From ’60s Pop Sensation to Rock Survivor: Faithfull’s Journey Through Addiction, Reinvention, and Artistic Triumph Leaves an Indelible Mark on Music History
In breaking entertainment news, Marianne Faithfull, a legendary female singer who conquered adversity and became one of the most enduring 1960s music icons, passed away at age 78. This famous singer’s death marks the end of an era in the British rock scene.
A luminous presence and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger’s companion during the height of Swinging London, Faithfull weathered numerous challenges before rising to acclaim in her later years. Her journey from pop star to rock star epitomizes the themes of survival and transformation that defined her career.
From Angelic Voice to Raw Authenticity
Marianne Faithfull, who evolved from an angelic-voiced sensation of the British Invasion to a destitute drug addict before making a remarkable comeback in her early thirties as an acclaimed cabaret artist known for her raw, authentic performances, died on Thursday in London.
A spokesperson confirmed her passing without specifying the cause, adding another chapter to the Marianne Faithfull biography that has captivated fans for decades.
Embracing the Legend
The tumultuous chapters of Ms. Faithfull’s life, her prominence in the vibrant Swinging Sixties scene, and the raw authenticity of her later musical works elevated her to an almost legendary status — embodying resilience and reinvention. Though initially resistant to this characterization, she eventually embraced it.
“I’ve been working towards merging the public image — which began as an artificial construct — with my true self, and I believe I’ve achieved that quite successfully,” she shared with the British publication The Independent in 2008.
Overcoming Adversity
However, her journey was fraught with challenges. She endured a miscarriage, temporarily lost custody of her only child, attempted suicide, underwent multiple rehabilitation programs for drug addiction, and faced a highly publicized 1967 drug arrest — involving the Rolling Stones — which sparked sensationalized and often inaccurate tabloid coverage in Britain.
Marianne Faithfull singing “This little bird”, “Yesterday”, “Summer nights” and “As Tears go by” in Dutch TV programme Fanclub, 11 March 1966
Credit: Photographer: A. Vente, CC BY-SA 3.0 NL https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/nl/deed.en, via Wikimedia Commons
The Comeback: “Broken English” and Beyond
Nevertheless, when Ms. Faithfull discovered her powerful new musical direction, beginning with her 1979 new wave-influenced album “Broken English,” she garnered unprecedented respect. This Marianne Faithfull comeback was driven by her unflinching lyrical honesty and her distinctively weathered vocals, often exploring themes like songs about guilt and personal redemption.
“This voice suits me perfectly,” she told The Independent, discussing her evolved sound. “It adds depth to everything.
“There’s no need for pretense,” she added. “I simply need to sing, and it’s all there.”
A Multifaceted Artist: Acting Career
Throughout her career, Ms. Faithfull maintained a sporadic but notable acting career in theatre, television, and cinema. Her theatrical debut came in 1967 with a London staging of Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” alongside Glenda Jackson. That same year, she achieved a controversial milestone in “I’ll Never Forget What’s’isname,” becoming the first performer to speak the “f” word in a major studio production.
The following year, she took on the provocative lead role in “The Girl on a Motorcycle,” starring alongside the renowned Alain Delon. Her artistic range expanded further in 1969 when she portrayed the tragic character of Ophelia in a critically acclaimed adaptation of “Hamlet,” featuring Nicol Williamson. Decades later, her compelling portrayal of a complex 60-year-old sex worker in the 2007 French production “Irina Palm” earned her recognition at the European Film Awards with a Best Actress nomination. She also made a memorable appearance in the popular British sitcom “Absolutely Fabulous,” further showcasing her versatility as an actress.
Influence on the Rolling Stones
Beyond her extensive Marianne Faithfull discography of over 20 albums, Ms. Faithfull’s influence extended deeply into the Rolling Stones’ creative process. Her Rolling Stones collaborations played a pivotal role in shaping some of their most iconic songs, offering a unique glimpse into Mick Jagger’s dating history and creative partnerships. She gifted Mikhail Bulgakov’s “The Master and Margarita” to Mr. Jagger, significantly influencing the lyrics of “Sympathy for the Devil.” She also coined the memorable phrase that became the cornerstone of “Wild Horses” (“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away”). Additionally, she co-authored “Sister Morphine,” releasing it as a solo single in 1969, preceding the Stones’ version on “Sticky Fingers” by two years. (Though initially credited as a writer on her own recording, she had to wage a lengthy legal battle until 1994 to receive proper recognition on the Stones’ album.)
