PATTI SMITH: NEW YORK IS NO LONGER WELCOMING TO ARTISTS AND DREAMERS

Hearing Patti Smith speak candidly is just as riveting as reading polished passages from her writing. The musician and author expresses herself in a way writers wished their drafted, written, and revised work would sound. Last night, in a conversation with ​Esquire's​ editor in chief David Granger to promote her new memoir, ​M Train, Smith wove together stories about surprising artistic influences (the Declaration of Independence), tales of her most memorable experiences with fame (her last concert in Florence, September 1979, where a ban on rock and roll had just been lifted), what brings her the most pride (her two kids, despite admitting she never wanted to be a parent), and the greatest advice she ever received ("Keep your name clean," courtesy of novelist William S. Burroughs). No matter the topic at hand, the city always emerged as the star of her anecdotes​. Here, read the best of what New York had, and has, to offer in the legend's own words.

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