Ivan Král was a Czech-born American composer, filmmaker, guitarist, record producer, bassist, and singer-songwriter. He worked across genres including pop music, punk rock, garage rock, rock, jazz, soul, country and film scores. His music has been recorded by such artists as U2, Téléphone, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Simple Minds, and John Waite, among others, and he won three times at the Anděl Awards. He died of cancer in 2020, aged 71.
Kral in 1974
Patti Smith and Ivan Kral promoting an album in Italy, 1978
David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Ivan Kral in Berlin, 1980
Ivan Kral and David Bowie in Prague, 1996
Patricia Lee Smith is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter, and author whose 1975 debut album Horses made her an influential member of the New York City-based punk rock movement. Smith has fused rock and poetry in her work. In 1978, her most widely known song, "Because the Night", co-written with Bruce Springsteen, reached 13th on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and fifth on the UK Singles Chart.
Smith performing in 2006
On October 15, 2006, Smith performed a 3½-hour tour de force show to close out CBGB, the famed New York City live music venue.
Smith performing at Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona, in June 2007
Smith performing at Haldern Pop in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in August 2014