David Bianculli

His photographs of nudes, often in erotic and sadomasochistic poses, put him at the center of a battle over censorship and federal funding of the arts.

Mapplethorpe died of AIDS in 1989 at the age of 42.

Terry first spoke with Patti Smith in 1996 when Smith had published a book of short prose poems dedicated to and inspired by Mapplethorpe.

The book was called The Coral Sea.

Terry asked Smith about a famous photograph he had taken of her.

Patty Smith, speaking to Terry Gross in 1996.

After a break, we'll listen to portions of another of their conversations, this one from 2010.

Also, we'll hear from actress Laura Dern in a 2023 interview discussing her mother, Diane Ladd, who died this week at age 89.

And I'll review Pluribus, the new series from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan.

I'm David Bianculli, and this is Fresh Air.

We're commemorating the 50th anniversary of Patti Smith's debut album, Horses.

She's considered the godmother of punk.

With her first album, she created a hybrid of poetry and rock and established a high-energy performance style that was sometimes aggressive and sometimes ecstatic.

When Terry spoke with Patti Smith in 2010, Smith had written the memoir Just Kids about growing up in New Jersey, moving to New York in 1967, evolving into a poet, songwriter, and performer, and beginning a relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe.

Patti Smith speaking with Terry Gross in 2010.

There's a new 50th anniversary edition of her debut album, Horses, now out on Legacy Recordings.

She also has a new memoir titled Bread of Angels.

Coming up, we remember actress Diane Ladd, who died Monday at the age of 89.

This is Fresh Air.

Actress Diane Ladd died Monday at the age of 89.