Bruce Springsteen, Maggie Rogers, Michael Stipe & More Perform At Patti Smith Tribute At Carnegie Hall

Bruce Springsteen, Maggie Rogers, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe and many others performed at last night’s Patti Smith tribute concert at Carnegie Hall. Smith also took the stage at the storied venue in New York City.

Longtime Smith collaborator Tony Shanahan served as the “People Have the Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith” musical director. Accompanying Shanahan in the house band was Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, The Rolling Stones drummer Steve Jordan, former Bob Dylan guitarist Charlie Sexton and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench.

“People Have the Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith” was the 20th annual “Music Of” benefit organized by impresario Michael Dorf, who spoke at the start of the program. Net proceeds from the concert will go to music education for underserved youth. The ensuing tribute concert, coinciding with this year’s 50th anniversary of Smith’s landmark 1975 album Horses, saw an all-star roster of participants performing Smith’s songs and reading her poetry.

Springsteen emerged near the end of the show to join Smith on an anticipated performance of their beloved co-written song, “Because The Night.” Stipe’s participation included accompanying Smith’s daughter Jesse Paris Smith on “My Blakean Year.” Rogers’ featured contribution was Smith’s “Frederick.”

Smith’s poetry was read by director/musician Jim Jarmusch, actors Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn, and others.

The celebratory concert also saw Smith’s songs performed by Matt Berninger (“Piss Factory”), Courtney Barnett (“Redondo Beach”), Jesse Malin (“Free Money”), Sharon Van Etten (“Pissing in a River”), Michael Shannon (“Cowboy Truths”), Kronos Quartet (“Elegie”), The-Kills’ Alison Mosshart (“Ask the Angels”), Ben Harper (“Ghost Dance”), Susanna Hoffs (“Kimberly”), Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ Karen O (“Gloria”), Angel Olsen (“Easter”), Glen Hansard (“Beneath the Southern Cross”), Body/Head (“Wind”) and Johnny Depp (“Dancing Barefoot” with Alison Mosshart).

Smith came out at the end of the concert, joined by Shanahan and other members of her band – Lenny Kaye, Jay Dee Daugherty and Jackson Smith – as well most of the evening’s previous participants. With the Carnegie Hall stage full of musicians, Smith wrapped the night with “Peaceable Kingdom” and her signature anthem “People Have the Power.”

Scroll on to view a set of photos by photographer Bryan Lasky and video clips posted by attendees of last night’s tribute to Patti Smith below.