A Spy and a Baroness
Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull entered the world in London’s Hampstead district on Dec. 29, 1946, born into a family whose extraordinary legacy would foreshadow her remarkable life.
Her father, Robert Glynn Faithfull, was a British intelligence operative during World War II before becoming a literature professor at the University of London. Driven by what Ms. Faithfull often characterized as an intense interest in human sexuality, he created an invention aimed at enhancing female pleasure, dubbed the “Frigidity Machine.” Her mother, Eva von Sacher-Masoch, carried the distinguished titles of Viennese baroness and former ballet dancer, and traced her lineage to Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, whose erotic novel “Venus in Furs” gave rise to the term masochism.
“My upbringing was certainly unconventional,” Ms. Faithfull reflected in a 2007 interview with Saga magazine. “And I believe I’ve inherited characteristics from both my parents.”
The Rise to Stardom
However, her parents separated when Marianne was just 6, prompting her relocation to a modest residence in Reading, outside London, with her financially struggling mother. She attended a Roman Catholic convent school through charitable support.
Forgoing traditional higher education, she immersed herself in London’s vibrant underground art and music scene, frequenting local clubs and occasionally performing folk music at neighbourhood coffeehouses.
A pivotal moment occurred at a 1964 Rolling Stones party, where their manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, captivated by her striking presence, approached her. “He inquired if I could sing, and I responded with a confident affirmative,” she recounted during a 2005 NPR interview. “Within a week, I received his telegram directing me to Olympic Studios for a 2 o’clock session.”
“As Tears Go By” and Early Success
At the studio, she recorded “As Tears Go By,” widely recognized as the first original composition by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who until then had primarily focused on performing blues and R&B covers. Reflecting on the recording, which featured a melancholic English-horn melody and contemplative lyrics, Ms. Faithfull later shared with The Daily News of New York in 1987, “It was quite remarkable that two young men of 21 would write such a song, and even more unusual for an 18-year-old girl to perform it.”
The single achieved remarkable success, reaching the Top 10 in Britain in 1964 and securing a position in Billboard’s Top 25 in the United States. Author Salman Rushdie, in his introduction to her 2014 photo book “A Life on Record,” affectionately described her early vocal style as reminiscent of “a slightly zoned-out chorister.”
Her success continued to flourish in 1965 with three additional British Top 10 hits: “Come and Stay with Me” reaching No. 4, “This Little Bird” climbing to No. 6, and “Summer Nights” securing the No. 10 position.
Dual Album Debut
Her record label, Decca, marked her album debut with a unique dual release strategy. The first album, simply titled “Marianne Faithfull,” showcased her pop repertoire, while its companion, “Come My Way,” primarily featured traditional folk selections and achieved greater success, reaching No. 12 on the British charts, surpassing its counterpart by three positions.
Personal Life and Relationships
In 1965, at 19, she married John Dunbar, proprietor of the trendy Indica Gallery, which would later become the meeting place for John Lennon and Yoko Ono. She gave birth to their son, Nicholas, six months after the wedding. Shortly thereafter, she departed from her marriage to begin a relationship with Mr. Jagger, entrusting Nicholas’s upbringing to her mother. (Her marriage to Dunbar was officially dissolved in 1970.)
Drugs and the Stones: A Tumultuous Period
Ms. Faithfull and Mr. Jagger quickly emerged as London’s most photographed and glamorous couple, though their relationship would later be marred by scandal. In 1967, a police raid at Keith Richards’s residence, searching for illicit substances, found Ms. Faithfull wearing nothing but a fur rug, leading to significant media attention.
While Mr. Jagger and Mr. Richards faced legal charges that were subsequently overturned, Ms. Faithfull, though not charged, expressed deep resentment over the media’s discriminatory treatment. In a 1993 interview with Details magazine, she reflected, “It completely devastated me. Male addiction is often portrayed as edgy and alluring, while a woman in similar circumstances is branded as promiscuous and an unfit mother.”
The following year brought personal tragedy when Ms. Faithfull’s pregnancy with Mr. Jagger ended in miscarriage. Later that year, she made an appearance on “The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus” television special, performing “Something Better” while visibly struggling.
The Darkest Hour
A particularly dark moment occurred in 1969 when, accompanying Mr. Jagger to Australia for his role in “Ned Kelly,” she attempted suicide by consuming over 100 Tuinal barbiturates. She later remarked to The Telegraph in 2011 with characteristic dry wit, “Attempting suicide while in Mick Jagger’s company is considered quite poor etiquette.”
