Marianne Faithfull, an indelible voice and a woman who defined reinvention, has died at the age of 78. As confirmed by a spokesperson, the British icon passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in London.
Faithfull’s life was marked by the highs and lows of 60s rock ‘n’ roll, where she quickly went from a wide-eyed pop ingenue to a muse who struggled with addiction and, eventually, to an acclaimed and defiant artist who shaped music, film, and fashion for over six decades.
Born in London in 1946 to a British spy father and an aristocratic Austrian mother, Faithfull was discovered at the age of 17 by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham. She swiftly ascended to pop stardom with “As Tears Go By” in 1964, and beyond her angelic voice, her rebellious spirit and unapologetic style captivated the world.
Shortly after her debut, a highly publicised relationship with Mick Jagger turned her into a fixture of the British tabloid press. This partnership would go beyond romance, too, with Faithfull earning writing credits for hits such as ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’, ‘Wild Horses’ and ‘Sympathy for the Devil’, as well as making her own mark with her music and acting stints in films like The Girl on a Motorcycle.
Alongside Jane Birkin and Françoise Hardy, Faithfull was revered as a quintessential style icon of the 1960s and 1970s, instantly recognised for her eclecticism and signature bangs.
The 1970s brought struggles with heroin addiction, homelessness, and the loss of custody of her son. Yet, Faithfull bounced back in a most iconic fashion.
Her 1979 album, Broken English, reintroduced her with a raspy-voiced and punk edge that would see her collaborate with the likes of Nick Cave and PJ Harvey.
Her final album, She Walks in Beauty (2021), served as a haunting swan song—one last poetic bow from a woman who lived life on her own terms and proved that there is art in survival and transformation.
