Patti Smith Reveals New Family Secrets in Memoir
Music icon Patti Smith shares untold family stories in her eagerly awaited memoir, Bread of Angels. Smith spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about the inspiration behind the book and why she chose to reveal these truths now.
Background and Motivation
Known as the godmother of punk, Patti Smith rose to fame in the 1970s with her debut album Horses and later gained literary acclaim with her National Book Award-winning memoir Just Kids in 2010. Initially, Smith had no plans to write another memoir.
"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," Smith told PEOPLE.
A Dream That Sparked the Memoir
Her new memoir was inspired by a vivid dream she 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."
About the Author
- Patti Smith is both a pioneering musician and acclaimed writer.
- Bread of Angels promises new revelations about her family and personal history.
- The memoir represents a deeply personal journey motivated by a symbolic dream.
Author's summary: Patti Smith’s new memoir, born from a powerful dream, uncovers intimate family truths, revealing a fresh chapter from the punk icon and writer’s life.