The so called “godmother of punk” Patti Smith celebrates the 50 years anniversary of her hit album Horses. Released in 1975, Smith’s debut rock album put her in the music sphere, making her one of the most influential artists of the genre.
Horses is one of the most looked-up-to rock albums ever. It is considered a classic and “one of the most revolutionary rock albums of all time”. Its launch date was November 10, 1975, and it soon became an iconic hit. The 70’s was punk’s baby era. New York was filled with emerging bands and artists that were so close to this new genre. Styles like proto-punk and artistic underground slowly appeared.
In 1975 Patti Smith interrupted the rock field with her debut album. Horses has a mix of features that were not usual for the classic punk album at the time. Some say it is more literary, spontaneous and ritualistic than others. Moreover, it has a lot of mythical references and rock’s particular crudity.
The main themes in the album are identity and gender, death and redemption, and artistic freedom. We can clearly appreciate how it defies the idea of how a rock woman “should sound and look”. Furthermore, a lot of religious figures are present throughout the production. In addition, the punk superstar focuses on her ideas about independence from the industry and social norms.
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The album’s reissue was posted on October 10, 2025, in order to commemorate its release. The new remastered edition comes with plenty of extra material. Alternate takes, demos, outtakes, 1975 audition tapes copies and unreleased songs are some of the things one can acquire. Some of the unpublished records included are Snowball, Distant Fingers, We Three and The Hunter Gets Captured by The Game.
The Patti Smith Group Tour
Patti confirmed that she will be touring to celebrate these 50 years. Moreover, she admitted she will be performing the full album on each show with The Patti Smith Group. Historic bandmates, guitarist Lenny Kaye and drummer Jay Dee Daugherty also announced that they will be joining Patti onstage for this iconic tour.
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The tour has already kicked off. It began on October 6, 2025, in Dublin. Moreover, the European leg of the tour will be stopping in Madrid, Bergamo, London, Brussels, Oslo and Paris. Then, The Patti Smith Group will fly off to the U. S. From November 10 to 29, America will welcome the “godmother of punk” to celebrate Horses’ 50th anniversary.
