Patti Smith has credited Bob Dylan as the single biggest influence on her development into a rock and roll artist, saying he represented "the whole package" she wanted to emulate. The reflection matters because it traces a clear lineage in punk and rock history, showing how Dylan's willingness to prioritise voice and storytelling over polished vocal technique opened the door for artists like Smith and Lou Reed, who in turn shaped the proto-punk movement.

Smith has explained that she was already drawn to figures such as Reed and the Velvet Underground for their confrontational, poetry-driven approach, but it was watching the documentary "Don't Look Back" and hearing Dylan's album "Another Side of Bob Dylan" that cemented her connection to him, recalling her mother buying her the record and telling her it "looks like someone you would like". Smith says Dylan's real legacy was courage rather than vocal skill, proving that authenticity and a compelling story mattered more than technical range, a philosophy that went on to underpin her own poetry-infused records.