Marianne Faithfull, a prominent figure in the British music scene who transitioned from 1960s pop sensation to a long-lasting artist, died on January 30, 2025 in London, England at the age of 78.
Her spokesperson confirmed her death and released a statement saying, “We deeply mourn the passing of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull. Marianne left us peacefully today in London, surrounded by her family.”
Faithfull, born in December 1946 in Hampstead, London, came into the limelight at the age of 16 when discovered by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Her breakthrough came in 1964 with the recording of “As Tears Go By,” penned by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, which spent nine weeks on the Billboard charts, peaking at number nine.
As historian David Dalton stated, “Her relationship with Jagger and her lifestyle shaped some of the Stones’ most memorable songs.”
Her intimate relationship with Jagger that started in 1966 was a significant part of the 1960s London music scene. Faithfull’s influence on the Rolling Stones led to the creation of songs like “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Wild Horses.” This relationship ended in 1970, and Faithfull shared insights about this era in her 1994 autobiography, narrating the highs and lows of being at the heart of the British rock movement.
Faithfull overcame a heroin addiction and homelessness in the 1970s and made a significant comeback with her 1979 album “Broken English,” earning her a Grammy nomination. The album showcased her unique voice, which had evolved into a deeper and gravelly tone, adding a raw authenticity to her music.
Faithfull’s personal life was marked by numerous hurdles, including a miscarriage during her relationship with Jagger, a custody battle that resulted in a temporary separation from her only child during her marriage to John Dunbar, a suicide attempt, multiple rehab stays, and a drug-related arrest in February 1967 involving the Rolling Stones, known as the Redlands drug bust, which led to a wave of sensational but often misleading media coverage in Britain.
The infamous Redlands bust was a key event of that time. The police raided a party at Richards’ house, where they found Faithfull wrapped in a fur rug, a detail that was widely reported. Both Jagger and Richards faced drug charges, with Jagger receiving a three-month sentence for amphetamine possession and Richards a one-year sentence for allowing cannabis smoking at his home. Although these sentences were later overturned, the incident marked a significant shift in Faithfull’s public persona and personal life, symbolizing the establishment’s crackdown on the 1960s counter-culture.
During her career, Faithfull worked with many artists such as David Bowie, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, and Metallica. She continued to record and perform until her later years, releasing “Negative Capability” in 2018 and “She Walks in Beauty” in 2021.
She faced many health issues, including a breast cancer diagnosis in 2006, and a 22-day hospitalization due to COVID-19 in 2020. Despite the medical prognosis, she managed to recover and continued with her musical pursuits.
Faithfull’s contributions to music were widely acknowledged. She was awarded the World Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Women’s World Awards and was named a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Besides music, Faithfull had a thriving acting career, with roles in Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” alongside Glenda Jackson and as Ophelia in “Hamlet.” She starred in the movie “The Girl on a Motorcycle” (1968) and had notable appearances in the TV series “Absolutely Fabulous.”
Faithfull penned multiple autobiographies, including “Faithfull” in 1994 and “Memories, Dreams & Reflections” in 2007, providing an honest look into her life, the music business, and the 1960s cultural revolution.
She is survived by her son, Nicholas Dunbar, from her first marriage to artist John Dunbar. She was later married to Ben Brierly and Giorgio Della Terza.
