Patti Smith on Discovering Her Biological Father
Patti Smith, the legendary singer-songwriter, is marking the 50th anniversary of her debut album Horses while releasing her new memoir Bread of Angels, which has been more than a decade in the making.
In the memoir, Smith explores every stage of her life — from her working-class upbringing in Philadelphia and South Jersey to her retreat from the public eye. The book provides an intimate reflection on her personal and artistic evolution.
The Discovery
Smith recounts a pivotal moment from 2002 when her mother hinted over the phone that she had “a story about genetics.” Later, when Smith tried to revisit the topic as her mother lay in a hospital bed recovering from a fall, she was met only with silence and confusion.
“She had a story for me about genetics,” Smith recalls her mother saying during that phone call.
Unveiling the Truth
Years later, in 2012, Smith and her sister Linda took a DNA test. The results revealed that they were half-sisters and that Grant Smith was not the biological father they both believed they shared.
About the Memoir
Bread of Angels takes readers through Smith’s childhood and teenage years, capturing the first sparks of her passion for art and love. 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.” — Bloomsbury Books UK
Author’s Summary
In her memoir Bread of Angels, Patti Smith opens her heart to reveal both the creative beginnings of her life and the long-hidden truth about her biological father.