Patti Smith on how she tracked down true identity of her biological father

Patti Smith on Discovering the Truth About Her Biological Father

The legendary singer-songwriter Patti Smith is celebrating the 50th anniversary of her debut album Horses and has just released her new memoir Bread of Angels, which took over a decade to complete.

In the book, Smith explores her entire life journey — from her working-class childhood in Philadelphia and South Jersey to her years away from the public eye. The memoir reveals deeply personal details, particularly about her search for the true identity of her biological father.

Family Revelation

According to Smith, the story began in 2002 when her mother hinted during a phone call that she had “a story” for her “about genetics.” When Smith brought it up again while visiting her mother in the hospital after a fall, she was met with silence and confusion.

“She had a story for me about genetics,” Smith recalls in Bread of Angels.

Finding the Truth

Years later, in 2012, Smith and her sister Linda decided to take a DNA test. The results revealed that they were actually half-sisters and did not share the same father, Grant Smith. This discovery became one of the emotional cores of her memoir.

Memoir Release

Bread of Angels takes readers through Smith’s formative years, capturing the moments when her artistic and romantic sensibilities first began to emerge. The book was published on November 4, 2025, by Bloomsbury Books UK.

“Bread of Angels takes us through her childhood and teenage years where the first glimmers of art and romance take hold.”

Author’s Summary: Patti Smith’s memoir Bread of Angels intertwines her artistic evolution with a heartfelt search for truth about her family origins and the father she never knew.

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NME NME — 2025-11-08

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