Upon regaining consciousness in an Australian hospital after six days, she reportedly uttered, “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.” However, the relationship had reached its end. As she later confided to Saga, “I needed to escape that world. My love for Mick wasn’t the issue, but I wasn’t suited for that lifestyle. Being a muse is an honor,” she reflected, “but it’s an incredibly demanding role.”
The Lost Years and Slow Recovery
The subsequent two years saw Ms. Faithfull living homeless in London, struggling with heroin dependency. During this period, she also lost custody of her son to Mr. Dunbar. She later revealed to The Telegraph, “Complete disappearance was my goal.”
Though she recorded “Rich Kid Blues” in 1971 at a producer’s encouragement, the album remained unreleased until 1985. Her 1975 country-influenced recording, “Dreamin’ My Dreams,” achieved notable success, reaching the top spot in Ireland.
This period also began her relationship with Ben Brierley from the punk band the Vibrators, whom she married in 1979. She began recording demos during this time, including several tracks that would later appear on “Broken English.” These recordings caught the attention of Island Records’ Chris Blackwell, who promptly offered her a recording contract.
A New Voice and “Broken English”
Though Ms. Faithfull’s substance abuse had transformed her voice, lowering it by several octaves and introducing a distinctive rasp, this new vocal quality unexpectedly added remarkable depth and character to her performances, drawing comparisons to Lotte Lenya’s edgy style and Marlene Dietrich’s punk-influenced delivery. The songs on “Broken English” reflected this evolution, featuring sophisticated compositions addressing themes of political violence and domestic despair, including the controversial track “Why D’Ya Do It?” penned by celebrated poet Heathcote Williams.
The album achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success, marking her first appearance on American charts since 1965, achieving platinum certification and garnering a Grammy nomination in the best female rock vocal performance category.
Reinvention as a Cabaret Artist
Despite her professional resurgence, Ms. Faithfull continued to battle addiction until 1985. Following her recovery, her artistic journey took another intriguing direction with the 1987 release of “Strange Weather,” helmed by producer Hal Willner. This album reinvented her as a respected gothic cabaret performer, showcasing her versatility through an eclectic repertoire spanning Broadway standards, blues classics, and the haunting title track, a contemporary piece by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan. The album also featured a reimagined version of “As Tears Go By,” delivering a more poignant interpretation that better served the song’s lyrics.
Later Career and Collaborations
During this period, Ms. Faithfull’s life changed, including her divorce from Mr. Brierley and subsequent marriage to Giorgio Della Terza, a younger man, in 1988. Their union lasted three years, and she entered a prolific recording phase that garnered significant critical praise. The mid-1990s saw her release several distinctive albums: the lushly orchestrated “A Secret Life” with Angelo Badalamenti, an intimate live collection of Weimar Republic songs titled “20th Century Blues,” and an interpretation of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s “The Seven Deadly Sins” with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.
From 2002’s “Kissin Time” onward, Ms. Faithfull embarked on collaborative projects with acclaimed younger artists, including Beck, Jarvis Cocker, PJ Harvey, and Nick Cave. Her creative output continued into her later years, with the critically acclaimed 2018 album “Negative Capability” featuring another rendition of “As Tears Go By” and reaching the British Top 50. Her final album, “She Walks in Beauty,” released in 2021, was a collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Warren Ellis.
Resilience in Later Years
In her later years, Ms. Faithfull demonstrated remarkable resilience, overcoming significant health challenges including breast cancer and hepatitis C, experiences she candidly shared in her 2007 autobiography, “Memories, Dreams and Reflections” — a notably more optimistic work compared to her first memoir, “Faithfull,” published in 1994. She later survived Covid-19. Her contributions to arts and culture were formally recognized in 2011 when the French government bestowed upon her the title of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.
She leaves behind her son, Nicholas Dunbar, and three grandchildren.
A Legacy of Raw Honesty
Throughout her tumultuous life journey, Ms. Faithfull remained steadfastly committed to addressing her experiences with unflinching honesty, both in interviews and through her artistic expression.
“I don’t know how else to be but raw and honest,” she confided to British Vogue in 2014. “It may be hard for other people to take. But even if I try to, I can’t stop myself from saying what I think.”
Source:
Jim Farber (January 30, 2025). Marianne Faithfull, a Pop Star Turned Survivor, Is Dead at 78. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/arts/music/marianne-faithfull-dead.html. Accessed January 30, 2025
Header Photo: Jagger e Faithfull, em Amsterdã, 1967.
Photo credit: Ben Merk (ANEFO), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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