Patti Smith: Horses, Paris 1976

Patti Smith: Horses, Paris 1976 is a gorgeous collection of never-before-published photographs of music legend Patti Smith, taken by rock-n-roll photographer Claude Gassian during the release of her iconic album Horses.

In 1975, Patti Smith released Horses, a seminal album in punk and rock music history. Lauded by critics, and often cited as the first punk rock album, Horses has influenced artists like U2, Madonna, and R.E.M.

Over the following year, she and her band visited Paris multiple times to perform, to accept awards, and to absorb the city’s culture. Gassian beautifully captures this moment in time.

As Patti writes, Claude Gassian’s photography is “a glimpse of the highly charged atmosphere of 1976 and the joyful hubris of a rock n’ roll band.”

These are previously unpublished images that show a young artist on the cusp of world stardom, and they will be catnip for her fans and for music historians.