It is with sadness that we note the passing of singer-songwriter-actress, Marianne Faithfull. She was 78 years old.
Faithfull first gained fame when she was discovered by the Rolling Stones’ manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, while attending a party for the band. Her first record, "As Tears Go By," was penned by the Stones’ Jagger & Richards. It cracked the American Top 40 and the Top 10 in the UK. Of course, her stunning good looks didn’t hinder her career. She followed that up with three more singles that charted on both sides of the Atlantic, but she was becoming more famous for being Mick Jagger’s girlfriend.
Sadly, she also became known for her chronic drug use. A failed suicide attempt inspired Jagger to write “Wild Horses,” reportedly based on her comment to Jagger in the hospital that those animals couldn't drag her away from him. After their split, her addiction to heroin grew worse. For a time in the 70s, she was actually living on the streets as a homeless person.
Faithfull eventually achieved sobriety and was able to launch a successful comeback. Years of chromic laryngitis and drug use had altered her voice, making it raspy and lower pitched. Critics and fans agreed that it added a depth and additional emotional layer to her singing. She achieved success with her first LP for Island Records, Broken English, in 1979. She continued to release new music through 2016 and toured often.
Faithfull also had an extensive acting career appearing on stage, screen, and television in productions ranging from Shakespeare’s Hamlet to appearances on the British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.
Plagued by health problems, starting with childhood tuberculosis and continuing throughout her life, her later tours were frequently curtailed. She is survived by a son.
