Fred "Sonic" Smith (14 September, 1949 - 4 November, 1994) was the rhythm guitar player in proto-punk band the MC5. He later went on to form Sonic's Rendezvous Band. With Sonic's Rendezvous Band, Smith released only one single, the classic Detroit rock song, "City Slang". Smith was married to the punk pioneer and poet Patti Smith, until a sudden fatal heart attack, at the age of forty five. He and Patti collaborated on her 1988 come back album Dream of Life. Patti Smith's 1996 album Gone Again features a tribute to her late husband. The Smiths had a son Jackson born 1981 and a daughter Jesse born 1987; Jackson Smith formerly played guitar in the Michigan based band, Back In Spades and played bass guitar with The Paybacks. He currently plays bass and guitar with the Patti Smith Band. Jesse plays keyboards and sings with the New York City based band Mumu Worthy. The band Sonic Youth took its name from Smith's nickname.
