that it was a sensationalized look into Smith's life, but rather a look into her career as a poet-turned punk/rock star.

[Ray Charbonneau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bios of people I know of from earlier in my own life, like this, Willie Mays, etc... are oddly depressing. They may be good books, but they don't add all that much to my existing knowledge in many cases. What they mostly do is remind me that I was 20 a long time ago.

[Henry David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike just kids, you get a real perspective on Patti's life as a musician. More than a young lover/partner in crime with Mapplethrope, she is an incredibly accomplished rock and roll girl. And we see which choices she made and continues to make as life goes on.

[Amy Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed. Her Just Kids was so good and this was stilted and without much emotion.

[Autumn Kovach · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it to chapter 10 before I felt like I just couldn't go on. This book is one of those meant for people who are very engrossed in the rock and roll scene. It included the mention of multiple people who were in the scene in addition to Patti's career. It was a very detailed report of it, which I found increasingly laborious to get through. What I loved about Patti is her writing, poetry and outlook on life. That did not shine through in this book because, as I mentioned, it was such a detailed chronicle of her life rather than anything personal.

[Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good Biography of Patti Smith . It goes to about 2010 and uses her music, poetry and friends to relay this life of this wonderful Rock Poetess