Marianne Faithfull, a renowned British singer-songwriter who began her career in the 1960s pop music scene, passed away in London, England, on January 30, 2025. She was 78 years old.
Her death was confirmed by her spokesperson in a statement, “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter, and actress Marianne Faithfull. Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, surrounded by her loving family.”
Faithfull, born in December 1946 in Hampstead, London, was discovered by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham when she was just 16. Her career skyrocketed in 1964 with the release of “As Tears Go By,” a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The song was on the Billboard charts for nine weeks, peaking at the ninth position.
Historian David Dalton states, “Her relationship with Jagger and her lifestyle shaped some of the Stones’ most memorable songs.”
Faithfull’s intimate relationship with Mick Jagger, which started in 1966, significantly shaped the 1960s London music scene. Her influence on the Rolling Stones was profound, inspiring songs like “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Wild Horses.” The relationship ended in 1970, and Faithfull candidly described this period in her 1994 autobiography, outlining both the creative energy and personal struggles she experienced during the British rock movement.
After struggling with heroin addiction and homelessness in the 1970s, Faithfull made a notable comeback in 1979 with the album “Broken English,” which earned her a Grammy nomination. The album showcased her deepened and more gravelly voice, adding a raw authenticity to her music.
Faithfull’s life was fraught with personal hardships, including a miscarriage during her relationship with Jagger. This custody dispute temporarily separated her from her child during her marriage to John Dunbar, a suicide attempt, numerous rehabilitation stays, and a 1967 drug-related arrest involving the Rolling Stones at Keith Richards’ Sussex country home, known as the Redlands drug bust. This event sparked extensive, often inaccurate, media coverage in Britain.
The Redlands bust was a notorious incident of the time. During a party at Richards’ home, police conducted a raid and found Faithfull wearing only a fur rug, a detail that was widely reported in the tabloids.
Both Jagger and Richards faced drug charges, resulting in Jagger receiving a three-month sentence for amphetamine possession and Richards getting a one-year sentence for allowing cannabis to be smoked in his home. The sentences were later overturned on appeal, but this incident marked a significant shift in Faithfull’s public image and personal life.
Over her career, Faithfull collaborated with numerous artists, including David Bowie, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, and Metallica. She continued to make music into her later years, releasing “Negative Capability” in 2018 and “She Walks in Beauty” in 2021.
Faithfull faced significant health challenges during her life. In 2006, she disclosed a breast cancer diagnosis, and in 2020, she spent 22 days in hospital due to COVID-19. Against medical predictions, she recovered and continued to compose music.
Faithfull’s contributions to music were widely recognized. In 2009, she received the World Lifetime Achievement Award at the Women’s World Awards, and the French government named her a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Apart from music, Faithfull was also active in acting. She appeared in Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” alongside Glenda Jackson and played Ophelia in “Hamlet.” She also starred in the film “The Girl on a Motorcycle” (1968) and appeared in the TV series “Absolutely Fabulous.”
She published two autobiographies, “Faithfull” in 1994 and “Memories, Dreams & Reflections” in 2007, offering honest insights into her life, the music industry, and the cultural revolution of the 1960s.
Faithfull 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.