Patti Smith

She’s a legend, she’s the godmother of punk, she’s a poet priestess. All true and all much stated about Smith. But the smaller and deeper truth is that she started out as a rock ’n’ roll fan, and she still plays with the conviction and the passion of an entertainer who loves performing. Her latest album, Twelve, pays homage to a varied selection of industry giants, from the Stones, the Doors, and Hendrix to Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, and Nirvana. The covers make for more of a scrapbook than a transformation, but live she will undoubtedly invigorate and mutate the material. 2006 saw her inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and she helped take her old stomping grounds, N.Y.C.’s famous CBGB, out in style at the club’s final show, but don’t expect her to take a victory lap just yet. She’s always restless, constantly pushing forward with more energy and defiance than someone half her age.