Punk poet and Meltdown curator Patti Smith was overcome with emotion when she learnt that her performance of 'Horses' has sold out - and insists England has always embraced her far more readily than the US.
Her show on June 25 - which sees her perform 'Horses' in its original entirety for the first time in rock history - booked up immediately, something which means all the more to Patti as the legendary album was snapped up hungrily by punk-friendly England when it was first released.
Ms Smith tells The Guardian how she felt when she learned of the stonking response to her upcoming South Bank performance: 'I was overwhelmed. To tell the truth, it brought tears to my eyes.
"Horses pretty much broke as a record in England. I always think of us as a semi-English band because we were so maverick in America and then we went to London and played that first date at the Roundhouse in May 1976, and the response gave me my first sense that "wow, we're really doing something."'
The ultimate rock chick was determined to recreate her (arguably) finest work for the good people of London, and although she admits she isn't getting any younger, she intends to strut her stuff for some time to come...
She adds, "I wanted to do it while I'm still physically able to execute it with full heart and voice. I had nicer hair back then, but my voice is actually stronger now!
"I'm 58 years old, but I haven't lost anything, 'cos I've learnt to take good care of myself. I want to be around a really long time. I want to be a thorn in the side of everything as long as possible.'
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