Borders announces Patti Smith appearance Thursday, February 18

Posted: Feb 9, 2010 at 12:20 PM [Feb 9, 2010]

The downtown Borders, at 612 E. Liberty St. in Ann Arbor, has just announced that singer/songwriter, punk pioneer and author Patti Smith will read from, and sign copies of, her acclaimed new book "Just Kids" — about her romance and friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe — on Thursday, February 18 at 6 p.m.

She is also expected to sing a few songs and conduct a public Q-and-A session, according to WQKL (107.1-FM) morning host and AnnArbor.com columnist Martin Bandyke, who will host the event.

After the store opens at 9 a.m. on February 18, wristbands for Smith's appearance will be distributed on demand until they're gone (approximately 300-350 will be available). Patrons needn't purchase Smith's book to listen to her reading, but they must purchase one to stand in the signing line; and Smith will likely only sign books.

WQKL plans to broadcast the event live as well as stream it on its web site, annarbors107one.com, Bandyke said.

For more information on the event, call Borders at 734-668-7652.

Smith is famous as a musician, poet and artist. Her most well-known song is "Because the Night," but she is considered a key figure in the emerging punk scene in New York in the mid-1970s. During much of the '80s and early '90s she lived in the Detroit area, married to Fred "Sonic" Smith of the MC5, but she returned to New York after his death. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.