Marianne Faithfull: A Life of Music, Love, and Resilience

 

Marianne Faithfull: A Life of Music, Love, and Resilience

Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has passed away at the age of 78, as confirmed by her spokesperson.

Born in Hampstead in December 1946, Faithfull rose to fame with her hit song As Tears Go By, which reached the UK top 10 in 1964. She also made a mark in the film industry with performances in movies such as The Girl On A Motorcycle (1968). Her high-profile relationship with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger in the 1960s led to her being immortalized in songs like Wild Horses and You Can't Always Get What You Want.

After battling heroin addiction during the 1970s, Faithfull made a triumphant return with her seminal album Broken English.

Jagger expressed his sorrow, calling Faithfull "a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer, and a great actress." His bandmate Keith Richards shared his condolences, stating he was "so sad" and that he "will miss her." Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood also paid tribute on Instagram, posting both a vintage photo of them together and a more recent image, captioning one with "Farewell dear Marianne."

According to a statement from her spokesperson, "Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, surrounded by her loving family. She will be dearly missed."

Faithfull had faced numerous health challenges over the years, including bulimia, breast cancer, and emphysema from decades of smoking. In 2020, she was hospitalized with Covid-19 for 22 days, defying doctors' expectations and recovering to release her 21st album, She Walks in Beauty, a year later.

Her journey was emblematic of the rock and roll era. Discovered at 16 by the Rolling Stones' manager, she was given As Tears Go By, the first song written by Jagger and Richards. The track's ethereal folk-pop style became her signature sound in the 1960s. Her debut album and North Country Maid (1966) cemented her place in the "British Invasion" of the US charts.

Her romance with Jagger brought intense media scrutiny. Following their breakup, she struggled with addiction and experienced homelessness in Soho. However, she reclaimed her artistic voice with Dreamin' My Dreams (1976) and found her true resurgence with Broken English (1979), which earned a Grammy nomination. The album introduced a huskier, world-weary vocal style that defined the next phase of her career.

Over the years, Faithfull collaborated with artists such as PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Jarvis Cocker, Damon Albarn, Emmylou Harris, and Metallica. Lars Ulrich of Metallica expressed gratitude for her contributions, acknowledging her unique influence on their music.

Her acting career ran parallel to her musical endeavors. She shared the stage with Glenda Jackson in Three Sisters, portrayed Ophelia in Hamlet, and took on diverse roles in productions like The Black Rider. She even appeared as God in Absolutely Fabulous.

Faithfull's penultimate album, Negative Capability (2018), explored themes of aging, loneliness, and grief, inspired by the loss of close friends and personal experiences. It included an emotionally raw re-recording of As Tears Go By, which moved everyone in the studio to tears.

Honored with the World Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Women's World Awards, Faithfull was also named a commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris described her as "an encapsulation of the sixties," noting that while she was first seen as Jagger's muse, she ultimately gained recognition as a true artist in her own right.

Faithfull was married three times—to artist John Dunbar in 1965, musician Ben Brierly in 1979, and actor Giorgio Della Terza in 1988. She is survived by her son, Nicholas Dunbar.