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

Patti Smith Shares New Family Secrets in Memoir "Bread of Angels"

Music icon Patti Smith reveals intimate family truths in her upcoming memoir, Bread of Angels. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Smith discusses why she chose to open up now and the inspiration behind the book.

Unexpected Memoir Follow-Up

The godmother of punk, known for her breakthrough 1970s album Horses and her acclaimed 2010 memoir Just Kids, never intended to write another nonfiction book. Smith explains to 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."

Dream Sparks New Writing Journey

The idea to write Bread of Angels came from a vivid dream Smith had a decade ago. She recalls,

"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 the Author

Colleen Kratofil is Senior Editor of TV at PEOPLE, providing exclusive insights into Patti Smith’s new memoir.

Author's summary: Patti Smith’s new memoir, inspired by a powerful dream, unveils long-held family secrets, offering a deeply personal glimpse into the life of the punk icon beyond her music career.

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People.com People.com — 2025-11-04

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