Patti Smith Reveals Family Secrets in New Memoir
Music icon Patti Smith shares never-before-revealed family stories in her latest memoir, Bread of Angels. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Smith discusses the inspiration behind the book and why she chose to unveil these truths now.
Background and Inspiration
Patti Smith, known as the godmother of punk, rose to fame in the 1970s with her debut album Horses. She later made a significant impact in literature with her National Book Award-winning memoir Just Kids, published in 2010.
Smith originally did not intend to write another memoir. She explained to PEOPLE how Just Kids was written for her late friend and artist Robert Mapplethorpe.
“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 the New Memoir
The inspiration for Bread of Angels came from a dream Smith had a decade ago.
“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.”
New Revelations
The memoir unveils long-hidden truths about Patti Smith’s family, including the discovery of her biological father’s identity, helped by the daughter she placed for adoption.
About the Author
- Patti Smith is a seminal figure in punk rock and literature.
- Her previous memoir, Just Kids, won the National Book Award.
- She was inspired to write this new book by a vivid dream and personal revelations.
Summary: Patti Smith’s new memoir, inspired by a decade-old dream, courageously unveils deeply personal family secrets and the discovery of her biological father through her adopted daughter’s help.
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