The 77-year-old musician and writer, often called the "godmother of punk," shared how she found out the man who raised her was not her biological father. This revelation significantly changed her understanding of family.
Published on 4 November 2025 by Random House, Bread of Angels follows Patti Smith's acclaimed National Book Award-winning memoir, Just Kids. The book chronicles her life from childhood in Chicago through her career in music and experiences of motherhood.
Smith revealed that she learned about her biological father through DNA testing, uncovering that the man she had called her dad all her life was not her biological parent.
"The revelation about her dad changed her understanding of her family."
Author's summary: Patti Smith’s new memoir reveals a profound family truth uncovered through DNA testing, reshaping her personal history and artistic narrative.