Marianne Faithfull: More than a rolling stones muse
Marianne Faithfull, the singer and actress who captivated the 1960s with her distinctive voice and striking presence, was far more than just a muse for the rolling stones. With a career that spanned decades, faithfull continuously reinvented herself, moving from folk-pop sensation to rock icon, jazz chanteuse, and avant-garde artist. Her life was marked by triumphs, tragedies, and an unyielding spirit that made her one of the most recognisable figures of her era.
Born in London in 1946 to a british military officer and an austro-hungarian Jewish baroness, Faithfull’s early life was steeped in culture and intellect. She was discovered by Rolling Stones’ manager andrew loog oldham in 1964, leading to her breakthrough single as tears go by, penned by Mick Jagger and keith richards. The song catapulted her to fame, and she followed it with her self-titled debut album in 1965, featuring hits such as come and stay with me.
Faithfull’s relationship with Jagger, which began in 1966, thrust her further into the limelight. Their romance was highly publicised, and she became embroiled in the infamous 1967 drugs bust at Redlands, the country house of Keith Richards, where she was discovered wearing nothing but a fur rug. During her time with Jagger, she co-wrote sister morphine, a haunting track later featured on the rolling stones’ 1971 album sticky fingers. However, legal disputes over songwriting credits meant she was initially unacknowledged for her contribution.
Faithfull was also thought to have inspired some of the tones’ most iconic songs, including you can’t always Get what you want and dear doctor. Meanwhile, it has been speculated that The Beatles’ and your bird can sing was influenced by her relationship with Jagger.
Beyond her music, faithfull had a significant presence in film. She starred in the psychedelic cult classic The girl on a motorcycle (1968) opposite french actor alain delon, and appeared in the 1967 drama I’ll never forget what’s ’is name, alongside orson welles. In later years, she voiced a bene gesserit ancestor in dune (2021) and made a memorable cameo as god in absolutely fabulous.
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The late 1960s and early 1970s were a turbulent time for faithfull. She suffered a miscarriage in 1968 and, following her split from Jagger in 1970, spiralled into heroin addiction. She spent two years homeless in soho before making a remarkable comeback with her 1979 album broken english. The new wave-influenced record, featuring gritty, emotionally charged lyrics, earned critical acclaim and a grammy nomination. Faithfull continued to evolve artistically, embracing jazz and blues in the critically praised strange weather (1987) and collaborating with avant-garde musicians in later years. Her final album, she walks in beauty (2021), was an experimental work with Nick Cave’s longtime collaborator Warren Ellis.
Despite numerous health battles, including breast cancer in 2006 and a heart condition, faithfull remained resilient. In 2020, she was hospitalised with covid-19 but was discharged after three weeks. Her autobiography, published in 1994, and two subsequent books chronicled her tumultuous yet extraordinary life. In recognition of her artistic contributions, she was awarded the commandeur of the ordre des Arts et des lettres, one of france’s highest cultural honours, in 2011.
Marianne Faithfull’s legacy is one of reinvention and defiance. More than a muse, she was an artist who continuously challenged conventions and redefined herself, leaving an indelible mark on music, film, and popular culture.
