Bruce Springsteen paid tribute to punk poet Patti Smith last night at Carnegie Hall during the star-studded People Have the Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith event with a live performance of their co-written hit “Because the Night” featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea.
The Boss was a last-minute addition to the A-list lineup, which also included Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., and Hollywood stars Scarlett Johansson, Michael Shannon, and Sean Penn, who read some of Smith’s poetry. The evening also saw a surprise appearance from Johnny Depp, who became close with Smith following the death of her brother. “I lost my brother and really mourned him, and it felt like he sent Johnny Depp to be my new brother,” she once said in an interview with The Sun.
One of the evening’s highlights was Springsteen’s rendition of “Because the Night”, which he originally wrote while recording his 1978 album Darkness on the Edge of Town. After struggling to bring the song to fruition with engineer Jimmy Iovine, who was also producing Smith’s album Easter at the time, he took Iovine’s suggestion to offer the song to Smith. She added her own lyrics before recording it for Easter, and the song became her biggest hit.
“Patti gave me this big hit right here I’m about to sing,” Springsteen told the crowd upon taking the stage. “If I had sung this song, it wouldn’t have been a hit. It needed her voice, and her incredible lyrics. So Patti, I have to thank you so dearly for our one big hit together. Thank you, darling.”
The night ended with an all-hands-on-deck performance of “People Have the Power” featuring Smith herself alongside most of the evening’s performers. All proceeds raised from the event will help fund music education for underprivileged youth.
Watch Bruce Springsteen and Flea team up on “Because the Night” at Carnegie Hall in honor of Patti Smith below.
Bruce Springsteen With Flea – “Because The Night” – 3/26/25
[Video: themeboudin]