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Renowned singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has passed away at the age of 78.
A representative from her music promotion organization Republic Media announced: “With profound sorrow, we share the news of the death of the singer, songwriter, and actress Marianne Faithfull.”
“Marianne departed peacefully in London today, surrounded by her devoted family.”
“She will be greatly missed.”
Faithfull pictured in 1995. Pic: Reuters
Faithfull rose to fame with her 1964 single “As Tears Go By,” penned by Sir Mick Jagger, who was also in a well-documented relationship with her, alongside fellow Rolling Stones member Keith Richards.
Her film credits include notable roles in “The Girl On A Motorcycle” and 2007’s “Irina Palm,” for which she received a nomination for the European Film Award for Best Actress.
In more recent years, she lent her voice to the 2021 remake of “Dune” as well as to 2023’s “Wild Summon.”
Faithfull in “The Girl On A Motorcycle.” Pic: Mid-Atlantic/Ares/Claridge/Kobal/Shutterstock
She and Sir Mick began their relationship in 1966, becoming one of the most glamorous duos of Swinging London.
He expressed his sorrow, honoring his “wonderful friend, a beautiful singer, and a remarkable actress,” stating he was “deeply saddened” by her passing, as “she was a significant part of my life for a long time.”
Accompanying a photo of them together on Instagram, Sir Mick remarked that Faithfull “will always be cherished.”
His Rolling Stones bandmates, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards, also offered their tributes, with Richards sharing on Instagram that he was “so saddened and will miss her greatly.”
The post included a photo of the two sharing a drink together.
Wood commented on Jagger’s tribute, writing: “Farewell dear Marianne.”
Marianne Faithfull, born in 1946, began her music career in 1964 after being discovered by Andrew Loog Oldham, the manager of the Rolling Stones.
Her self-titled debut album launched a year later, with the single “As Tears Go By” ascending to number nine on the UK singles chart.
She subsequently released a series of hit singles, including “Come And Stay With Me,” “This Little Bird,” and “Summer Nights,” and famously had a romantic involvement with Sir Mick Jagger from 1966 to 1970.
Faithfull was highly productive throughout the 1960s, issuing six albums—some exclusive to the UK while others catered to the US market—and even lending her voice to backing vocals on The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,” which helped inspire the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil.”
The decade also witnessed her acting in films such as 1967’s “I’ll Never Forget What’s’isname” – where she became one of the first individuals to use the f-word in a mainstream film – 1968’s “The Girl On A Motorcycle,” and Tony Richardson’s 1969 rendition of “Hamlet.”
Her relationship with Sir Mick was highly publicized, with the pair being arrested in 1968 for cannabis possession.
She also gained notoriety when police found her draped only in a bear skin rug during a drugs raid at Keith Richards’ residence in 1967.
Faithfull and Mick Jagger were involved from 1966 to 1970. Image: Shutterstock
After ending her relationship with the Rolling Stones’ frontman, Faithfull encountered two years of homelessness in Soho while battling anorexia and heroin addiction before moving into a squat.
In her 1994 autobiography, she reflected: “For me, being a junkie represented an admirable lifestyle. It provided total invisibility, a state I hadn’t experienced since I was 17.
“As a street addict in London, I finally discovered it. I lacked a telephone and an address.”
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In 1979, after enjoying success in Ireland with the country-inspired “Dreamin’ My Dreams,” Faithfull launched the Grammy-nominated “Broken English” – broadly regarded as her finest album.
She later earned critical acclaim as a jazz and blues artist with the release of “Strange Weather” in 1987 and entered rehab during that same decade.
Faithfull showcased her talent at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 2009. Image: Jean-Christophe Bott/EPA/Shutterstock
Over her career, Faithfull produced a total of 21 solo albums. Her most recent work was the spoken word album “She Walks In Beauty,” released in 2021, collaborating with frequent Nick Cave partner Warren Ellis.
She triumphantly overcame breast cancer in 2006.
