Patti Smith to Play Private Show at Hotel Chelsea Despite Objection from Residents

January 12, 2012 11:11 AM

Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for Lancia

Filed under

Patti Smith has called the Hotel Chelsea home twice in her life. The first was in the ’60s with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. The second was in the late ’90s after her husband, Fred Smith, passed away.

Despite that fact, Smith is feeling heat from some of the current residents who aren’t too happy with her plan to perform a private show in the hotel’s ballroom tonight.

[photogallerylink id=33109]

The Godmother of Punk is being labeled a sellout for performing at the Hotel Chelsea, as some residents believe the act shows her support for the new owner of the building, Joseph Chetrit. Chetrit has plans to remodel the building, which includes evicting over thirty of its current residents.

“As a Patti Smith fan, I’m disappointed that she would support the developers who are destroying the Chelsea Hotel for future generations,” Ed Hamilton tells the Daily News. Hamilton has been a resident since 1995 and is the author of Legends of the Chelsea Hotel: Living With Artists and Outlaws in New York’s Rebel Mecca.

“Will a nice, stirring rendition of ‘People Have the Power’ make the tenants feel better about the ongoing destruction of the hotel and the eviction of permanent residents?” Hamilton continued. “I seriously doubt it.”

All current (and soon to be evicted) residents have been cordially invited to the event. Whether the disgruntled tenants decide to show is yet to be scene.

More Patti Smith News on WCBSFM.com!

Latest from WCBSFM.com >

Carol Green

Actually, you are a little out of date. Patti Smith posted the following statement on her website yesterday:

HOTEL CHELSEA

My current involvement with the Hotel Chelsea began some
months ago when I heard rumors that the hotel would be
leveled. I was devastated and entered in a dialogue with the
architect, through a mutual friend.

He assured me this was not the case and every effort would
be made to save and restore the building, which was greatly
deteriorating. Having witnessed the demolition and
redevelopment of much of our city I was at least hopeful
that the hotel would stand.

Since then my few efforts on behalf of the Hotel have been
unofficial and uncompensated.

My dialogue has continued with the architect. My personal
objectives have always been:

— To offer uncompensated advice as to the aesthetics
of the renovation project.

— To council all concerned to develop positive
communication with the tenants.

— To be available in the future, without fee, in
participating in the development and preservation of the
artistic cachet of the hotel.

— To participate in the development of a possible
artists-in-residence program.

My small performance for the tenants was my own idea. My
hope is that we might have a nice evening and the
opportunity to communicate directly.

I am an independent person, not owned or directed by anyone.
My allegiance is to the Hotel itself, and I have done
nothing to tarnish it. It is very difficult for me to
embrace change, but my great hope is to witness the Hotel
Chelsea find a strong and positive place in the twenty-first
century.