Jesus Died For Somebodies Sins But Not Mine.

Patti Smith has published a memoir, Just Kids, about coming to New York City at 19 and meeting famed photographer, Robert Mapplethorpe.

The book is framed by Mapplethorpe's death but delves into Smith's origins. There are flashbacks from her childhood, "vague memories, like impressions of glass plates".

At 19, Smith fell pregnant to a 17 year old boy. She was forced to give her baby away but swore to become a great artist in the memory of her lost child.

Mapplethorpe is renowned for his iconic image of Patti Smith which later became the cover of her debut Horses.

Smith was a factory worker, writer, journalist and performance artist before she became a musician. Her music conveys a wealth of experience and an aching rawness, making her one of the real rock stars of the seventies.

She is known today for her opposition to the Iraq war and political commentary. Here's what she said about Guantamano Bay:

"I wrote both these (protest) songs directly in response to events that I felt outraged about. These are injustices against children and the young men and women who are being incarcerated. I'm an American, I pay taxes in my name and they are giving millions and millions of dollars to a country such as Israel and cluster bombs and defense technology and those bombs were dropped on common citizens in Qana. It's terrible. It's a human rights violation."

Favourite tracks: Gloria (the opening line is "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine") and Because The Night.