Johnny Depp Joins Bruce Springsteen, Michael Stipe & Patti Smith for Star-Studded Tribute at Carnegie Hall
Patti Smith received an extraordinary musical salute in New York City on Wednesday, March 26, where some of the most iconic names in rock gathered at Carnegie Hall for People Have the Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith.
Among them: Johnny Depp, Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, and Smith herself — all sharing the stage for a powerhouse finale of her 1988 anthem “People Have the Power.”
The two-and-a-half–hour tribute, per Rolling Stone, featured a wide roster of artists honoring Smith’s legacy. Scheduled performers included Ben Harper, Glen Hansard, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Penn, Flea, and more, each contributing to an evening that blended poetry, rock history, and heartfelt admiration for the punk-poet icon.
⭐ Depp Rehearses at City Winery — and Shares a Tender Moment with Smith
Ahead of the Carnegie Hall performance, Depp was spotted rehearsing at New York City’s City Winery, where photographer Lynn Goldsmith — a longtime friend of Smith — captured intimate behind-the-scenes moments.
One striking image showed Depp crouching at the edge of the stage to gently kiss Smith’s hand as she watched rehearsal. In another clip shared jointly by Goldsmith and Depp, the actor/musician rehearsed with a full band while Smith observed with visible emotion, hands pressed to her mouth.
Goldsmith wrote in her caption:
“There will be plenty of postings coming with the days here spent celebrating Patti … this one speaks for itself.”
🎸 Depp Performs “Dancing Barefoot” — A Song With History
During the main event, Depp joined The Kills’ Alison Mosshart for a performance of “Dancing Barefoot,” a song he previously performed with Smith and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder nearly 15 years ago.
The tribute comes just months after Depp honored his late friend Jeff Beck by touring a Christie’s exhibition of Beck’s personal instruments — later sharing a reflective video set to “Midnight Walker,” a track from their 2022 collaborative album 18.
“Walking through the history of Jeff’s life. He was the world’s greatest, most influential guitarist who just happened to become my beloved friend.” — JD X
Depp also joined an all-star lineup in June 2024 — including Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons, Chris Robinson, and Graham Coxon — at the Gibson Garage in London to celebrate what would have been Beck’s 80th birthday.
🎤 A Night of Music, Memory & Influence
For Patti Smith, 78, the night served as both tribute and testament — her decades-long influence echoed through every performance. When she, Springsteen, Stipe, and Depp stood together onstage, the moment felt less like a finale and more like a declaration of her enduring cultural power.
A celebration of punk poetry, rock rebellion, and the community built around her art — People Have the Power lived up to its name.