Mick Jagger has announced, “I am so saddened to hear of the death of Marianne Faithfull. She was so much part of my life for so long. She was a wonderful friend, a beautiful singer and a great actress. She will always be remembered.”
Marianne Faithfull, the iconic British singer, songwriter, and actress, has passed away at the age of 78. A true legend, Faithfull leaves behind a lasting legacy that shaped the worlds of music, fashion, and film for over five decades.
Born on December 29, 1946, in Hampstead, London, Faithfull rose to fame in 1964 with her breakthrough hit As Tears Go By, a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. With her ethereal voice and striking beauty, she quickly became a symbol of the Swinging Sixties. Her high-profile relationship with Jagger further cemented her place in popular culture, but behind the glamour, she battled personal demons, including struggles with addiction and homelessness.
Despite her hardships, Faithfull made one of the most celebrated comebacks in music history. In 1979, she released Broken English, an album that showcased her transformed voice—now deep and raspy from years of experience and hardship. The album’s raw emotion and bold lyricism reestablished her as an artist of immense depth and resilience.
Over the years, Faithfull continued to release critically acclaimed albums, experimenting with different musical styles while maintaining her signature poetic and introspective approach. She also pursued an acting career, appearing in films such as The Girl on a Motorcycle and Marie Antoinette.
In her later years, Faithfull faced several health challenges, including battles with breast cancer, hepatitis C, and a severe case of COVID-19. Yet she remained artistically active, releasing She Walks in Beauty, a spoken-word album that paid tribute to the poetry she loved.
Marianne Faithfull’s influence on music and culture is immeasurable. Her ability to reinvent herself and rise from adversity time and time again made her a true icon. She will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
