Patti Smith Marks ‘Horses’ 50th Anniversary with Special London Performance Featuring Johnny Depp
Patti Smith delivered a memorable performance in London as part of her ongoing 50th anniversary tour celebrating her landmark 1975 album Horses. The singer-songwriter was joined on stage by actor and longtime collaborator Johnny Depp for a rendition of her anthem People Have The Power at the London Palladium on Sunday, October 12.
Depp appeared during the encore, taking up guitar alongside Smith’s daughter, Jesse Paris Smith, who accompanied the performance on keyboards. The moment drew loud applause from the audience, especially when Smith introduced her guest with a playful nod: “And Johnny? And Johnny Depp? The original Johnny,” referencing a lyric from her track Land / Horses.
A History of Collaborations
The appearance marks another chapter in the ongoing artistic connection between Smith and Depp. Earlier this year, Depp made a surprise appearance at the People Have the Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith tribute concert in New York, performing Dancing Barefoot alongside Alison Mosshart of The Kills.
Their collaborative history stretches back over a decade. In 2010, Depp joined Smith and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder at the Voices for Justice Rally in Little Rock, performing People Have the Power. He later contributed guitar and drums to Smith’s 2012 album Banga.
Celebrating an Iconic Album
The current tour features Smith performing with members of her longtime band, including original Horses musicians Lenny Kaye and Jay Dee Daugherty, along with Tony Shanahan, who has been part of her lineup for three decades.
Released in 1975, Horses has earned a lasting legacy in music history. It received the Charles Cros Award, was added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry, and entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021. The album also ranked 12th on NME’s list of the greatest records of all time. In August, Smith announced a special 50th anniversary reissue featuring previously unreleased material, including the track Snowball.
Tour Continues Across Europe and the U.S.
Following the London dates, Smith will continue the anniversary tour across Europe and North America. Upcoming performances include stops in Brussels, Oslo, Paris, and across major U.S. cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Boston.
Upcoming dates:
OCTOBER
15 – Brussels, Cirque Royale
16 – Brussels, Cirque Royale
18 – Oslo, Sentrum Scene
20 – Paris, The Olympia
21 – Paris, The Olympia
NOVEMBER
10 – Seattle, The Paramount Theatre
12 – Oakland, The Fox Theatre
13 – San Francisco, The Masonic
15 – Los Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall
17 – Chicago, The Chicago Theatre
21 – New York City, The Beacon
22 – New York City, The Beacon
24 – Boston, The Orpheum Theatre
28 – Washington D.C., The Anthem
29 – Philadelphia, The Met
As Patti Smith continues to honor the legacy of Horses, her performances remain a testament to the enduring power of music, collaboration, and artistic freedom.