Seminal punk artist Patti Smith has set a March 21 release date for "Gung Ho," the eighth album of her career -- and her third since 1996's thunderous comeback LP "Gone Again."

Smith tracked and recorded "Gung Ho" last fall with producer Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies, Counting Crows) during sessions at Sear Sound studios in New York City.

Backing Smith is the same lineup that appeared on 1997's "Peace And Noise," including guitarist Lenny Kaye and drummer Jay Dee Daugherty -- both of whom played with Smith on her first LP, 1975's landmark "Horses" -- as well as newer accomplices Tony Shanahan on bass and Oliver Ray on guitar.

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, who first recorded with Smith on "E-Bow The Letter" from the group's 1996 "New Adventures In Hi-Fi" LP, makes a guest appearance on "Gung Ho," providing backing vocals on the planned first single "Glitter In Their Eyes."

Stipe also sang with Smith on "Last Call" from "Peace And Noise" and teamed up with Smith to produce a book of photographs taken on her 1995 tour (see "R.E.M.'s New LP Due This Fall, Stipe Publishes Patti Smith Photo Book").

Ex-Television guitarist Tom Verlaine and former Hüsker Dü drummer Grant Hart also appear on "Gung Ho," with the latter playing both piano and Farfisa organ. Smith's son, Jackson (whose father was the late MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith) helped co-write one of the new songs, "Persuasion," and plays solo guitar on the cut.

On February 5, Smith will once again take part in the eighth annual Tibet House Benefit Concert being held at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Others scheduled to participate in the show include Phish's Trey Anastasio, Rufus Wainwright, David Byrne, Philip Glass, and Angelique Kidjo.

The benefit will raise funds for Tibet House, an organization the Dalai Lama founded in 1987 to help preserve and protect Tibetan culture.

Smith plans to celebrate the release of "Gung Ho" by performing on "The Late Show With David Letterman" on March 21.