PATTY SMITH: NEW ALBUM, JOHNNY DEPP AND AMY WINEHOUSE

Photo: rmusic.co.uk

Patti Smith spoken out about her new album 'Banga', which was released earlier this week, and the role Johnny Depp played in its creation.

The Hollywood actor and musician – who played guitar with The Black Keys at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday (June 3) – features on the album's title track.

Smith explained to Spinner that she called Depp with the idea for the song while he was filming The Rum Diary. He then recorded her singing the track a capella down the line. "Then Johnny said he would send it to me so I wouldn't forget," said Smith. "So I'm waiting and waiting and he didn't send it! I said, 'Johnny, where's 'Banga'?' He said, 'Oh, you'll get it'. And [when] I got it, he'd put drums, guitars, everything [on it]! So the first minute of the song is all me and Johnny Depp."

As well as featuring a tribute to Amy Winehouse, the album closes up with a cover of Neil Young's 'After The Gold Rush'. Smith says she finished the album with this track as she wanted the record to close like "a breath of spring". She told Spinner: "I was just sitting in a café having coffee and 'After the Gold Rush' came on. And I realised that the first two verses of 'After the Gold Rush' said everything that I wanted to say. I didn't think I could say it any better." Smith is rumoured to be supporting Young on his recently announced autumn tour of North America.

'Banga' is Smith's first album since her 2007 covers record 'Twelve' and her first record of original material since 2004's 'Trampin'. ?

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