Patti Smith Rings in Rock Hall Induction

When Patti Smith received word that she was among this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, the punk rock icon reached out to one person in particular: friend and fellow 2007 classmate, Michael Stipe.

"We spoke right away," Smith tells Spinner of the R.E.M. frontman. "He was in London and we were all really happy. It was kind of funny -- through the years I always imagined that perhaps Michael would be there with me. And he is, in a whole other configuration. I know I'm gonna feel very proud and happy to see R.E.M. inducted."

While the honor has been a long time coming for Smith, the woman of many crowns -- poet, activist, painter, photographer, misfit, musician and mother -- is modest at best. "I've never wanted a career and I don't believe I have one," she says. "I believe that I'm a worker and that I've always done the best I could. One of the things that makes life worth living is being inspired by others, so I would hope that, in giving me this honor, they're saying that I did good work and they have faith that I'll keep doing good work. And that's what I'll do."

Read our exclusive Q&A with Patti Smith

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