Patti Smith Celebrates 70th Birthday In Chicago With Sold-Out Show (VIDEO)

UPTOWN —  Punk rock poet and singer Patti Smith rang in her 70th birthday with a sold-out show at Uptown's Riveria Theatre Friday, where ex-R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe joined her onstage to sing "Happy Birthday" along with fans.

Smith was born in Chicago on December 30, 1946.

Stipe brought out a cake as confetti fell from the ceiling of the venue at 4746 N. Broadway Ave. The birthday excitement was captured by fans on social media.

Michael Stipe, the lead singer of R.E.M., came out with a cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to Patti Smith. pic.twitter.com/WACrIGsJZq

— Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) December 31, 2016

The Riv show, where Smith performed her 1975 debut album, "Horses," was the first of two Chicago concerts. On Saturday Smith will play Park West for New Year's Eve, which is closer to her actual birthplace, the former Grant Hospital at Lincoln and Webster avenues.

Corbin Reiff, a music writer, posted highlights from the night, tweeting that Smith ended with a "wailing wall of guitar feedback and a venomous (sic), defiant "Not My F---ng President!"

"Have a beautiful birthday and thank you for all of your art. Capricorns rock! #pattismith" one concert goer wrote on Instagram.

Smith came to fame in the midst of the punk movement in the '70s and has been a cultural force for decades, as well as being politically active and outspoken. Her book "Just Kids," about her life as a struggling artist living with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in New York City in the early '70s, won a 2010 National Book Award, and she followed that with "M Train" last year.

Earlier this month, Smith took Bob Dylan's place at a ceremony for the Nobel Prize in Literature, where she sang a goose bump inducing version of Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall."

Patti Smith 12/30 Concert Highlights:

Patti Smith turns 70: "People have the power — and don't forget it. Use. Your. Voice. Chicago, city of my birth!" https://t.co/TnhEnYtBXl

— Robert Loerzel (@robertloerzel) December 31, 2016

 

I don't know how I got so lucky. Ending this year by photographing Patti Smith's 70th birthday- that's something I never thought I'd be able to say. And for the record, it's hard to take photos when you're crying a little. . . . . . #chicago #htbarp #chicagogram #livemusicphotography #bestof2016 #musician #musicislife #chicagophotography #professionalphotographer #igerschicago #punkrock #chicagomusic #happybirthday #photooftheday #bestmusicshots #gigphotography #photojournalism #alternative #liveperformance #artphotography #vscocam #horses #pattismith #feminism #punk #pattismithgroup #punksnotdead #concertphotography #punkgirl

A photo posted by kate scott photography ★ (@kate_scott_photography) on Dec 30, 2016 at 7:42pm PST

 

Patti Smith & Michael Stipe just chillin nbd

A photo posted by Linze Rice (@linze27) on Dec 30, 2016 at 8:40pm PST

Legendary show from Patti Smith that ended in a wailing wall of guitar feedback and a venoumous, defiant "Not My Fucking President!" pic.twitter.com/3Cfgx3MnDT

— Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) December 31, 2016

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