Marianne Faithfull, whose six-decade career established her as one of the UK’s most versatile and influential singer-songwriters, has passed away at the age of 78.
Marianne Faithfull Early Life and Rise to Fame
Born Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull in Hampstead, London, in December 1946, she rose to fame in the 1960s with her breakout single, As Tears Go By. The song, written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Andrew Loog Oldham, became a UK top-10 hit in 1964 and marked the beginning of her career as a leading female artist in the British Invasion of the United States.
Marianne Faithfull Relationship with Mick Jagger and Influence on the Rolling Stones
Faithfull was also well known for her relationship with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger during the 1960s. She is believed to have inspired some of the band’s most iconic songs, including Wild Horses and You Can’t Always Get What You Want.
Career Challenges and Personal Struggles
Despite her early success, Faithfull faced significant personal struggles. Her heroin addiction in the 1970s led to a downward spiral, culminating in the loss of custody of her son and a period of homelessness in London’s Soho district. She later reflected on this time, acknowledging how acts of kindness from strangers helped her survive.
One of the most infamous moments in her life came in 1967 when she was found naked, wrapped in a fur rug after a shower, during a police raid at Keith Richards’ home. The incident, which also involved Mick Jagger and other friends, unfairly tarnished her reputation. “For a man, such behavior was glamorized. For a woman, it made her a slut,” she later remarked.
Marianne Faithfull Career Comeback and Musical Evolution
Despite these hardships, Faithfull managed to revive her career with the release of Dreamin’ My Dreams in 1976, marking her return to music. She cemented her artistic reinvention with the critically acclaimed album Broken English in 1979, which showcased a raw, more personal sound that resonated with audiences.
Throughout her career, she released 21 solo albums, exploring rock, folk, and spoken-word performances. She also fought a long legal battle for credit on Sister Morphine, a song she co-wrote with Jagger and Richards, which was later recorded by the Rolling Stones for their Sticky Fingers album. She ultimately won the rights to her contribution.
Health Battles and Final Years
Faithfull endured multiple health challenges, including bulimia, breast cancer, and emphysema, the latter caused by decades of smoking. In 2020, she contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalized for 22 days. Doctors did not expect her to survive, but she made a remarkable recovery and went on to release her final album, She Walks in Beauty, in 2021, a spoken-word project in collaboration with Warren Ellis.
Marianne Faithfull Passing and Legacy
A statement released by her family confirmed her passing: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of singer, songwriter, and actress Marianne Faithfull. Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.”
Faithfull’s legacy as a fearless, boundary-pushing artist remains unmatched. From her beginnings as a 1960s pop sensation to her later years as a deeply expressive and raw performer, she carved a unique path in music history. Her influence on rock, her resilience through adversity, and her ability to constantly reinvent herself ensure that she will be remembered as one of the most significant artists of her era.
