Patti Smith Reveals the Daughter She Placed for Adoption Helped Uncover the Truth About Her Biological Father (Exclusive)

Patti Smith Shares New Family Revelations in Memoir

Music icon Patti Smith unveils intimate family secrets in her eagerly awaited memoir, Bread of Angels. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, she discusses the book’s creation and why now was the right time to reveal the truth.

A Reluctant Return to Memoir Writing

Patti Smith, known as the godmother of punk and acclaimed for her 2010 National Book Award-winning memoir Just Kids, did not plan to write another nonfiction work. She told PEOPLE,

“I wrote [Just Kids] for Robert [Mapplethorpe] because he asked me to, just hours before he died. And I labored on that book for a long time, and did learn how to write a book such as that, but I hadn't planned to write another.”

The Dream That Sparked Inspiration

Her inspiration for Bread of Angels came from a vivid dream a decade ago. She described it to PEOPLE as follows:

“In my dream, I received a package, and it was a white book, and it had a white ribbon and photographs of dresses that I had owned in my life. My wedding dress, the dress that Robert gave me, the white dress my brother gave me that's on the cover of Wave. And they were all attached to stories about my life, and it was such a beautiful book, and when I woke up, my hands were extended.”

About Patti Smith

Author's Summary

Patti Smith’s new memoir, inspired by a profound dream, reveals deeply personal family truths, marking a significant and unexpected addition to her literary legacy.

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People.com People.com — 2025-11-05

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