Lenny Kaye, the longtime guitarist for the Patti Smith Group, is set to release his debut solo album, Goin’ Local, on July 17 via Yep Roc Records. At age 79, Kaye collaborated with Patti Smith on a track called “Solstice” and worked with musicians including Matthew Shipp and Tim Carbone. He described the album as a fresh start in a press release.
Lenny Kaye, known for curating the original Nuggets compilation and his role in the Patti Smith Group, enters solo territory with Goin’ Local. The album features contributions from jazz pianist Matthew Shipp, Railroad Earth’s Tim Carbone, the Jayhawks’ John Jackson, and David Mansfield. Kaye co-wrote “Solstice” with Patti Smith, his longtime bandmate. A preview of the title track is available ahead of the July 17 release on Yep Roc Records. Kaye shared in a press release, “I feel like I’m a new artist. I think this album will surprise those who think they know me from what I’ve done previously.” He explained the title, saying, “I’ve always loved the local, its intimacy and camaraderie.… I feel that the truest ‘Goin’ Local’ is the privilege to go inside my own head and hear how I sound to me.” The project follows Kaye’s 2022 memoir, Lightning Striking: Ten Transformative Moments in Rock and Roll. Kaye has upcoming U.S. tour dates with Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, including shows in Easton, Maryland on April 25 and New York on April 29. Later, he will join Patti Smith at the 2026 CBGB Festival.